Collins Makes His Mark on a Big-League Moment
Kevin Gausman's move to Wrigley Field looked like a seamless transition — until a Creighton Bluejay stepped in to spoil the opening act.
Isaac Collins, the Royals' left fielder and former Creighton standout, roped an RBI single off Gausman in the first inning of the Cubs starter's Chicago debut on Saturday, Aug. 8. It was the kind of at-bat that makes a résumé: Gausman, a 35-year-old veteran with a front-line track record, otherwise held Kansas City in check across seven sharp innings in a 6-4 Cubs win. Collins' knock was one of only a handful of blemishes on the day, and it came in the game's opening frame when it mattered most.
The hit was part of a solid week for Collins. He collected hits on Sunday, Aug. 2 (with a run scored in a 12-6 loss to Colorado), Wednesday, Aug. 5, and Saturday's game against Gausman — going 3-for-his-last-several with an RBI, a walk, and two runs scored over the stretch. He's sitting at a .239 average on the season, holding his own in a Kansas City lineup still searching for consistency.
Lopez Keeps Producing for Texas
Nicky Lopez, the former Bluejay who's bounced between organizations before landing with the Rangers, continued to be a reliable presence at shortstop this week. Lopez went 2-for-his-appearances on Wednesday, Aug. 5 against the Giants with an RBI, and followed it up with a multi-game stretch that pushed his average to .278 by Saturday. He closed the week against the Orioles hitting .278 on the season — a quietly strong number for a middle infielder valued as much for his glove as his bat.
Roden Steady in Minnesota
Alan Roden, working his way through the Twins' outfield mix, had a productive week of his own. The Omaha native drove in a run on Tuesday, Aug. 4 against the Royals and added a hit and a walk on Thursday. His average dipped to .217 by week's end, but Roden has shown the ability to work counts — multiple walks this week underscore an approach at the plate that keeps him in lineups. It's worth noting that two Creighton alums — Collins and Roden — faced each other directly during the Royals-Twins series midweek, a quiet alumni subplot buried inside the box scores.
The bigger picture for Creighton this week: three alumni logged meaningful MLB at-bats, and it was Collins who grabbed the spotlight. Stinging a pitcher of Gausman's caliber in his first start with a new team isn't just a line in a stat sheet — it's a moment. Bluejay fans in Omaha have reason to notice.
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