HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — As the Rocket City Trash Pandas’ season comes to an end, six players were promoted for the final week of the Triple-A schedule.
The team announced Wednesday that Pitchers Joel Hurtado, George Klassen, Dylan Phillips, and Walbert Ureña were joined by catchers Myles Emmerson and Yeremi Villahermosa as they head to play for Salt Lake Bees.
The team said Klassen, 23, made his Triple-A debut Tuesday, tossing 6.0 innings of two-run baseball with eight strikeouts. The Angels’ No. 3 prospect ended his Rocket City season on a high note, throwing a career-best 7.0 innings of one-run baseball with eight strikeouts on September 10. Over his final four Double-A starts, he posted a 1.17 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 23.0 innings.
Hurtado, 24, started 18 games for Rocket City, going 5-6 with a 2.70 ERA in 86.0 innings. He recorded seven quality starts and walked just 23 while striking out 56.
Phillips, 26, thrived in relief after joining the Trash Pandas from High-A Tri-City on August 2. In 10 Rocket City appearances (two starts), he pitched to a 2.84 ERA over 19.0 innings with 20 strikeouts and seven walks. Before his promotion, Phillips posted a 2-3 record with a 3.35 ERA, eight saves, and 37 strikeouts in 31 games with Tri-City. He also appeared in four games for Salt Lake earlier this season.
Ureña, 21, was just named Southern League Pitcher of the Week after carrying a no-hitter into the eighth inning and allowing just one hit across 8.0 dominant innings on September 13 against Chattanooga. He closed 2025 with his 11th quality start, tying for the league lead, and went 2-1 with a 1.67 ERA over his final five outings. Ureña ended the year among the Southern League leaders in multiple categories: Starts (T-1st, 27), Quality Starts (T-1st, 11), Innings Pitched (1st, 135.1), Opponent Batting Average (10th, .231), and Strikeouts (9th, 115).
San Diego native, Emmerson, 27, caught 669.2 innings with a .984 fielding percentage, committing just 12 errors and nine passed balls while throwing out 26.7% of base stealers. At the plate, he hit .208 with 13 doubles, a triple, six homers, and 21 RBI in 83 games. He also made four relief appearances, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings.
Villahermosa, 22, joined the Trash Pandas on August 6 and appeared in one game, going 0-for-3 with a walk on August 24 at Birmingham.
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