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Chad Stevens isn’t on a typical streak. Just a historic one.
The 27-year-old former 11th-round draft pick of the Houston Astros in 2021 has been on base in all 45 games he’s had an official at-bat as an Albuquerque Isotopes player — a franchise-record streak for the club that began in 2003.
Add that to Stevens getting on base the final 10 Triple-A games he played last season for the Salt Lake Bees and the former University of Portland star carries a 55-game Triple-A on-base streak into Tuesday night’s game against his former team, the Bees.
Since the streak started Sept. 11 — a span of 284 days — Stevens has hit .425. It’s only the fourth time since 2005 — when Minor League Baseball started keeping thorough records — that a MiLB player has reached base in at least 55 consecutive games.
Unfortunately, what worked in Triple-A didn't translate to his 16-game, 28-at-bat stint in the big leagues after a May 21 call-up to the Colorado Rockies, where he hit just .036.
He believes the experience in the big leagues — not his first as he played five games last July with the Los Angeles Angels — gave him a good foundation.
“Just an (understanding of the) level of competition I'm preparing for, and some things that I can work on — just the focus and intensity that comes to that level,” Stevens said. “(Now I will) try to bring that here. ...
“The goal is always to be up there, and it’s a great group of guys and coaching staff. So I really enjoyed my time.”
Chad Stevens rips an RBI single to extend his Triple-A on-base streak to 5⃣5⃣ games!
B3: Space Cowboys 4, Isotopes 3 pic.twitter.com/G6O0ztc5lE
— Albuquerque Isotopes (@ABQTopes) June 22, 2026
Despite a genuine appreciation for his Isotopes teammates and the clubhouse, the mission is clearly on figuring out how to replicate in Denver what he's continuing to master in Albuquerque.
“Any day in the big leagues is a good day,” Stevens said. “I really liked being up with the Rockies.”
Half the story
The first half of the Pacific Coast League season came to an end on Sunday. The PCL pits the first-half winner vs. the second-half winner in its playoffs in September.
Las Vegas (44-29) won the first-half title, edging Sacramento (42-30) by 1.5 games.
Though the Isotopes (39-36) finished above .500 in the first half — a rarity over its 12-year playoff drought — they stumbled over the past month, finishing six games back in the standings and in fifth-place in the 10-team league.
Trivia time!
*
QUESTION: The PCL went to a split-season format (first-half winner vs. second-half winner) in 2023, giving the league seven “halves” of data. How many times have the Isotopes been .500 or above for a half of the season?
*
ANSWER: See below.
Know the foe
The Isotopes start the second-half race and the latter half of their two-week homestand at Rio Grande Credit Union Field this week with a six-game home series, Tuesday through Sunday.
Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, 39-36 overall, 0-0 second half
Salt Lake Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, 39-35 overall, 0-0 second half
Three up, three down
Some things have been looking good for the 'Topes, some not so good.
Nic Kent is your @Toyota Reliable Player of the Week after collecting nine hits, two homers, a double, triple and five RBI! pic.twitter.com/cbzUaNGyEt
— Albuquerque Isotopes (@ABQTopes) June 22, 2026
Looking good:
1.
OF Zac Veen is riding MiLB's longest active hitting streak at 22 after a 1-for-5 showing on Sunday. He’s slashing .419/.433/.828 with 11 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 18 RBIs in the streak.
2.
SS Nic Kent had home runs in consecutive games over the weekend vs. Sugar Land, the third time this season he’s done so.
3.
The Isotopes led the PCL in the first half in runs (509), on-base percentage (.384) and slugging (.467).
Look away:
1.
The Isotopes were last in the PCL in the first half in runs allowed (536), home runs allowed (106), ERA (6.52) and opponent’s batting average (.296).
2.
Albuquerque lost to Sugar Land 21-8 last Wednesday, the most runs allowed this season by the team and most since a 21-5 road loss at Las Vegas on Aug. 4, 2024.
3.
It’s hardly a sign of a traditional “look away” note, but SS Ryan Ritter went 0-for-3 on Saturday, drawing two walks. The reason for showing up here is that the 0-fer brought an end to his franchise record 31-game hitting streak that started last season and stretched over one stint on the injured list and three call-ups to the Colorado Rockies. It is tied for the Albuquerque professional baseball record with former Albuquerque Dukes star Pedro Guerrero (1979).
Fast food
Taco rolls into the second half of the season on fire, winning three of last week’s six races. Can Taco be supreme in 2026? Or will its shell crack under pressure because of its beef with Salsa Jar?
Either way, the second half of the season should be spicy. Lettuce enjoy the races!
2026 season standings (35 races):
*
14 wins — Salsa Jar
*
9 wins — Red Chile
*
6 wins — Taco
*
6 wins — Green Chile
Homestand highlights
Here’s what the ’Topes are cooking up for this homestand in terms of promotions, food and giveaways (start times vary, scheduled first pitch in parenthesis):
*
Specialty food item of homestand: Taco burgers available at the Bullpen Cart by section 109.
*
Tuesday (6:35 p.m.): Taco Tuesday with specialty tacos at select carts around the stadium.
*
Thursday (12:05 p.m.): Day baseball with another youth summer program day at the park.
*
Friday (6:35 p.m.): It's Orbit’s birthday and you can get an Orbit hat if you want to (first 2,000 fans in the gates); Postgame fireworks; pregame autographs on third-base concourse (5:40-6 p.m.)
*
Saturday (6:35 p.m.): Dukes Retro night (Dukes merchandise available); Isotopes wearing throwback Dukes jerseys; Albuquerque Professional Baseball Hall of Fame pregame induction ceremony (former PCL President Branch Rickey III and former Isotope manager Lorenzo Bundy); postgame drone show presented by the Albuquerque Journal
*
Sunday (1:35 p.m.): Peanuts Day with Snoopy bobblehead giveaway (first 2,000 fans)
Trivia answer
The Isotopes have had two winning “halves” of seasons in the PCL’s new split-season format, which started in 2023. In addition the the first half of the 2026 season (39-36), the team finished the second half of the 2023 season with a 41-33. The Isotopes have had sub-.500 records in the other five half-seasons.
Reach Geoff Grammer at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.
Continue reading...
The 27-year-old former 11th-round draft pick of the Houston Astros in 2021 has been on base in all 45 games he’s had an official at-bat as an Albuquerque Isotopes player — a franchise-record streak for the club that began in 2003.
Add that to Stevens getting on base the final 10 Triple-A games he played last season for the Salt Lake Bees and the former University of Portland star carries a 55-game Triple-A on-base streak into Tuesday night’s game against his former team, the Bees.
Since the streak started Sept. 11 — a span of 284 days — Stevens has hit .425. It’s only the fourth time since 2005 — when Minor League Baseball started keeping thorough records — that a MiLB player has reached base in at least 55 consecutive games.
Unfortunately, what worked in Triple-A didn't translate to his 16-game, 28-at-bat stint in the big leagues after a May 21 call-up to the Colorado Rockies, where he hit just .036.
He believes the experience in the big leagues — not his first as he played five games last July with the Los Angeles Angels — gave him a good foundation.
“Just an (understanding of the) level of competition I'm preparing for, and some things that I can work on — just the focus and intensity that comes to that level,” Stevens said. “(Now I will) try to bring that here. ...
“The goal is always to be up there, and it’s a great group of guys and coaching staff. So I really enjoyed my time.”
Chad Stevens rips an RBI single to extend his Triple-A on-base streak to 5⃣5⃣ games!
B3: Space Cowboys 4, Isotopes 3 pic.twitter.com/G6O0ztc5lE
— Albuquerque Isotopes (@ABQTopes) June 22, 2026
Despite a genuine appreciation for his Isotopes teammates and the clubhouse, the mission is clearly on figuring out how to replicate in Denver what he's continuing to master in Albuquerque.
“Any day in the big leagues is a good day,” Stevens said. “I really liked being up with the Rockies.”
Half the story
The first half of the Pacific Coast League season came to an end on Sunday. The PCL pits the first-half winner vs. the second-half winner in its playoffs in September.
Las Vegas (44-29) won the first-half title, edging Sacramento (42-30) by 1.5 games.
Though the Isotopes (39-36) finished above .500 in the first half — a rarity over its 12-year playoff drought — they stumbled over the past month, finishing six games back in the standings and in fifth-place in the 10-team league.
Trivia time!
*
QUESTION: The PCL went to a split-season format (first-half winner vs. second-half winner) in 2023, giving the league seven “halves” of data. How many times have the Isotopes been .500 or above for a half of the season?
*
ANSWER: See below.
Know the foe
The Isotopes start the second-half race and the latter half of their two-week homestand at Rio Grande Credit Union Field this week with a six-game home series, Tuesday through Sunday.
Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, 39-36 overall, 0-0 second half
Salt Lake Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, 39-35 overall, 0-0 second half
Three up, three down
Some things have been looking good for the 'Topes, some not so good.
Nic Kent is your @Toyota Reliable Player of the Week after collecting nine hits, two homers, a double, triple and five RBI! pic.twitter.com/cbzUaNGyEt
— Albuquerque Isotopes (@ABQTopes) June 22, 2026
Looking good:
1.
OF Zac Veen is riding MiLB's longest active hitting streak at 22 after a 1-for-5 showing on Sunday. He’s slashing .419/.433/.828 with 11 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 18 RBIs in the streak.
2.
SS Nic Kent had home runs in consecutive games over the weekend vs. Sugar Land, the third time this season he’s done so.
3.
The Isotopes led the PCL in the first half in runs (509), on-base percentage (.384) and slugging (.467).
Look away:
1.
The Isotopes were last in the PCL in the first half in runs allowed (536), home runs allowed (106), ERA (6.52) and opponent’s batting average (.296).
2.
Albuquerque lost to Sugar Land 21-8 last Wednesday, the most runs allowed this season by the team and most since a 21-5 road loss at Las Vegas on Aug. 4, 2024.
3.
It’s hardly a sign of a traditional “look away” note, but SS Ryan Ritter went 0-for-3 on Saturday, drawing two walks. The reason for showing up here is that the 0-fer brought an end to his franchise record 31-game hitting streak that started last season and stretched over one stint on the injured list and three call-ups to the Colorado Rockies. It is tied for the Albuquerque professional baseball record with former Albuquerque Dukes star Pedro Guerrero (1979).
Fast food
Taco rolls into the second half of the season on fire, winning three of last week’s six races. Can Taco be supreme in 2026? Or will its shell crack under pressure because of its beef with Salsa Jar?
Either way, the second half of the season should be spicy. Lettuce enjoy the races!
2026 season standings (35 races):
*
14 wins — Salsa Jar
*
9 wins — Red Chile
*
6 wins — Taco
*
6 wins — Green Chile
Homestand highlights
Here’s what the ’Topes are cooking up for this homestand in terms of promotions, food and giveaways (start times vary, scheduled first pitch in parenthesis):
*
Specialty food item of homestand: Taco burgers available at the Bullpen Cart by section 109.
*
Tuesday (6:35 p.m.): Taco Tuesday with specialty tacos at select carts around the stadium.
*
Thursday (12:05 p.m.): Day baseball with another youth summer program day at the park.
*
Friday (6:35 p.m.): It's Orbit’s birthday and you can get an Orbit hat if you want to (first 2,000 fans in the gates); Postgame fireworks; pregame autographs on third-base concourse (5:40-6 p.m.)
*
Saturday (6:35 p.m.): Dukes Retro night (Dukes merchandise available); Isotopes wearing throwback Dukes jerseys; Albuquerque Professional Baseball Hall of Fame pregame induction ceremony (former PCL President Branch Rickey III and former Isotope manager Lorenzo Bundy); postgame drone show presented by the Albuquerque Journal
*
Sunday (1:35 p.m.): Peanuts Day with Snoopy bobblehead giveaway (first 2,000 fans)
Trivia answer
The Isotopes have had two winning “halves” of seasons in the PCL’s new split-season format, which started in 2023. In addition the the first half of the 2026 season (39-36), the team finished the second half of the 2023 season with a 41-33. The Isotopes have had sub-.500 records in the other five half-seasons.
Reach Geoff Grammer at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.
Continue reading...
