NEA in Minor League Baseball (4/5/26)

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - Four Northeast Arkansas natives are on the Road to The Show.

We’ll have Minor League Baseball updates all season long on Slade Caldwell, P.J. Hilson, Gage Wood, and Curtis Washington Jr.

Slade Caldwell (Valley View)

- MILB: Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks - High-A)

- 2 hits, 2 RBI on April 4th. Single in the 3rd inning, two-run single in the 9th in Hops loss.

- Played in the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game on July 12th

- 2025: .260 batting average, .777 on base + slugging percentage, 3 HR, 38 RBI, 91 walks, 25 steals.

- Caldwell appeared in five MLB Spring Training games for Arizona in 2025, recording a hit on March 21st. He was selected in the 1st Round of the 2024 MLB Draft (29th overall pick).

P.J. Hilson (Nettleton)

- MILB: Altoona Curve (Pirates - AA)

- 2 hits and a steal on April 4th. Bunt single in the 4th inning, single in 8th inning in Curve loss.

- 2025: .263 batting average, .753 on base + slugging percentage, 11 HR, 41 RBI, 10 steals.

- Hilson played in one MLB Spring Training game in 2025.

Gage Wood (Batesville/Arkansas)

- MILB: Clearwater Threshers (Phillies - A)

- 7 strikeouts in 4 shutout innings on April 3rd. He allowed 1 hit and 1 walk in a no decision.

- Wood recorded a win in the 2026 MLB Spring Breakout, striking out 3 on March 21st

- The Diamond Pioneer alum was the 26th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. He recorded 9 wins and 7 saves over 3 seasons at Arkansas, highlighted by a no-hitter in the 2025 College World Series

Curtis Washington Jr. (West Memphis/Arkansas/Purdue)

- MILB: Everett AquaSox (Mariners - High-A)

- RBI groundout on April 5th in AquaSox loss.

- 2025: .262 batting average, .735 on base + slugging percentage, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 30 steals

- Washington played in the 2025 MLB Spring Breakout.

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