ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES
Topes Notes: Why patient Charlie Condon is leading the PCL in first-pitch home runs
Who's hot, who's not, trivia time, and a new leader in the chile race standings!
Charlie Condon has earned a reputation as a patient, disciplined hitter.
At first blush, many would assume that means he works counts deep, makes pitchers have to throw a lot of pitches and really builds up that pitch count.
So when asked by the Journal last week who leads the Pacific Coast League in first-pitch home runs, even though Condon is among the league leaders with 20 long balls in all, nobody around the Isotopes clubhouse 鈥� not the team鈥檚 public relations crew, not manager Pedro Lopez, not even Condon himself 鈥� guessed it was the 6-foot-5 power-hitting Georgia boy.
鈥淩eally?鈥� Condon said when told his nine first-pitch home runs this season are more than the six hit by the man in second place, Isotopes teammate Zac Veen, with nobody else in the league having hit more than five.
That鈥檚 already more than last year鈥檚 PCL season-long leader (EL Paso鈥檚 Trenton Brooks with eight first-pitch home runs) and tied with 2024鈥檚 leader (Reno鈥檚 Andres Chapman, nine).
As it turns out, being disciplined at the plate doesn鈥檛 always mean you take a lot of pitches, and it鈥檚 a process that starts long before you ever get into the batter鈥檚 box.
鈥淭he key for me is you just never really know when you're going to get your pitch,鈥� Condon said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 my thing. Yeah, I鈥檇 consider myself a pretty disciplined hitter, but at the same time, in order to be a disciplined hitter, you have to be ready for every pitch.
鈥淒iscipline is knowing what the guy鈥檚 been doing throughout the game, what he鈥檚 been throwing at certain guys, and what his game plan has been. And sometimes, you know, that best pitch to hit is five pitches in the at-bat. Sometimes that best pitch to hit is the first one in the at-bat.鈥�
Lopez, Condon鈥檚 thoroughly impressed manager, has lauded Condon鈥檚 preparation and approach to the game all season. Of this particular stat, Lopez said, 鈥淚 think that speaks to the kind of approach that he has.
鈥淗e has an understanding what his hot zone is, what he鈥檚 hunting. Of course, you know he鈥檚 always on the fastball, but it鈥檚 on a certain location, and if the pitcher is going to make a mistake in that location, he鈥檚 going to get hit. I think that鈥檚 the definition of of having a good at-bat, being able to put up those numbers.鈥�
Trivia time!
QUESTION: Condon is at nine first-pitch home runs before the end of July. Since 2005 when such data first was recorded by Minor League Baseball, what is the PCL record for most first-pitch home runs hit in a season and what is the Isotopes鈥� record?
ANSWER: See below...
Know the foe
The Isotopes hit the road again for six-game Pacific Coast League series against the El Paso Chihuahuas at Southwest University Park in El Paso, Tuesday through Sunday.
Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, 49-53 overall (6th), 10-17 2nd half (t-8th)
El Paso Chihuahuas, Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, 44-57 overall (9th), 9-17 2nd half (10th)
Three up, three down
Some things that have been looking good lately for the Topes, some not so good.
Looking good:
The Isotopes are second in the PCL in triples (35, two shy of first-place Reno).
After allowing a pair of earned runs in his first appearance with the Topes after a stint with the Colorado Rockies, RHP John Brebbia has thrown 4 1/3 innings of shutout ball in three relief appearances.
SS Vimael Machin is 11-for-24 (.458) with a home run and three doubles in his past six games and rides a streak of three consecutive multi-hit games into this week鈥檚 series at El Paso.
Look away:
With Sunday鈥檚 loss, and the 2-4 series the Isotopes just completed against Round Rock, the team is 49-53 and a season-worst four games below .500.
The Isotopes have five four-game losing streaks this season, including two in the past 12 games.
Albuquerque allowed 20 hits in last Thursday鈥檚 14-1 loss to Round Rock. That鈥檚 tied for the second most the Isotopes have allowed this season (24 by Sugar Land on June 17 is the most).
Fast food
We have a new leader in the clubhouse! And the same lovable loser at the bottom of the standings.
2026 Season Standings (50 races):
16 wins 鈥� Red Chile
15 wins 鈥� Salsa Jar
11 wins 鈥� Green Chile
8 wins 鈥� Taco
What are they up to?
Here鈥檚 a brief look at what some of the road team's promotions are while they host the Isotopes, this week in El Paso.
Wednesday: Bark at the Park day (bring your dog) and Mature Munchies day (fans over 60 get a free hot dog meal and fans over 50 get $1 popcorn).
Friday: Chico (team mascot) figurine giveaway
Saturday: Eddie Guerrero Bobblehead giveaway, celebrating El Paso鈥檚 own former professional wrestling star, given to the first 1,500 fans through the gates.
Trivia answer
Omaha 3B Craig Brazell hit 15 first-pitch home runs in 2007 for the PCL record. Nobody else in league history has had more than 12.
The Isotopes record for first-pitch home runs in a season is 11, accomplished by Joc Pederson in 2014 and Scott Seabol in 2006.
Reach Geoff Grammer at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) .
