Altoona Curve

Paxton Kling enjoys success in Double-A playoffs

Baseball notes

Paxton Kling got off to a good start with the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, last week.

Kling, a Central High School graduate drafted by the Rangers in 2025, was called up last week from Single-A ball in South Carolina to Frisco, Texas to compete in the Texas League playoffs.

On Wednesday in a Game 1 semifinal best-of-3 opener, Kling went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a home run and a double. The RoughRiders won that game, 8-7, in 10 innings.

In game two against Amarillo (Arizona Diamondbacks), Kling, who played collegiately at both LSU and Penn State, went 1-for-4 with an RBI in a 12-7 loss. He started in center field in both games.

On Friday night in game 3, Kling went 1-for-4 with a run scored in an 8-7 loss that ended the RoughRiders' season.

Kling will keep on playing as the Rangers have placed him on their prospects team (Surprise Sagueros) in the Arizona Fall League that will start in a few weeks. It runs from Oct. 3 until Nov. 8.

Stumbo gets award

Right-handed pitcher Peyton Stumbo was recently honored as the Altoona Curve winner of the 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates Community Commitment Award.

Stumbo, of Sacramento, Calif., spent more than 16 hours at eight appearances of dedicated service to the Altoona community. According to the Curve, Stumbo "embraced kindness and compassion in every setting.''

Other Pirates organizational award winners included Connor Wietgrefe (Indianapolis), Treyson Peters (Greensboro), Jeter Martinez (Bradenton), Luke Scherrer (Bradenton), Dioris Martinez (Florida Complex League), Yoander Santana (Dominican Summer League) and Iverson Allen (DSL).

Brandon Lowe was the Pirates' Roberto Clemente Award nominee.