NILES — For the first time in 685 days, Mother Nature got the upper hand on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

Tuesday’s scheduled game between the Scrappers and the Trenton Thunder was canceled due to inclement weather, marking the first rainout at Eastwood Field since Aug. 11, 2021.

Just as the Scrappers were set to be introduced, a light but persistent rain began to fall. The game was called just before 8 p.m.

The Scrappers went the entire 2022 season without a home rainout. The 40-game home schedule included just one rain delay.

Tuesday was supposed to be the start of an eight-day, seven-game homestand for the Scrappers, who were scheduled to play the Thunder for three straight nights, followed by a three-game set against State College.

Following an off-day next Monday, the Scrappers host West Virginia on July 4, followed by a two-day break which coincides with the Major League Baseball Draft.

The Scrappers (8-13) are looking to rebound from a road trip in which they dropped five of six games. Trenton sits atop the league standings at 15-6.

Canceled games are not rescheduled in the MLB Draft League.

The Scrappers and Thunder will try again tonight at 7:05.

JACKED UP FOR THE SUMMER

It’s been a busy and productive start to the summer for Jack Moss. If all goes well, the best is yet to come.

Moss recently completed his junior season at Texas A&M, where he helped lead the Aggies to a 38-win season and a trip to the Southeastern Conference title game. From there it was a trip to Niles to join up with the Scrappers. After playing just five games with the Scrappers, Moss was called on to take part in the Major League Baseball Draft Combine, which takes place in Phoenix.

The Draft Combine is in its third year. The event allows the top 300 draft-eligible players, as identified by MLB teams, to take part in a series of medical and performance assessments. Additionally, prospects have the opportunity to participate in a pro-style showcase workout.

“It’s a huge honor to be invited to the combine, it means that I’m on the radar of a good number of major league teams,” Moss said. “It’s a rare chance to get to showcase your talents to scouts and front office personnel from every major league franchise.”

It is expected that Moss’ name will be called in the early rounds of the upcoming July MLB Draft.

This past spring at Texas A&M, Moss – a preseason All-American – batted .355. As a sophomore, he hit at a .380 clip. Defensively he is widely regarded as one of the top first basemen in the country.

Moss describes himself as “a late bloomer” who didn’t fully commit to baseball until middle school.

“I had a late growth spurt, and right when that happened I began really developing my baseball skills,” Moss said. “Everything just seemed to click and to fall into place all at once.”

In fact, just days after his sixteenth birthday during his sophomore season in high school, Moss received his first college offer, from Virginia. As a junior at Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood, CO) Moss batted .490 and was a first-team All-State selection.

Moss’ high school senior season was eliminated due to COVID, but the honors kept pouring in. In the spring of 2020, he was ranked as the No. 1 player in Colorado by Prep Baseball Report and he was ranked as the country’s fourth-best first baseman.

Moss’ high school career ended with him being named Colorado’s Gatorade Player of the Year.

“It was a bit odd because we hadn’t played any games that year, but the award was kind of a recognition of my overall high school career, so it was an incredible honor,” Moss said. “There were some great players that came out of Colorado in 2020, many now either playing at the Division I (college) level or in pro ball.”

If things go according to plan, Moss could join the ranks of professional players early next month.

“The worst case scenario is going back to A&M, and that’s a really awesome option to fall back on so I’m good with whatever happens,” Moss said.