In Tuesday night’s shortened 13-5 victory against the Lake Country DockHounds (14-22), the Fargo-Moorhead pitcher broke the American Association wins record with his 56th career win. Former Sioux Falls pitcher Ben Moore (2008-11, 2013-14) previously held the record. McGovern now leads the AAPB in career wins, innings pitched (839), and strikeouts (753).
This is McGovern’s third season with Fargo-Moorhead and ninth in the American Association. McGovern broke the previous American Association strikeout record (701) last season before being transferred to the St. Louis Cardinals organization on June 10, 2021. McGovern’s call-up was significant as it was his first time playing affiliated baseball in his 10-year career.
Before pitching for Fargo-Moorhead, McGovern played parts of five seasons for the Winnipeg Goldeyes (2014-19). He is the Goldeyes’ all-time strikeout leader (479) and is the only pitcher in Winnipeg history with three seasons of 100-plus strikeouts (2016-18). He was named an American Association All-Star in 2017. McGovern also pitched two seasons for the Lincoln Saltdogs (2014-15).
McGovern pitched in four games for Fargo-Moorhead in 2021 and went 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA and 0.53 WHIP in 32 innings pitched. Two of McGovern’s four starts were complete-game wins and he was named the American Association Pitcher of the Week twice during the first three weeks of the 2021 season.
So far this season McGovern has a 4-1 record in eight starts. He has 49 strikeouts, which ranks third in the American Association.
He broke the AAPB career innings pitched record (797.1) – also held by Ben Moore – in his second start of the 2022 season on May 18.
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (25-10) will continue their four-game series against Lake Country tomorrow night at Wisconsin Brewing Park Park in Oconomowoc, Wis. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. The RedHawks have now won nine of their last ten games and have the best record in the AAPB.
