ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

D-backs Farm Report: Big weeks for Brandon Drury, Peter O’Brien

Aug 3, 2015, 9:13 AM | Updated: 9:20 am

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Every week here on ArizonaSports.com, we’ll take a look at what’s going on in the minor league system of the Arizona Diamondbacks — the good, the bad and everything in between.

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Reno Aces (Triple-A Pacific Coast League)

Week: 4-2/Overall: 52-56, 3rd place in Pacific Northern Division

The week started with a strong pitching performance from right-hander Caleb Clay, who threw five scoreless innings and then turned things over to the bullpen in a 3-0 win over Las Vegas. Clay wasn’t as sharp in his second start of the week. The 27-year-old went 5.2 innings and allowed eight hits and four earned runs in a 4-1 loss to El Paso. The loss snapped his personal three-game winning streak and evened his season record at 7-7.

Power Stroke Returning – Outfielder Peter O’Brien homered in three consecutive games last week, bringing his season total to 20, which ranks second on the Aces roster and third in the Pacific Coast League. It’s the second time the right-handed slugger has homered in three straight contests — he also accomplished the feat April 20-22.

Drury Heating Up – Infielder Brandon Drury, whose name came up in trade rumors last week, didn’t let the chatter affect him. Drury hit .409 (9-for-22) last week with a home run and five RBI. The week was highlighted by a 5-for-5 night in a 10-4 win over the Fresno Grizzlies last Wednesday. It was Drury’s second career five-hit game — the first came on April 30, 2013 for South Bend.


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Mobile BayBears (Double-A Southern League)

Week: 4-2/Overall: 22-13, 1st place in South Division

Another strong week for the first-place BayBears as they took three out of five from Jacksonville and closed the week with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Biloxi Sunday. The Bears pushed across two runs in the bottom of the eighth, highlighted by an RBI double by Gabriel Guerrero which proved to be the game-winner.

Weber, Brito Fueling Offense – Garrett Weber and Socrates Brito put up identical .409 (9-for-22) stat lines last week. Weber, who played 77 games with Triple-A Reno to start the season, has adjusted nicely to Southern League pitching, hitting .370 in eight games since his arrival. Brito, meanwhile, has been scorching hot. The All-Star Futures Game participant is batting .362 (34-for-94) with three home runs and 13 RBI since July 1.

Shipley Still Sailing – Right-hander Braden Shipley, the D-backs’ number-four prospect according to MLB.com, had another stellar week. In two starts, Shipley pitched a total of 14 innings, allowed 11 hits and two earned runs while striking out 10 and walking two. Since July 1, Shipley is 4-2 with a 2.28 ERA. His eight victories are tied for third-most in the Southern League.


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Visalia Rawhide (Single-A California League)

Week: 4-3/Overall: 22-14, 3rd place in North Division

The ‘Hide split four games with Modesto, who hold a three-game lead over Visalia in the North Division. The Rawhide open up a seven-game homestand against Stockton Monday night, but that might not be a good thing. Visalia is just 6-8 at home in the second half of the season, while going 16-6 on the road.

Big Week For Westbrook – Jamie Westbrook, a fifth-round pick in 2013 out of Basha High School in Gilbert, had himself a week at the plate. Westbrook batted .364 and his 12 hits in that span were the most for any player in the Diamondbacks organization.

That’s Another ‘K’ – The top of the Visalia rotation, namely Blake Perry, R.J. Hively and Anthony Banda, racked up a lot of strikeouts last week. Perry fanned 11 in 12 innings of work over two starts. Hively had 14 in 12 innings and Banda, whom the D-backs acquired from Milwaukee in the Gerardo Parra deal last summer, topped them both. The lefty struck out 13 in just six innings during a 5-4 win over San Jose Wednesday. It was a new career-high for Banda, who is currently leading the California League with 120 strikeouts in 21 starts.


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Kane County Cougars (Single-A Midwest League)

Week: 5-1/Overall: 28-9, 1st place in Western Division

The Cougars continue churning out wins as they swept Burlington and took two of three from Cedar Rapids over the weekend. Their 28-9 second-half record is easily the best in low-A ball, which includes the Midwest League and South Atlantic League. As has been the case all year, the Cougars don’t beat you with power. They had one home run (courtesy of catcher Elvin Soto) all last week, and have only 35 round-trippers in 105 games — the third-lowest total in the league. However, Kane County did bat .307 as a team last week, and their .275 team average is the best in the circuit.

Sterling Performance For Taylor – Josh Taylor, an undrafted free agent who played his prep ball at Centennial High in Peoria, had a performance for the ages last Friday. The 22-year-old lefty pitched a complete-game gem, allowing just one earned run and striking out 13 in a 5-1 win over Cedar Rapids. It was the first complete game for Taylor in his minor league career, which has spanned 21 games. Taylor was acquired by Arizona in early July along with Chris Oliver from Philadelphia for an international bonus slot.

Getting The Call – Former ASU reliever Ryan Burr has been outstanding in the early stages of his pro career, going 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA and three saves in 13 games with Hillsboro. He’s been so good in fact, he’s switching addresses.


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Hillsboro Hops (Short-Season-A Northwest League)

Week: 3-4/Overall: 3-4 (2nd Half), Tied for 3rd place in South Division)

The first-half South Division champs had an up-and-down week to start the back half of their 2015 schedule. The Hops lost three out of five against Tri-City, including a 9-0 whitewashing on Friday night. The shutout loss was Hillsboro’s first in 111 games, dating back to June 24, 2014.

Big Week For Olmeda – Catcher Alexis Olmeda, a 21st-round pick out of Yavapai College in June, had a productive week at the dish. Olmeda led the Hops with a .450 average (9-for-20). On the season, Olmeda is batting a robust .343 (23-for-67) with six extra-base hits and five RBI.

Hernandez Cruises – Twenty-one-year-old right-hander Carlos Hernandez was lights-out in his first start of the week, last Tuesday night. Against Salem-Keizer, Hernandez seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits while striking out seven. While lefties Jared Miller and Cody Reed have received much of the attention heaped on Hillsboro pitchers, Hernandez has been outstanding as well, going 3-1 with 1.52 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 53 innings this season.

All-Star Hops – Hillsboro will be very well-represented on the Northwest League All-Star team as they take on the Pioneer League All-Stars Tuesday night in Spokane.


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Missoula Osprey (Rookie Pioneer League)

Week: 2-4/Overall: 2-4 (2nd half), Tied for 2nd place in North Division

Not a great week offensively for the Osprey, as they batted only .214 as a team and ended the week by being shut out 5-0 by the Billings Mustangs.

All-Star Honors For Ramirez – Right-hander Yefrey Ramirez was named to the Pioneer Baseball League All-Star team, replacing Christian Trent of Helena. Ramirez’s inclusion gives the Osprey six players on the Pioneer League squad — shortstop Isan Diaz, first baseman Austin Byler, catcher Luke Lowery, and pitchers Cameron Smith and Dan Savas. The Pioneer All-Stars will take on the Northwest League All-Stars Tuesday night in Spokane.

Drawing Free Passes – Outfielder Marcus Wilson drew nine walks in six games last week, giving him 23 on the season which is good enough for third-most in the league. Wilson’s teammate, Austin Byler, leads the league with 34 bases on balls. The Osprey have drawn a league-high 214 walks on the year.


Rookie D-backs (Arizona Rookie League)

Week: 4-3/Overall: 4-3 (2nd half), tied for 1st place in East Division

Some big-leaguers are currently with the “Baby ‘Backs” rehabbing their way back to the Majors. Right-hander Chase Anderson worked four scoreless innings on Sunday, yielding four hits and striking out three as he’s recovering from a triceps injury.

Catcher Gerald Laird, who had back surgery in April, played a few innings on Sunday as well, going 1-for-2 with a single in a 7-2 win over the Athletics at Hohokam Park.

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