D-backs Farm Rumblings: Ketel Marte making case for a call-up
May 8, 2017, 8:30 AM | Updated: 8:54 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte bats against the Colorado Rockies during a spring baseball game in Scottsdale, Ariz., Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
When the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired pitcher Taijuan Walker in the Jean Segura trade from Seattle last November, they also acquired shortstop Ketel Marte in the deal.
Marte wasn’t talked about too much because the D-backs already had shortstops Chris Owings and Nick Ahmed on the roster. Marte, who started 116 games for the Mariners in 2016, slashed .259/.287.323 and was tied with Oakland’s Marcus Semien (who played 353 more innings) for the most errors by an Major League shortstop (21).
Marte was decent in his first spring training with the D-backs, hitting .251 and logging 60.1 error-free innings in the field. Nonetheless, he started the year in Reno, but Marte is making a serious push to get a call-up from D-backs GM Mike Hazen based on his play in the Pacific Coast League.
The 23-year-old is batting .419, 37 points higher than anyone in the PCL. His 52 hits are the most in affiliated baseball so far this season.
Marte’s game log shows a picture of consistency. He’s had at least one base hit in 26 of 28 games this year and has 17 multi-hit games. He’s also been decent in the field, committing only five errors in 135 chances.
This past week, Marte hit .500 (13-for-26) with five extra-base hits and 10 RBI.
Reno Mashing – The Aces broke a franchise record with 26 hits in a 22-3 shellacking of the Salt Lake Bees Thursday. Every starter in the lineup had multiple hits, led by left fielder Oswaldo Arcia, who had five hits, including three doubles, and drove in three runs.
The Aces swept a four-game series from the Bees, collecting 49 runs in the process.
RECAP: Aces Sweep Bees, Score 49 Runs in Serieshttps://t.co/yrukugIAzN pic.twitter.com/hWoIlqMetk
— Reno Aces (@Aces) May 6, 2017
Banda Settling Down – D-backs’ top prospect Anthony Banda had his best start of the 2017 season, going seven shutout innings while scattering just four hits in that 22-3 win over Salt Lake. Banda struck out nine and walked only one while throwing 73 of his 103 pitches for strikes.
On the season, the 23-year-old lefty is now 3-1 with a 3.82 ERA and has struck out 34 in 30.2 innings of work.
Banda remains a possibility for the parent club as they continue to search for a more permanent replacement for right-hander Shelby Miller, who will miss the remainder of the season. The Diamondbacks have already tried Zack Godley and Braden Shipley in the fifth starter’s role, and reportedly attended a workout for veteran right-handed free agent Doug Fister over the weekend.
Top @Dbacks prospect Anthony Banda was already on top of his game when @Aces offense started backing him up in rout. https://t.co/44Z45X2yMD pic.twitter.com/7xvdRKQB5S
— MiLB.com (@MiLB) May 5, 2017
Snakes On A Diamond – Here’s something you don’t see every day. The Aces’ Sunday game in Sacramento was held up for (this is real), a snake delay.
Dunno, looks like a diamondback to us. @Aces @Dbacks #SnakeGate2017 pic.twitter.com/r025fTKLqu
— River Cats (@RiverCats) May 7, 2017
Clarke Pitching Well – Right-hander Taylor Clarke, the D-backs’ No. 5 prospect according to MLB.com, was stellar in his latest outing.
Clarke, a third-round pick in 2015, pitched six scoreless innings while allowing only two hits and a walk in a 4-0 win over Mobile Friday night. Clarke is now 3-1 on the season and has had four straight starts in which he’s allowed less than two earned runs.
#Dbacks No. 5 prospect Taylor Clarke tosses six scoreless innings, lowers ERA to 2.25 for @jacksongenerals. https://t.co/kREAgstppc pic.twitter.com/S9ClqJf2cn
— MiLB.com (@MiLB) May 6, 2017
Another Starter Candidate? – While the D-backs search for a starting pitching solution, don’t forget about right-hander Rubby De La Rosa, who started 42 big league games over the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
De La Rosa had two rounds of stem-cell therapy in the offseason in hopes of avoiding Tommy John surgery. So far, so good. The 28-year-old is on a rehab assignment with the Visalia Rawhide of the California League, and has pitched three scoreless innings of relief so far, allowing just one hit while striking out two.
If the D-backs are considering De La Rosa as a starting option, they’ll have to be patient as he works on lengthening his outings. He’s thrown a total of 33 pitches in his three relief appearances.
He’s Human! – After starting the season with 20.2 innings without an earned run, Kane County right-hander Jon Duplantier finally has a digit that’s not a zero in the ‘ER’ column. Duplantier gave up three earned runs in a five-inning stint of a 7-6 loss on Tuesday.
Even so, Duplantier’s ERA is still only 1.07 on the season.
Solid D, Better Pic – Check out this shot of Visalia’s Galli Cribbs laying out to make a play.
Standings
| Team | Week | Season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
5-2 | 19-12 | Tied for 1st place with Tacoma in Pacific Northern Division |
|
4-2 | 19-11 | 1st place in North Division; 1.5 games ahead of Tennessee |
|
4-3 | 17-14 | 2nd place in North Division; 2 games behind Modesto |
|
1-4 | 16-11 | Tied with Cedar Rapids for 1st place in Western Division |
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