D-backs Farm Report: Honors for Glaesmann, Romak and O’Brien
Aug 31, 2015, 3:49 PM
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.
Reno Aces (Triple-A Pacific Coast League)
Week: 5-2/Overall: 66-69, 2nd place in Pacific Northern Division
The Aces got their only looks at the Nashville Sounds and Memphis Redbirds of the American Southern Division last week and fared quite well, winning five of the seven games.
Make it a double – As a team, the Aces had 28 doubles in seven games last week, bringing their league-leading season total to 317. Outfielder Todd Glaesmann had nine two-baggers himself, while Phil Gosselin and Jamie Romak each added four.
Speaking of Glaesmann – Last week it was Mike Freeman who went on a monster tear, this time it was Glaesmann. The 24-year-old batted .586 (17-for-29) with three homers, eight RBI and the aforementioned nine doubles. He’s riding an 11-game hitting streak entering this week’s play. He was named the PCL Player of the Week Monday.
Congrats to Aces Center Fielder @toddglaesmann22 on being named PCL Player of the Week for August 24 to August 30! pic.twitter.com/jI5QvyJGaQ
— Reno Aces (@Aces) August 31, 2015
Bradley shines – Archie Bradley was reinstated from the disabled list and optioned to Reno last week. The right-hander pitched well in his second Triple-A start of the season. Bradley threw 4.1 scoreless innings while allowing five hits and striking out three in a 6-2 win over Memphis Friday night.
Thanks @ArchieBradley7 for taking time play catch w/our little guy today! He loved it! @Aces #RenoAces pic.twitter.com/ZPlUTPHs17
— Michelle Matherly (@GHSCrazyEngTchr) August 30, 2015
Honors for O’Brien and Romak – Peter O’Brien and Jamie Romak both garnered All-PCL Team honors Monday. O’Brien is tied for third in the PCL with 24 homers and is second with 96 RBI. Romak has put up similar numbers, crushing 25 home runs and driving in 95 runs.
Congrats to Aces Outfielder Peter O'Brien and Infielder Jamie Romak for being named to the All-PCL Team! pic.twitter.com/aF0PGMGNke
— Reno Aces (@Aces) August 31, 2015
Mobile BayBears (Double-A Southern League)
Week: 2-5/Overall: 32-29, 3rd place in South Division
The BayBears fell to third place in the South with a disappointing week. Position players hit a combined .205, while the pitching staff posted a collective 4.19 ERA. Mobile trails first-place Pensacola by two games with only seven games remaining in the regular season. The Bears close out their schedule with a five-game set at Pensacola, beginning Thursday.
Bracho gets the call – Silvino Bracho, a right-handed reliever, got the call-up to the Majors last week and made his D-backs debut Sunday in a loss to Oakland. Bracho has been outstanding for the BayBears this season. In 37 relief appearances, the 23-year-old Venezuelan went 2-1 with a 1.81 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP while fanning 59 and walking only nine. Bracho converted 16 saves in 18 opportunities.
Shipley still dealing – Right-hander Braden Shipley had another stellar outing Wednesday in a 4-3 road win at Biloxi. Shipley relieved starter Zack Godley and pitched six innings, allowing just two hits and striking out seven to pick up his ninth win of the season. The 23-year-old Oregon native has a scant 0.85 ERA in 31.2 innings of work in August. He could be a possibility for a September 1 call-up from the D-backs.
Braden Shipley w/ 6 scoreless IP in relief for @Mobile_BayBears: 2 H, 0 BB, 7 K. @Dbacks' #4: http://t.co/t1FpY2TMiG pic.twitter.com/gS9mpz2MAq
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 27, 2015
Visalia Rawhide (Single-A California League)
Week: 4-3/Overall: 39-24, tied for 1st in North Division
The ‘Hide will be in the California League playoffs by virtue of their first-half North Division championship, but they’re trying to make it a clean sweep. Visalia is tied with San Jose atop the division with seven regular season games remaining.
13 days until the playoffs! Be there! https://t.co/65qstdVCqD pic.twitter.com/Rsj7LgSWf1
— Visalia Rawhide (@VisaliaRawhide) August 31, 2015
Using the long ball – Visalia hit 15 home runs as a team last week, including three each from Daniel Palka and Gerson Montilla. Palka (28), Kevin Cron (27) and Stewart Ijames (18) all rank in the top ten of the league in homers.
Where’d this guy come from? – Lucas Irvine, a 26-year-old right-hander, was solid in his first minor-league action since 2011 Sunday in a 2-1 win over Modesto. Irvine allowed just four hits in 6.2 scoreless innings and struck out five in picking up the win. Irvine was most recently with the Somerset Patriots, an independent league team in New Jersey. He posted a 6-8 record with a 3.41 ERA this season. He was originally a 27th-round draft pick by Tampa Bay out of Northwestern State in 2011.
Saving the day – Right-hander Nick Sarianides picked up four more saves for the Rawhide last week, bringing his season total to 26, which leads the California League.
Kane County Cougars (Single-A Midwest League)
Week: 4-3/Overall: 42-20, 1st place in Western Division
The Cougars have clinched a Northwest League playoff berth and have eight games remaining in the regular season, including a three-game series against the Quad Cities River Bandits, who won the first-half title in the Western Division.
The Cougars are heading to the playoffs for the second consecutive year after a 7-1 win over Beloit!
— Kane County Cougars (@KCCougars) August 27, 2015
Bray rakes – Outfielder Colin Bray, a sixth-round pick in 2013, had himself a week batting .520 (13-for-25) with three doubles, six runs scored and three RBI. The 22-year-old is hitting .371 in his last ten games and has raised his season average to .304.
Piling up the Ws – Right-hander Ethan Elias, a 22nd-round pick of the Cubs in 2011 out of Evansburg, Alberta, pitched seven strong innings in his latest start. He allowed just seven hits and two earned runs while striking out three on the way to picking up his 11th win of the year.
11 wins this season for @EthanElias . No Cougars pitcher has had more in a single season since '05 Cougar Ryan Ford (14-7).
— Kane County Cougars (@KCCougars) August 30, 2015
Trahan continues to struggle – Catcher Stryker Trahan, the D-backs’ first-round pick in 2012, saw his offensive struggles continue last week, going just 1-for-12 at the plate with seven strikeouts. At three levels this season — Visalia, Kane County and Hillsboro — Trahan is hitting .194 and has struck out 134 times in 355 at-bats. The plus is, he’s shown power, hitting 17 home runs and belting 21 doubles on the year.
Hillsboro Hops (Short-A Northwest League)
Week: 4-3/Overall: 18-14, 2nd place in South Division
It’s somewhat amazing that the Hops notched a winning record considering they hit .181 (39-for-215) as a team and were outscored 23-20. Strong pitching is the reason why.
The @HillsboroHops have scored exactly 3 runs in five straight games. They're 4-1 in those games. #pitchingpitchingpitching
— Rich Burk (@RichBurk1) August 30, 2015
Mitsui still producing – First baseman Trevor Mitsui didn’t have a great week in terms of batting average, but he was responsible for driving in half of Hillsboro’s offense for the week. The former Washington Husky batted just .190 (4-for-21), but he homered and drove in 10 runs for the Hops. In fact, Mitsui has had four straight games without a hit in which he’s driven in a run. With 35 RBI, Mitsui is tied for sixth in the Northwest League.
VIDEO: Mitsui walk-off double http://t.co/exHwNLhoaR via @MiLB #AllHoppedup #WalkoffsAreFun pic.twitter.com/Noa6FIZ8Vp
— Hillsboro Hops (@HillsboroHops) August 27, 2015
Another arm in the bullpen? – Center Meyers Leonard of the Portland Trailblazers visited Ron Tonkin Field this week and threw some heat in a ceremonial first pitch.
@HillsboroHops @trailblazers @MeyersLeonard11 #AllHoppedUp ?⚾️? pic.twitter.com/4X8RmBaZWR
— Mike Bisset (@BeavsMB) August 28, 2015
Missoula Osprey (Rookie Pioneer League)
Week: 2-4/Overall: 16-13, 1st place in North Division
An award for Smith – Lefty Cameron Smith, a 36th-round draft pick in June out of Texas Tech, was named the Northwest League Pitcher of the Week on Monday after slinging a gem on Sunday night. The-22-year-old pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out four in a 7-1 win over Great Falls. He improved his season record to 7-1 while lowering his ERA to 1.78.
Big return for Flores – Infielder Raymel Flores, who hadn’t played in 10 days, had a 4-for-4 game Sunday against Great Falls. The 20-year-old homered and drove in three runs in the game.
Rookie D-backs (Arizona Rookie League)
Week: 0-3/Overall: 14-13, 3rd place in East Division
The Baby ‘Backs finished up their 2015 season by dropping their last three contests. For the year, the D-backs posted a 25-30 record, which was third-best in the East Division.
Shortstop Alvaro Rondon was the hitting star for the D-backs, batting .313 on the season and pacing the club with 20 RBI.