ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

D-backs Farm Report: Honors for Glaesmann, Romak and O’Brien

Aug 31, 2015, 3:49 PM

Follow @Vincemarotta...

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.

AcesBanner

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.

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.

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.


BayBearsBanner

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.


RawhideBanner

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.

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.


CougarsBanner

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.

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.

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.


HopsBanner

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.

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.

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.


ospreybanner

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.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Blake Snell...

Associated Press

Blake Snell and San Francisco Giants agree to $62 million, 2-year contract, AP source says

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $62 million, two-year contract.

4 hours ago

Zac Gallen...

Damon Allred

Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen named Opening Day starter

The Arizona Diamondbacks named Zac Gallen the starter for Opening Day on March 28 when the Colorado Rockies come to Chase Field.

6 hours ago

Merrill Kelly...

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen building strong outings with Opening Day near

Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly followed Zac Gallen's scoreless outing Sunday with one of his own Monday against the Athletics.

7 hours ago

Alek Thomas, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder...

Kevin Zimmerman

D-backs’ Alek Thomas found confidence with just 2 swings in 2023 playoffs

Two Alek Thomas home runs during the 2023 playoff run for the Arizona Diamondbacks helped build his confidence. You can guess one of them.

10 hours ago

Alek Thomas...

Alex Weiner

NL West preview: Where do the Diamondbacks fit in a new-look division?

No division was more prevalent in the news cycle than the NL West. Here's a preview of the Dodgers, D-backs, Giants, Padres and Giants.

14 hours ago

Corbin Martin...

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks option RHPs Corbin Martin, Slade Cecconi in final week of spring training

The Diamondbacks continued to clear up roster battles by optioning pitchers Corbin Martin, Slade Cecconi and Blake Walston Triple-A.

15 hours ago

D-backs Farm Report: Honors for Glaesmann, Romak and O’Brien