D-backs Farm Report: Mitch Haniger stays red-hot in Reno
Jul 25, 2016, 9:20 AM | Updated: 2:34 pm
Reno Aces (Triple-A Pacific Coast League)
Week: 6-1 | Overall: 55-46, 2nd place in Pacific Northern Division — 3.5 games behind Tacoma
Have a week, Mitch: Outfielder Mitch Haniger got headline status in last week’s Farm Report. Why not make it two in a row? Haniger batted .484 (15-for-31) with 12 runs scored, six home runs, four doubles and 13 RBI. Haniger has four straight multi-hit games and has belted eight home runs over his last ten games. In just 42 games with Reno this season, the 25-year-old is batting .390 with 18 homers, 45 RBI, an .811 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.265.
Shelby Miller update: The D-backs’ embattled right-hander made two starts for Reno last week, going 1-0 with a 4.63 ERA. In his first outing Tuesday night, Miller went 6.2 innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs while striking out 10 in a 9-6 win over Colorado Springs. On Sunday, Miller wasn’t as sharp, allowing nine hits and three earned runs with six strikeouts. He didn’t get a decision, but the Aces beat Las Vegas 7-4.
Jensen still producing: Lost in Mitch Haniger’s big week was Kyle Jensen’s performance. The veteran first baseman drove in 10 runs in seven games, bringing his season total to 86, which is second in the PCL to El Paso’s Hunter Renfroe (87). Monday against Colorado Springs, Jensen had two homers and seven RBI — a career high.
A franchise first: The Aces completed their first-ever triple play Sunday, with Carlos Rivero, Ildemaro Vargas and Jensen doing the honors.
Carlos Rivero, Ildemaro Vargas and Kyle Jensen complete first triple play in @Aces history. https://t.co/CMLcFTwZcD pic.twitter.com/d9kesNmDG1
— MiLB.com (@MiLB) July 25, 2016
Mobile BayBears (Double-A Southern League)
Week: 4-2 | Overall: 17-13, tied for 1st place in South Division (2nd half) with Mississippi — 2.0 games ahead of Pensacola
7-inning fun: Postponements on Thursday and Friday meant seven-inning double-headers on Saturday and Sunday, and the Bears swept them both over the Jacksonville Suns. On Saturday, first baseman Kevin Cron homered in both games of the twin bill, bringing his season mark to a team-high 16. Right-hander Matt Koch was outstanding in the nightcap Saturday, allowing just one hit and one run over five innings in picking up his second win of the season.
Buckner’s resurgence: Billy Buckner, a 32-year-old right-hander, has been solid for Mobile in whatever role he’s been asked to fill. The former 2004 second-round draft pick of Kansas City started twice for the Bears last week, going 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 14 innings. Sunday, he threw a seven-inning complete game, which was his first this year and the fifth of his minor-league career which has spanned 250 games (221 starts).
Visalia Rawhide (High-A California League)
Week: 4-2 | Overall: 12-18, tied for 4th place in North Division (2nd half) — 8.0 games behind Bakersfield Keller dealing: Brad Keller, a 20-year-old right-hander, picked up two wins last week. The 2013 eight-round pick out of Flowery Branch (GA) High School allowed just one earned run over 12.2 innings, striking out 13 and walking only two in wins over Bakersfield and Stockton. Keller is now 8-6 with a 4.18 ERA this season.
Great outing for @brad_keller13 helping us to earn pitchers beeps for the 2-0 shut piece! https://t.co/6cyQpfp6zG — Jeff Bajenaru (@jeffbajenaru) July 21, 2016
Moya putting up zero after zero: Gabriel Moya, a 21-year-old Venezuelan lefty, has been the definition of stingy in 2016. Moya hurled 4.1 scoreless innings of relief, striking out eight in the process. In 35 relief appearances split between Visalia and Kane County, Moya has allowed runs in only four games. He’s got a 10-game scoreless outing streak and combined 2016 ERA of 1.35.
Kane County Cougars (Single-A Midwest League)
Week: 2-4 | Overall: 10-20, 8th place in in Western Division — 12.0 games behind Clinton
Armstrong getting hot: Outfielder Joey Armstrong, a 10th-round pick out of UNLV in 2015, has come around offensively. The 22-year-old batted .499 (10-for-25) last week, with three doubles and three RBI. Over his last ten games, Armstrong is hitting .429 (18-for-42).
Hillsboro Hops (Short-season-A Northwest League)
Week: 3-4 | Overall: 18-19, 2nd place in South Division, 9.0 games behind Eugene
Take a walk: Outfielder Marcus Wilson, the Diamondbacks’ 20th-best prospect according to MLB.com, tied a 56-year-old Northwest League record by drawing six walks in one game Tuesday night during an 8-2 win over Eugene. Wilson drew 10 walks for the week, and leads the league with 31 on the season. Hillsboro drew 17 free passes in that game, the most in a single game in the Northwest League this year.
Missoula Osprey (Rookie Pioneer League)
Week: 2-4 | Overall: 14-21, 3rd place in North Division, 8.0 games behind Billings
Long ball power: The Osprey launched 11 home runs as a team in six games last week. Eight of those came on Saturday and Sunday when Missoula routed Ogden twice by a combined score of 25-4. The Osprey lead the Pioneer League with 49 home runs in 35 games.
Big day for Ramos: Third baseman Eudy Ramos had another big day Sunday, going 5-for-5 with three runs scored, a home run and two RBI in a 13-3 win over Ogden.
AZL Rookie D-backs (Arizona Rookie League)
Week: 1-5 | Overall: 13-15, 3rd place in East Division — 3.5 games behind Cubs
Ugly stat line of the week: This belongs to 20-year-old right-hander Anyel Beato, who gave up seven earned runs in 1.1 innings of work in a 15-3 loss to the Angels Thursday night. That four-out stint raised Beato’s season ERA from 6.17 to 10.38.