D-backs Farm Rumblings: A.J. Pollock getting closer to return

Pollock getting closer – D-backs center fielder A.J. Pollock played in his first organized baseball game Saturday night in Reno, going 1-for-2 with a walk in an 8-0 win over Las Vegas. The former All-Star hasn’t played with the big league club since May 14, when he left a game against Pittsburgh with a groin injury.

The Diamondbacks haven’t missed a beat in his absence, going 23-8 — the best record in the big leagues in that span.

Pollock didn’t play Sunday for the Aces, but should be back in the lineup Monday night against the 51s.

A.J. Pollock is back in action for the tonight at @greaternvfield (@Dbacks rehab). pic.twitter.com/zNq9tAqiQx

— Reno Aces (@Aces) June 18, 2017

Banda struggling – The D-backs’ top prospect, left-hander Anthony Banda, isn’t having the smoothest of years at Triple-A Reno. The 23-year-old made two starts last week, and although he won the second (a 7-3 win over Las Vegas), he walked 13 batters in 10.2 innings.

For the season, Banda is 6-4 with a 4.96 ERA. He does have 76 strikeouts in 78 innings of work, but has walked 40, which is the third-most in the Pacific Coast League.

Anthony Banda is done for the day.

5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 7 K’s pic.twitter.com/BORMFWbZGk

— Reno Aces (@Aces) June 18, 2017

Medrano raking – He’s not a big-time prospect, but Jackson infielder Kevin Medrano had a week for the ages. The 27-year-old batted a blistering .517 (15-for-29) for the Generals, raising his batting average 33 points to .333. In Saturday’s win over the Birmingham Barons, Medrano had five of Jackson’s 20 hits in a 10-5 win. He was the first Jackson player to have a five-hit game since 2015.

Medrano enters this week’s action riding a 15-game hitting streak.

Two more hits from Kevin Medrano, but the Generals fall to Birmingham in the First Half Finale. RECAP: https://t.co/2YLsF59a9o pic.twitter.com/ik2pXB7Twq

— Jackson Generals (@jacksongenerals) June 19, 2017

Cougars wrap up first-half title – Strong finish to the first half of the schedule by Kane County.

#YourCougars clinch Western Division First Half Championship with 14-2 drubbing over Wisconsin

RECAP: https://t.co/0Tx39Cq9iA pic.twitter.com/CFfZHZarH1

— Kane County Cougars (@KCCougars) June 18, 2017

The moment #YourCougars clinched the First Half Western Division Championship 🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/MsEoRyDogT

— Kane County Cougars (@KCCougars) June 18, 2017

He’s only human – Kane County right-hander Jon Duplantier did something Thursday that he had never done before: He lost a minor league game. Duplantier gave up seven hits and three runs over six innings in a 6-3, seven-inning loss to Peoria. The 22-year-old had started his minor league career with six straight wins.

Duplantier is still 6-1 with a 1.24 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP while opponents are hitting just .180 against him. He’ll represent the Cougars in the Midwest League All-Star Game Tuesday in Midland, MI.

Yesterday, #YourCougars honored pitcher @dup_thereitis as he was named the @TwoBrothersBiz Player of the Month for May! pic.twitter.com/iaRqkG0gHm

— Kane County Cougars (@KCCougars) June 17, 2017

Hops off to a decent start – The Hillsboro Hops, Arizona’s short-season Single-A Northwest League affiliate, got their season started Thursday night and split four games against the Everett Emeralds. Right-hander Jhoan Duran, the D-backs’ 22nd-best prospect according to MLB.com, got the opening night start and pitched well, allowing only four hits and two unearned runs while striking out four in a 10-3 win.

OFFICIAL: @Dbacks RHP Matt Koch will start the Hops home opener 6/20. He’s the first player with MLB experience to play for the Hops! pic.twitter.com/Ep1ur2qcAa

— Hillsboro Hops (@HillsboroHops) June 18, 2017

Osprey raring to go – The Missoula Osprey, the D-backs’ Rookie Pioneer League affiliate, start their 2017 season Monday night against the Billings Mustangs.

Team	Week	Season	Notes
	4-2	44-26	1st place in Pacific Northern Division; 7.0 games ahead of Tacoma
	5-2	37-33	Tied for 2nd place in North Division; 5.0 games behind Chattanooga
1	5-2	36-34	Tied for 2nd place in North Division; 3.0 games behind Modesto
	5-1	39-28	1st place in Western Division; 1.5 games ahead of Cedar Rapids
	2-2	2-2	Tied for 1st place in South Division

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