Farm Rumblings Week 1: Stuff you need to know about the D-backs’ farm system

One week of Minor League baseball is in the books, and the Arizona Diamondbacks’ farm teams did very well out of the gates, combining to go 11-5, including a 4-0 mark by the Kane County Cougars of the Single-A Midwest League.

Shipley just OK in first start in Reno

After piling up 70 days of Major League service time last year, Braden Shipley was in the mix to win a starting rotation spot this spring for the D-backs. He didn’t. Instead, the right-hander starts the season in his hometown of Reno, Nevada for the second straight year. Shipley got the ball on opening night for the Aces. The 24-year-old went five innings, allowing 11 hits and six earned runs while striking out six in a 13-6 win over the Fresno Grizzlies. It was the second-most hits he’s ever allowed in a Triple-A outing. Shipley was touched up for 13 hits in four innings of a 13-3 loss to the El Paso Chihuahuas last June 27.

Arcia goes 3-for-4, 4 RBI, Shipley gets first #Aces win of '17 in 13-6 route over @FresnoGrizzlies Thursday nighthttps://t.co/pLm9tv2Lnw pic.twitter.com/MxN869J3jS

— Reno Aces (@Aces) April 7, 2017

Power surge in Jackson

The Jackson Generals of the Southern League will serve as the D-backs’ new Double-A affiliate, and the team’s first week in the chain provided plenty of highlights. The Generals went 3-1, outscoring the Birmingham Barons 38-15 over the four games, including a 20-5 shellacking on Sunday.

First baseman Kevin Cron, one of the best power bats in Arizona’s system, had a three-dinger game on Saturday. Cron, who had 26 home runs for Mobile last year, had solo blasts in the second, eighth and ninth innings of an 8-7, 10-frame loss to the Barons. His third clout sent the game to extra innings. Cron followed with another home run — this one a two-run shot — on Sunday.

But Cron wasn’t the only Generals hitter to have a multi-homer game in the season’s first week. Third baseman Dawel Lugo, Arizona’s fourth-best minor league prospect according to MLB.com, went deep twice on Sunday while outfielder Stewart Ijames added two long balls in the same game.

Generals homer six times as part of 22-hit, 20-run outburst in beatdown of Birmingham Sunday. RECAP: https://t.co/bNNXBU3cdG pic.twitter.com/Abew0cS5vN

— Jackson Generals (@jacksongenerals) April 10, 2017

Good starts for two young arms

Right-hander Taylor Clarke, a third-round pick out of the College of Charleston in 2015, was brilliant in his first outing of the season. The 23-year-old pitched five shutout innings, allowing just two hits and a walk while fanning seven in an 8-0 win over Birmingham on Thursday night.

The next night, 24-year-old Phoenix native Josh Taylor (who played at Centennial High in Peoria) allowed one earned run over five innings while striking out nine in a 3-2 win.

Red Hot in the Heartland

The Single-A Midwest League Kane County Cougars were red-hot to start the season, going 4-0 against the Clinton LumberKings and outscoring them 24-5.

The four-game streak included consecutive shutouts on Friday and Saturday. Right-hander Jon Duplantier, a third-round pick out of Rice last summer, combined with three relievers on a three-hit blank job on Friday. The next night, right-hander Sam McWilliams combined with three relievers on a five-hit shutout.

With one special fan in the stands, #Dbacks No. 8 prospect Jon Duplantier dominates in his full-season debut. https://t.co/ENWyw8dr3W pic.twitter.com/PJMAuxocp5

— MiLB.com (@MiLB) April 8, 2017

Through four games, Kane County’s pitching staff has a collective 0.71 ERA.

Nuggets in 140 Characters or Less

With his first hit of 2017, Carlos Rivero now has 1200 career @MiLB hits.

Congrats, Carlos. pic.twitter.com/RUbOYdPe9x

— Reno Aces (@Aces) April 9, 2017

.@kevin_cron24 becomes just the fourth General in the last decade to go yard three times in a game, but Jackson falls in extras Saturday. pic.twitter.com/mfFlpTYSuy

— Jackson Generals (@jacksongenerals) April 9, 2017

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