ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

D-backs Farm Rumblings Week 8: What does a guy need to do to get a promotion?

May 30, 2017, 3:43 PM

Follow @Vincemarotta...

cougarsUnhittable – Kane County right-hander Jon Duplantier has simply been one of the best pitchers in Minor League Baseball this season.

The former third-round pick of the D-backs pitched two more gems last week. Wednesday against Burlington, Duplantier went six shutout innings, allowing just three hits in a 3-0 road win. He followed that up with another strong performance Monday, allowing just one hit in six shutout innings with six strikeouts in a 3-2 win over Cedar Rapids.

Duplantier is now 5-0 with a 0.50 ERA in 54.1 innings of work. Opposing hitters are batting just .139 against him and he’s posted a microscopic 0.66 WHIP. The former Rice Owl has allowed three earned runs all season — all three coming in a 7-6 loss to South Bend on May 2.

He could be poised for a promotion to Visalia or Jackson and we’re sure the hitters in the Midwest League are rooting for it happen sooner rather than later.


acesBrito’s back! – Outfielder Socrates Brito returned to the field after a stint on the 60-day DL with a dislocated finger. The 24-year-old started slowly, going 1-for-12 in his first four games, but broke out against Sacramento Sunday and Monday, going 6-for-10 with a double and a triple.


acesNo Laffey matter – Veteran left-hander Aaron Laffey, picked up about two weeks ago as a free agent following a stint with the independent Somerset Patriots, has been very effective in a starting role for Reno. In two starts last week, Laffey pitched a total of 13 innings while allowing just one earned run.


generalsClarke should have more ‘k’s in the spelling – Jackson right-hander Taylor Clarke — a third-round pick in 2015 out of College of Charleston — set a career-high with 12 strikeouts in a 4-2 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Saturday night. The amazing part about it was Clarke only pitched 5.1 innings, so 12 of the 16 outs he recorded were signified by a ‘K’ on the scorecard.

After Clarke left the game in the sixth, relievers Joey Krehbiel and Gabriel Moya picked up the slack, fanning eight more Jacksonville hitters over the next 3.2 frames.


rawhidesmallAlmonte dealing – Right-hander Jose Almonte is in a groove for Single-A Visalia. The 21-year-old got the ball for two starts last week and pitched well in both games. Monday, Almonte threw seven shutout innings, striking out 10 in a 2-0 win over Rancho Cucamonga. Five days later, he fanned 11 and gave up only five hits, but didn’t get any run support in a 4-0 loss at Lake Elsinore.

Almonte has 39 strikeouts and just six walks over his last four starts — a stretch in which he’s gone 3-1. He’s second in the California League with 68 strikeouts, one less than A.J. Puk of Stockton.


Standings

Team Week Season Notes
aces 5-3 32-20 1st place in Pacific Northern Division; 1/2 game ahead of Tacoma
generals 3-4 27-23 3rd place in North Division, 2.5 games behind Tennessee
rawhidesmall 3-5 24-28 3rd place in North Division; 6 games behind Modesto
cougars 3-5 27-22 2nd place in Western Division; 1 game behind Cedar Rapids

Arizona Diamondbacks

Lourdes Gurriel Jr....

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks keep good times rolling with 14-run inning, Opening Day rout of Rockies

What the Diamondbacks accomplished in the third inning against the Rockies on Thursday night was completely new for those in the ballpark. 

5 hours ago

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. flips his bat during Arizona Diamondbacks' 2024 Opening Day...

Arizona Sports

Diamondbacks score 14 runs in a single inning to beat Rockies on Opening Day

The Arizona Diamondbacks set franchise marks with 13 hits and 14 runs in the third inning of their 2024 Opening Day game against the Rockies.

8 hours ago

Blaze Alexander...

Alex Weiner

Blaze Alexander did all he could to make Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster

Diamondbacks infielder Blaze Alexander put together a spring that made it too difficult for the team to send him back to the minor leagues.

12 hours ago

Ketel Marte celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Ketel Marte to lead off Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day lineup

The Arizona Diamondbacks' Opening Day lineup is set ahead of their matchup against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

15 hours ago

Jordan Montgomery throws a pitch...

Tyler Drake

Hall: Diamondbacks’ addition of Jordan Montgomery ‘made a lot of sense’

The Diamondbacks' addition of Jordan Montgomery puts a bow on a rotation that should be in the conversation for the top spot across MLB.

17 hours ago

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno...

Arizona Sports

Roundtable picks: One Diamondbacks young player to watch in 2024

Which Arizona Diamondbacks player should continue an upward trend in 2024? Gabriel Moreno, Brandon Pfaadt and Alek Thomas are possibilities.

17 hours ago

D-backs Farm Rumblings Week 8: What does a guy need to do to get a promotion?