ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
D-backs Farm Rumblings: Vargas, Borenstein and a darn cool bobblehead
Reno Aces
Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Week: 3-4
Overall: 68-53 — 2nd place in Pacific Northern Division, 1.0 game behind Fresno
Big week for Vargas: Infielder Ildemaro Vargas was a tough out for opposing pitchers last week. The 26-year-old hit .467 (14-for-30) with three home runs, three doubles and six RBI in six games. In Wednesday’s 11-2 win over Las Vegas, Vargas went 4-for-6 with three runs scored and two solo home runs. It was the first multi-homer game of his minor-league career, which began in 2008 and has spanned over 760 games. Vargas enters the week riding a 12-game hitting streak.
Borenstein and Buchanan, too: Outfielder Zach Borenstein hit .458 (11-for-24) with four home runs and 12 RBI. The 27-year-old had 11 RBI over a two-game span on Wednesday and Thursday.
Jake Buchanan, a 27-year-old right-hander, made two starts last week, allowing just five hits and two runs over 13 innings.
Jake Buchanan & Zach Borenstein swept the PCL Player, Pitcher of the Week honors. pic.twitter.com/oxmnmc2jmC
— Reno Aces (@Aces) August 14, 2017
Pretty good giveaway: The Aces are celebrating Trevor Bauer Drone Bobblehead Night during their next homestand. Bauer, now a member of the Cleveland Indians, pitched in 14 ballgames for Reno in 2012, going 5-1 with a 2.85 ERA.
Trevor Bauer Drone Bobblehead & much more featured in second-to-last homestand at @greaternvfield starting tomorrowhttps://t.co/Z9CJQBV0UW pic.twitter.com/fm9bSJRVhG
— Reno Aces (@Aces) August 14, 2017
Jackson Generals
Double-A Southern League
Week: 2-4
Overall: 23-26 — 4th place in North Division, 11.0 games behind Chattanooga (2nd half)
Comfortable leads: First baseman Kevin Cron homered twice and drove in six runs for the Generals in six games last week. He now has 22 home runs and 82 RBI on the season, which lead the league in both categories by a wide margin. Tennessee’s Jason Vosler is second in both categories, but has six fewer homers and 14 fewer runs batted in on the year.
And @kevin_cron24 is doing his thing! Single gives him 82 RBIs on the year, makes it 3-2! pic.twitter.com/D4JPXqsIJ6
— Jackson Generals (@jacksongenerals) August 13, 2017
Visalia Rawhide
High-A California League
Week: 0-6
Overall: 23-27 — Tied for 3rd place in North Division, 2.0 games behind Modesto (2nd half)
Rough week: Visalia lost all six games last week, getting outscored 38-15 in the process. Saturday and Sunday were particularly tough, as the Rawhide managed just one run against Stockton pitching and batted .143 (9-for-63).
Tough loss for Duplantier: Right-hander Jon Duplantier has increased his prospect ranking more than anyone in the D-backs system in 2017, and pitched well in his last outing, too. Duplantier went five innings Saturday against Stockton while allowing just two hits, one walk and one unearned run while striking out nine in a 4-0 loss. Even with the loss, he’s 10-3 with a 1.47 ERA and 0.966 WHIP in 2017. He started the season as Arizona’s No. 8 prospect, according to MLB.com, but has risen to No. 2 on the list.
Last night, #Dbacks No. 2 prospect Jon Duplantier lowered his @VisaliaRawhide ERA to 1.87 with five scoreless frames https://t.co/yjHbi6ecTW pic.twitter.com/2N6AgUvjqr
— MiLB.com (@MiLB) August 13, 2017
Kane County Cougars
Single-A Midwest League
Week: 5-1
Overall: 27-22 — 2nd place in Western Division, 4.0 games behind Quad Cities
Outstanding pitching: Kane County held opponents Burlington and Wisconsin to just 11 runs in six games, allowed them to hit just .214 (43-for-201) with only eight of those hits being of the extra-base variety. For the week, the Cougars posted a collective ERA of 1.42.
Hillsboro Hops
Short-season-A Northwest League
Week: 3-4
Overall: 9-9 — Tied for 1st place with Boise and Eugene in South Division, 2.0 games ahead of Salem-Keizer
Feature on Smith: First-round pick Pavin Smith and his unique living situation featured on local TV in Oregon.
Quick segment with @HillsboroHops star @PavinSmith and living with the first family of Hillsboro with Mayor @SteveCallaway2 @KGWSports pic.twitter.com/PDaa2wDi3H
— Orlando Sanchez (@orlandokgw) August 12, 2017
Missoula Osprey
Rookie Pioneer League
Week: 2-4
Overall: 3-8 — 4th place in North Division, 2.0 games behind Great Falls
Rose knows: Joey Rose, a 19-year-old third baseman who was a fifth-round pick of the D-backs in 2016, had quite a week for the Osprey. Rose batted .346 (9-for-26) with three home runs, four doubles and nine RBI. For the season, Rose is in the top ten of the Pioneer League with eight homers and 34 RBI while batting .314.
D-backs
Rookie Arizona League
Week: 3-3
Overall: 4-8 — Tied for 3rd place with A’s and Cubs in East Division, 3.0 games behind Angels and Giants
Big week: Jancarlos Cintron, a 22-year-old second baseman, had the best week of any hitter for the D-backs, hitting .429 (9-for-21) with a home run, two doubles, two triples and seven RBI. He leads the team with 17 RBI.
