D-backs Farm Rumblings: Organization’s top prospects throwing well
May 28, 2018, 1:57 PM
| Team | League | Week/Overall | Standing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Reno Aces | Pacific Coast League (Triple-A) | 3-4 / 21-30 | 4th place in Pacific Northern Division (8.0 games back) |
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Jackson Generals | Southern League (Double-A) | 3-3 / 28-21 | 2nd place in North Division (1.5 games behind Chattanooga) |
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Visalia Rawhide | California League (High-A) | 3-3 / 27-23 | 2nd place in North Division (3.0 games behind Stockton) |
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Kane County Cougars | Midwest League (Single-A) | 5-2 / 25-21 | 3rd place in Western Division (1.0 game behind Quad Cities) |
Clarke back on track – Reno right-hander Taylor Clarke, the D-backs’ number-three prospect, has been outstanding as of late. Wednesday night, the 25-year-old threw 5.2 scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and three walks in a 5-2 win over the Fresno Grizzlies. It was Clarke’s third victory in his last three starts and he’s now evened his season record at 5-5. Over those three outings, Clarke has allowed just 11 hits and four earned runs over 17.2 innings (2.04 ERA) while striking out 24 and walking four.
#Dbacks prospect Taylor Clarke pushed for his MLB debut with a gem for @Aces while #Yankees prospect Justus Sheffield posted zeros in his return to @swbrailriders. More from Wednesday: https://t.co/AOxcz0Ciai pic.twitter.com/T8oaKrP0Cx
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 24, 2018
Medlen calls it a career – Veteran right-hander Kris Medlen, who signed with the Diamondbacks in January after spending the 2017 season in the Atlanta Braves organization, retired from baseball Sunday — a day after he was scheduled to start for the Aces against Salt Lake. In Reno, Medlen, who had Tommy John surgeries in 2010 and 2014, went 0-5 with a 5.03 ERA. He did get one start in the big leagues, filling in for the injured Robbie Ray on May 4. Medlen was touched up for nine hits and seven runs over four innings in an 8-0 loss to the Houston Astros. He was immediately optioned to Reno after the game, and would make three more starts for the Aces. Over parts of eight seasons in the Majors with Atlanta, Kansas City and Arizona, Medlen went 41-26 with a 3.33 ERA.
Duplantier dominating again – Monday night, Jon Duplantier, Arizona’s top prospect, was downright stingy in his last start. Monday night, Duplantier went 6.0 shutout innings and allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out six in a 5-0 rain-shortened win over Pensacola. It was Duplantier’s first win since April 26 — a span of four starts. He’s now 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA.
Jon Duplantier's health is good news for @jacksongenerals. The same can't be said for the hitters of the Southern League.
The top #Dbacks prospect had it all working on Monday night. But this … this just isn't fair. https://t.co/W3tejPtbJG pic.twitter.com/MEmyx2KTk6
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 22, 2018
Widener wins again – Friday night, it was Taylor Widener‘s turn on the mound and he didn’t disappoint. Widener allowed just three hits, one run and two walks while fanning seven over 5.1 innings in a 5-2 win over the Birmingham Barons. Over his last three starts, Widener is 3-0 with a 0.98 ERA, 22 Ks and three walks.
Picking up where he left off – Jackson infielder Domingo Leyba went 3-for-4 with three doubles and an RBI in a 9-5 win over Birmingham Wednesday night. Leyba, the D-backs’ sixth-best prospect, started the season with an injury, but has been on fire since making his season debut on May 19. He’s already had four multi-hit games and is batting .391 (9-for-23) on the year.
Yanqui swinging a hot bat – Kane County first baseman Yoel Yanqui is in a zone as of late. The Cuban prospect who batted .373 in 50 games for the Diamondbacks in the Dominican Summer League last year, batted .476 (10-for-21) with four doubles and six RBI for the week. Yanqui did most of his damage Wednesday in an 8-7 loss to Cedar Rapids, when he had his first career four-hit game which included three doubles and three RBI.
