ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

D-backs Farm Rumblings: Ray, Delgado getting closer to MLB returns

Jun 25, 2018, 7:14 AM

Follow @Vincemarotta...

Here’s a quick look at what went on in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ minor league system last week.

Team League Week/Overall Standing
Reno Aces Pacific Coast League (Triple-A) 1-5 / 34-42 3rd place in Pacific Northern Division
Jackson Generals Southern League (Double-A) 2-2 / 2-2 2nd place in North Division; 1.0 game behind Birmingham
Visalia Rawhide California League (High-A) 3-1 / 3-1 Tied for 2nd place in North Division (1.0 game behind Stockton)
Kane County Cougars Midwest League (Single-A) 1-3 / 1-3 6th place in Western Division (2nd half); 3.0 games behind Cedar Rapids
Hillsboro Hops Northwest League (Short-season Single-A) 2-5 / 5-5 Tied for 2nd place in South Division; 2.0 games behind Salem-Keizer
Missoula Osprey Pioneer League (Rookie) 4-1 / 5-2 1st place in North Division (0.5 games ahead of Helena)
Diamondbacks 1 Dominican Summer League 4-2 / 12-7 2nd place in Dominican Summer League Baseball City (1.0 game behind Orioles)
Diamondbacks 2 Dominican Summer League 2-3 / 7-11 Tied for 5th place in Dominican Summer League San Pedro (5.5 games behind Brewers and Rangers)
AZL D-backs Arizona League 6-0 / 6-0 1st place in East Division; 1.5 games ahead of Cubs 1

A couple D-backs on their way back – Arizona lefty Robbie Ray made his second rehab start for the Aces Tuesday night. Ray threw 4.1 innings, allowed three hits, three runs (only one earned) with a walk and nine strikeouts in a 9-2 loss to Omaha. Ray threw 66 pitches, 48 for strikes. Reliever Randall Delgado got into three games over the week for Reno, and suffered a loss and a blown save. In 3.1 innings, Delgado allowed two earned runs and four walks while striking out six.

Brito still sizzling – Reno outfielder Socrates Brito picked up where he left off last week at the dish, hitting .353 (6-for-17) with two home runs and four RBI. In June, Brito is hitting .429 (27-for-63) with seven dingers and 19 RBI. His OPS over that span is 1.375.

Widener gets an All-Star start – Jackson right-hander Taylor Widener was the starting pitcher for the North squad in the Southern League All-Star Game Tuesday in Birmingham. Widener threw just one inning but retired the side in order, striking out two in a 9-5 loss. Infielders Kevin Medrano, Jamie Westbrook and Rudy Flores, outfielder Galli Cribbs and pitcher Justin Donatella also represented Jackson in the game.

Vargas gets an All-Star win – Visalia right-hander Emilio Vargas, who has the lowest ERA (1.04) among starting pitchers in all of affiliated baseball, was the starting pitcher for the North team in the California League All-Star Game and earned the victory in an 8-1 win over the South.

Offensive explosion – Jasrado Chisholm and Ernie De La Trinidad each drove in four runs, powering Kane County’s 18-hit attack in a 16-5 rout of Clinton. Yoel Yanqui had four hits while Jancarlos Cintron and De La Trinidad had three each.

Hops combine on a shutout – Matt Tabor, Kyler Stout, Trevor McKenna and Wesley Rodriguez combined on a five-hit shutout in a 4-0 win over Eugene Thursday. The quartet combined to strike out 10 Emeralds hitters. Tabor, a 19-year-old right-hander who was a third-round pick of the D-backs out of Milton Military Academy in Massachusetts last summer, is rated as Arizona’s 9th-best prospect, according to MLB.com.

Nice debut – Wilfry Cruz, a 20-year-old Dominican right-hander, was stellar in his 2018 debut. Cruz allowed just three hits and one run over 5.0 innings while striking out four in a 3-1 win over Helena.

Quick Hits

• Outfielder Zach Hoffpauir is back with the D-backs organization. The Centennial High grad was a standout four-year football player at Stanford and double-dipped in pro baseball in 2015, before committing solely to football. Now, he’s back with Hillsboro. Hoffpauir went 0-3 in his return to the sport Friday night.

• Kristian Robinson, a 17-year-old outfielder from the Bahamas whom the D-backs gave a $2.5 million bonus last summer, has finally made his pro debut. Robinson batted .320 (8-for-25) with two doubles and four RBI in six games last week for the Arizona League D-backs, who coincidentally, won all six games.

• A milestone for Reno infielder Ildemaro Vargas.

• Outfielder Jake McCarthy, the D-backs’ selection in the Competitive Balance phase (39th overall) of the draft earlier this month (and their highest-drafted signee) made quite a debut Sunday for Hillsboro. McCarthy, a Virginia product, went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the Hops’ 12-2 win over Salem-Keizer.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Jordan Lawlar, D-backs...

Damon Allred

Diamondbacks shortstop Jordan Lawlar to have thumb surgery

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Jordan Lawlar will have surgery on his right thumb after tearing a ligament, GM Mike Hazen said on Wednesday.

15 hours ago

General shot of Chase Field...

Bailey Leasure

What’s new at Chase Field for the 2024 D-backs season?

The Arizona Diamondbacks 2024 season will see the team debut new food items, enhancements to the ballpark and giveaways.

20 hours ago

Bryce Jarvis #40 of the Arizona Diamondbacks throws a pitch during the second inning in the game ag...

Vincent DeAngelis

Bryce Jarvis starting season in long reliever role for Diamondbacks

Twenty-six-year-old Bryce Jarvis will start the 2024 season in a long relief role for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

21 hours ago

Jordan Montgomery...

Alex Weiner

Reports: Diamondbacks, LHP Jordan Montgomery agree to terms on contract

The Diamondbacks and big-ticket free agent pitcher Jordan Montgomery agreed to terms on a contract, according to multiple reports on Tuesday. 

1 day ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Zac Gallen says Diamondbacks are ready for opponents’ best daily

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen joined Burns & Gambo to talk about the excitement surrounding his second straight Opening Day start for the Snakes, and the overall excitement the team has for the coming season.

2 days ago

Kevin Ginkel...

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks’ Kevin Ginkel has no problem if asked to close in Paul Sewald’s absence

Diamondbacks reliever Kevin Ginkel has not been told whether he will step into the closer role with Paul Sewald on the injured list.

2 days ago

D-backs Farm Rumblings: Ray, Delgado getting closer to MLB returns