D-backs Farm Report: Peter O’Brien on a historic tear
Jun 6, 2016, 8:52 AM | Updated: 5:22 pm
Reno Aces (Triple-A Pacific Coast League)
Week: 5-2 | Overall: 29-27, 2nd place in Northern Division — 4.0 games behind Tacoma
Peter O’Brien, RBI God: The 25-year-old outfielder got his first call-up from the Arizona Diamondbacks May 27. During that big-league stint, O’Brien got exactly one at-bat. He struck out against San Diego’s Christian Friedrich in a pinch-hitting role during the fifth inning of a 10-3 loss.
Since being optioned back down to Reno, O’Brien has been producing at a prodigious rate. In six games last week, the D-backs’ seventh-best prospect batted .444 (12-for-27) with three doubles, a triple, four home runs and a ridiculous 18 RBI. O’Brien’s spree started Tuesday with three doubles and three RBI in a win over Las Vegas. Wednesday, he followed with a grand slam off of Las Vegas’ Paul Sewald in a five-run ninth inning that gave the Aces an 8-6 win.
Friday, he homered twice and had an RBI triple in a 9-0 win over the 51s. Saturday, he connected on another grand slam — this one in the first inning off of Salt Lake starter Kyle McGowin in a wild, 14-13 win. Then he added two more runs batted in Sunday with a single and a sac fly.
For the season, O’Brien now has 50 RBI, which leads the PCL. His 16 home runs also lead the league and he’s 11th in batting average with a .325 mark.
Peter O’Brien has 16 homers this season. The @SaltLakeBees starting lineup today has a combined 11. #OBFacts
— Aces Communications (@RenoAces_PR) June 5, 2016
Godley’s steadiness continues: Right-hander Zack Godley made a splash with the big league club after a July call-up last season, going 5-1 in nine starts. However, he didn’t crack the Opening Day 2016 roster and began the season at Double-A Mobile. The 26-year-old went 2-5 with the BayBears, but has been better at the Triple-A level since being elevated. In two starts last week, Godley allowed five runs over 12 innings of work, striking out 12 and walking seven. He’s now 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts for the Aces and could be the next pitcher in line for a Major League call-up, especially if left-hander Edwin Escobar continues to struggle for Arizona.
@Aces starter Zack Godley @godleyzt hurles 7 innings of shutout ball allowing 3 hits as Aces rout Bees 9-1 pic.twitter.com/Waqtp5xMRn — John Byrne (@byrnephoto) June 6, 2016
Hot bats: It wasn’t just O’Brien raking for Reno last week. Socrates Brito hit .500 (13-for-26) with a homer and five RBI. Shortstop Jack Reinheimer batted .480 (12-for-25) with five RBI and catcher Tuffy Gosewisch hit .458 (11-for-24) with a long ball and five RBI. First baseman Kyle Jensen went deep twice and drove in 10. In fact, position players hit .351 (86-for-245) and the Aces scored 59 runs over their seven ball games.
Peralta’s progress: D-backs outfielder David Peralta is rehabbing a wrist injury with the Aces and saw action in two games, going 1-for-6 with two runs scored, two walks and an RBI.
Mobile BayBears (Double-A Southern League)
Week: 3-2 | Overall: 25-30, tied for fourth place in South Division — 7.0 games behind Pensacola
Kung-Fu Banda: Lefty Anthony Banda had another solid start Sunday, throwing 6.2 scoreless innings while striking out eight in a 2-0 win over Birmingham. Rated as the D-backs’ 14th-best prospect by MLB.com, Banda is 4-2 with a 2.57 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP and 69 strikeouts in 63 innings for the BayBears this season. He’s also won his last three decisions, dating back to May 11.
Sherfy posting zeroes: Right-handed reliever Jimmie Sherfy pitched four scoreless innings over three relief appearances last week. The former Oregon Duck now has a streak of seven straight scoreless relief appearances, and has allowed only one earned run all season for a sterling ERA of 0.39. The 2013 10th-round pick is perfect on save opportunities as well, converting all 13 chances in 2016.
With Jake Barrett graduating from @Dbacks Top 30, @Mobile_BayBears RHP Jimmie Sherfy enters: https://t.co/uyhhOo7Wq0 pic.twitter.com/sJoPtS5A05
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 30, 2016
Visalia Rawhide (High-A California League)
Week: 3-2 | Overall: 35-21, first place in North Division — 2.0 games ahead of San Jose Reed elevated: Left-hander Cody Reed, Arizona’s 13th-best prospect, got the call up to Visalia after dominating the Midwest League at Kane County so far in 2016. Reed found things a little bit tougher in his California League debut Thursday. The 19-year-old was touched up for three runs on five hits in four innings of work during a 3-1 loss to San Jose. He also gave up a solo home run to Jose Vizcaino Jr. in the second inning — just the second homer he’s allowed this year.
#Dbacks promote No. 13 prospect Cody Reed from @KCCougars to @VisaliaRawhide. https://t.co/A8GcOlQByA pic.twitter.com/4IfIWN95lL — MiLB.com (@MiLB) May 31, 2016
This never gets old! @JaredMiller24 @brad_keller13 @OscarHernDbacks @VisaliaRawhide @nickbaker36 @Shock_17 @MiLB pic.twitter.com/j8iXZLkKcz
— J.R. House (@jrhouse22) June 2, 2016
Kane County Cougars (Single-A Midwest League)
Week: 3-4 | Overall: 27-29, tied for fifth place in Western Division — 4.0 games behind Cedar Rapids
Bats quiet again: The Cougars hit just .194 (43-for-222) in seven games last week, scoring a total of 20 runs. Kane County was shut out twice — bringing their season total of goose eggs up to five.
Wednesday, in an 8-0 loss to Burlington, Jason Morozowski led off the game with a single to center field and that was it for the rest of the game in the hit department for the Cougars.
Help arrives?: Infielder Austin Byler returned to the Kane County lineup after serving a 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s policy on performance enhancing drugs. The 2015 Pioneer League All-Star went 3-for-21 in six games for the Cougars last week. Catcher Francis Christy also made his 2016 debut Sunday, going 1-for-4 in a 3-2 win over Wisconsin. Christy doubled in the fourth inning and later scored from third base on a balk that gave Kane County a 2-1 lead.
