Let’s check in down on the Farm and see how the minor league teams are getting along.
AAA Louisville Bats
Columbus Clippers SP Tyler Cloyd tossed a no hitter yesterday against the Bats in a 13-0 Columbus win. He allowed no walks, his only blemish was when Donnie Murphy was HBP in the 9th and then erased with a double play as he faced the minimun number of batters while striking out six. The Bats have a 54-58 record and are in 3rd place in the International League West, 5 games behind the Clippers. Relief pitcher Adam Russell (4.33) was released. Fabio Castillo was recalled from AA Pensacola.
AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Pensacola is currently 46-64, 21.5 games back, and last of 5 teams in the Southern League South. Kyle Waldrop (.287/.336/.461/.797) continues to hit well after 125 PA since his promotion to the AA level. It’s interesting that neither Michael Lorenzen (2.70) or Jon Moscot (3.38) were promoted to AAA recently but instead the Reds chose to retool the AAA rotation with 4A types such as Scott Diamond and Dylan Axelrod. Not only is Lorenzen impressing on mound, he is also putting up a .227/.346/.500/.846 line in 30 PA. He may soon give Mike Leake a run for best hitting Reds pitcher.
High A Bakersfield Blaze
The Blaze are 62-47 and tied for 1st place in the California League North. CF Beau Amaral (.291/.344/.405/.749) has returned from the DL. CF Junior Arias (.394/.459/.606/1.066) who was off to a great start in 37 PA before being injured was sent to the AZL for a rehab assignment.
Low A Dayton Dragons
SS Carlton Daal (.296/.334/.351/.685) was placed on the DL with a sprained wrist. Alex Blandino, who was hitting .309/.412/.527/.939 at Billings, was called up to replace him and is off to a 2 for 9 start with a HR. The Dragons have a 54-52 record and are in 3rd place, 11 games back, in the Midwest League Eastern.
Rookie Billings Mustangs
The Mustangs are 20-23 and in 2nd place in the Pioneer League North, 5 games back of the leader. RF Aristides Aquino (.992 OPS), 3B Taylor Sparks (.930), and CF Brian O’Grady (.955) are leading the way at the plate. Wyatt Strahan (3.80) leads the starting staff.
Rookie AZL Reds
The AZL Reds are 13-19 and last of 4 teams in the Arizona League Central, 8.5 games back.
C Chadwick Tromp (.914 OPS), 3B Gavin LaValley (.869), and SS Hector Vargas (.818) lead the team at the plate. Ty Boyles (3.41) leads the starting staff.
It isnt like the focus is on wining games while in the minors. If you notice many of the pitchers are on extremely low pitch counts so the effect of our starting pitching is very limited. I think also the large influx of players that were called up in June left a few holes in having a complete roster. Overall though Pensacola is in better shape than the has been group of pitchers that are currently in Louisville. I am surprised that Mascot and stephenson werent pushed up. Lorenzen is still developing arm strenghth and Lively has been to wild. Winker has been injured just about his entire time with the wahoos as well.