Fresh Batch of Osprey

MISSOULA, Mont. – The Arizona Diamondbacks have announced the addition of seven new Osprey to Missoula’s roster to bolster Missoula’s quest for a Second-Half title in the Pioneer League. Catcher Tyler Baker and first baseman Taylor Ard have been transferred from Short Season Hillsboro to Missoula. Relievers Anthony Bazzani and Cody Clark, starter Yefrey Ramirez, infielder Henry Castillo, and outfielder Stewart Ijames have been transferred from the AZL D-Backs to Missoula.

Taylor Ard joins the Osprey to give Missoula an Apple Cup combo at first base as the former Washington State Cougar joins recent University of Washington draft pick Trevor Mitsui. Ard was a seventh round pick by the Mariners in 2012 and began his career with twelve homeruns for Everett in the Northwest League. After a hot start with River City in the Frontier League this summer, Ard was signed by Arizona and joins the Osprey after playing ten games with the Hops.

Tyler Baker was Arizona’s fifteenth round selection in June’s draft out of Wichita State. Baker batted .250 and picked up ten RBI through 23 games with Hillsboro to begin his professional career. This spring for the Shockers, Baker collected 18 RBI but was an anchor behind with plate with just four errors on the season and supported a strong pitching staff that finished with a 3.43 ERA.

Yefrey Ramirez has been the standout in the AZL D-Backs’ rotation with a strong 1.93 ERA in seven appearances. Ramirez tallied an incredible 48 strikeouts to just four walks in 37.1 innings in his dominance over the AZL.

Cody Clark and Anthony Bazzani shared the closer role with the AZL D-Backs with much success. Clark carried a 2.00 ERA through nine games, with both runs coming in only one appearance, with eight punch outs in nine innings. Opponents mustered just a .212 clip off the right-handed pitcher who earned four saves. Bazzani was signed as a free agent out of Eastern Kentucky where he registered a team-best six saves. He held his opposition scoreless in all but five appearances on the hill. In the AZL, the righty tallied three saves with a 2.35 ERA in eight games.

Stewart Ijames is a former Louisville Cardinal standout that was signed this summer from the Washington Wild Things out of the Frontier League. Ijames drove in three runs in just five AZL contests after blasting a total of 31 homers for Washington over less than two seasons. Through forty less games than 2013, the outfielder matched his RBI total of 45 this summer. The two-time draft pick ended his career as a Cardinal ranked second in RBI (212) and at-bats (828), third in games played (239), fifth in hits (256), sixth in home runs (45) and seventh in doubles (52).

Henry Castillo has been a leader in the AZL with a .331 average in 28 contests with six doubles and nine triples. The switch-hitting infielder totaled 22 RBI and a .900 OPS.

In corresponding moves, Arizona announced that catcher Tyler Clark has been transferred to Triple A Reno. First baseman Kevin Cron and reliever Tyler Toyfair have been transferred to Short Season Hillsboro. Starter Brad Keller, infielder Michael Abreu, and reliever Holden Helmink have been transferred to the AZL D-Backs, while Wagner Mateo has been released.

The Osprey are in action tonight at Ogren Park Allegiance Field at 7:05 p.m. against the Great Falls Voyagers in the second contest of a six-game homestand. Tickets for all Osprey games are available at the MSO Hub Box Office, by phone at (406) 543-3300 and online at MissoulaOsprey.com.