We’ve learned that Adam Eaton (2010 Osprey) has been promoted to Triple-A Reno to take the place of outfielder AJ Pollock, who was promoted to the D-backs to take the roster spot of DL’ed utility player Geoff Blum. Eaton had raised his vatting average to .300 after a slow start at Double-A Mobile, and his on-base percentage has also risen, to a more Eaton-like .451. We’ll post more information as soon as possible.

OK, the past couple of days have been hazardous for Arizona Diamondbacks outfielders. If you missed it, Chris Young had to leave Tuesday’s game against Pittsburgh after running into the wall to make a catch in the fourth inning; and Justin Upton had his right thumb examined and drained of fluid, an injury that he suffered nearly two weeks ago.

However, none of that has outfielder AJ Pollock headed to the D-backs from Reno. Instead, that would be Geoff Blum, who has also been injured and was placed on the 15-day DL on Tuesday.

But before you write Adam Eaton (2010 Osprey) his plane ticket to Phoenix, keep in mind that both CY and Upton are listed as day-to-day, and the belief is that, at the moment, neither are quite headed to the DL, albeit Upton is still 50-50. However, that could change on Wednesday.

So why Eaton? Honestly, because he has become one of Gibby’s guys – someone in the minors who has proven himself to be a worthy candidate. Eaton stuck around until late March in Major League camp as a non-roster player, and despite not having the kind of numbers he posted last spring, still left an impression with the D-backs manager. Oh, and after a three-hit game on Monday, look who’s back hitting .300 with an on-base of .451? Yeah … OUR Eaton.

So keep your ears to the ground … that train may be ready to pull out after all and head down the tracks. Details will be released when it does …

Here’s some different news involving a former Osprey pitcher who has stepped into an all-purpose role in the bullpen.

So, on Sunday, here’s Bryan Shaw (2008 Osprey) closing out another Arizona Diamondbacks win, picking up the save in the 5-2 triumph over the Colorado Rockies. It was a four-out save to boot.

In the first couple of weeks of the season, Shaw has closed out a pair of games, pitched in the eighth inning, pitched in the seventh inning and been … well … not in one specific role. Continue reading →

by Ben Catley

So it’s a Friday the 13th. Makes me wonder where Jason is … oh, wait, that was a movie, right?? Of course, right now, Saturday the 14th (at least this time around) may be a little more intimidating, but that is another story for another day on another blog.

Right now, though, it looks as if hitters in the Midwest League and California League have discovered pitchers that are their new nightmares – Archie Bradley and Andrew Chafin.

The pair of 2011 Osprey alums have been dominant in each of their first two outings. Bradley picked up his first win of his career in his latest outing, a 3-1 South Bend win over Fort Wayne. Bradley has allowed just two runs in his first 11 innings with the Silver Hawks.

Chafin, meanwhile, was even more dominant, allowing just three hits and a walk while fanning nine in his first home start.

Two of the top three picks from the 2011 draft continue to impress, and one of them would be moving on up when a spot opens up for them. Question is … which one? And will any of them be sent to Triple-A before making it to the Major Leagues?

There is room for improvement, too, since they haven’t done a Dylan Bundy … yet. Although Chafin is close, six perfect frames is pretty darn good.

On to the rest of the news:

– The Cincinnati Reds have officially ended their time with left-handed pitcher Clay Zavada (2006).

– I was wondering when people would jump off of the Jose Valverde (2000) Save Machine bandwagon, but at the same time, now that he has begun a new streak, how many jumped right back on??

– It looks like Carlos Gonzalez (2003) is starting to warm up … and he may be poised to go all sorts of 2010 on the Major Leagues this season.

Osprey Alumni Minor League Update:
Triple-A Reno (3-5): It could be said that the biggest surprise from the former Osprey standpoint is infielder Jake Elmore (2008), who is hitting .333 with two doubles, an RBI, and two stolen bases. Right now, the other three former Osprey on the Aces roster are struggling – infielder Taylor Harbin (2007) is hitting below .200, while pitchers Tom Layne (2007) and Daniel Stange (2006) have had rough outings.

Double-A Mobile (6-2): In this week’s Under the Radar spotlight is former Osprey starter Derek Eitel (2010), who is the “other” starter … the one who hasn’t received all of the hype. Although Eitel is beginning to show that he may be worthy of some attention. He has allowed just three runs in his first two starts, spanning nine innings of work, while scattering 12 hits and four walks and adding seven strikeouts to the mix. It also helps when you have offense getting your runs, too. Speaking of offense – David Nick (2009) remains red hot, hitting .455 with three doubles, three RBIs and two steals in the first eight games of the season.

Class A Advanced Visalia (5-2): I think former Osprey coach Jason Hardtke (2009-10) is in good shape right now. His top two hitters? Former Osprey first baseman Jonathan Griffin (2011), who is hitting .400, and Mr. Steady himself, Raywilly Gomez (2009), who is right on Griffin’s heels with a .393 batting average. Griffin, though, has an OPS of 1.204 in the first seven games.

Class A South Bend (4-3): Test – Which former Osprey has the better ERA after two starts for the Silver Hawks, Archie Bradley (2011) or Jeff Shields (2010)?? It’s not like either of them are bad, but Bradley’s ERA is at 1.64 … while Shields has posted a 1.50 ERA in two starts. Something else – Shields had a “work on this pitch” start on Thursday, and the opponents, the Dayton Dragons (a bunch of the 2010 and 2011 Billings Mustangs) struggled with the High-80s sinker thrown by Shields. And he threw it – a lot. Better to talk about Shields and other former Osprey pitchers, like Taylor Siemens (2011), Seth Simmons (2011), Kable Hogben (2009), DJ Johnson (2011) and Jesse Darrah (2011), all whom have yet to allow a run this season. Click on Johnson for more on his last outing, which a blogger raved about. And outside of Matt Helm (2009-10), who is hitting .296 with five RBIs … the offense has a long way to go – six former Osprey are hitting below .200, and infielder Josh Parr (2011) is right at the Mendoza line. Despite that, the Hawks are above .500 earlier than normal.

So the Arizona Diamondbacks are one of the teams that doesn’t open the season until today … which, by our best count, is Day 4 of Opening Day. Which is why Major League Baseball is marketing things now as “Opening Week”.

And a good number of baseball fans are all for it.

Let’s face it, you have to at least be an Osprey fan to read this blog, if not a baseball fan. And baseball fans, at least once in their lives, have thought that Opening Day should have been a federal holiday, especially since the game is our National Pastime. Continue reading →

Just about all of these are now confirmed … the list of former Osprey out of the D-backs organization, but still playing baseball. This is the minor-league list … those players on 25-man Major League rosters will be announced in a press release on Friday, and on here.

Triple-A
John Hester (2006) – Norfolk (Baltimore)
Wilkin Castillo (2004)  – Colorado Springs (Colorado)
Hector Ambriz (2006) – Columbus (Cleveland)
Danny Perales (2005) – Las Vegas (Toronto)
Jerry Gil (2000) – Las Vegas (Toronto)
Esmerling Vasquez (2004) – Rochester (Minnesota)
Pedro Ciriaco (2005) – Pawtaucket (Boston)
Jarrod Parker (2007) – Sacramento (Oakland)
Bryan Augenstein (2007) – Durham (Tampa Bay)

Double-A
Ryan Robowski (2009) – Erie (Detroit)
Adam Worthington (2009) – Reading (Philadelphia) – on DL

Class A Advanced
Kevin Eichhorn (2008-10) – Lakeland (Detroit)

Class A
Scottie Allen (2009) – Charleston (NY Yankees)

Two names we’re still working on are Clay Zavada (2006), who was in camp with the Cincinnati Reds, and Evan Scribner (2007), who was in camp with the Oakland A’s. With the addition to the list of Augenstein, we’re at 13 that we have found so far. Still waiting on a couple of rosters to update … and, of course, we’ll keep track as much as possible.

Here’s the latest additions (officially) to the list of former Osprey playing full-season minor league baseball in 2012.

The Reno Aces will have four former Osprey on the active roster, and one on the 7-day Disabled List. Rusty Ryal (2005) is overcoming a pulled groin muscle, so he will be starting the season on the DL. Pitchers Tom Layne (2007) and Daniel Stange (2006), along with infielders Jake Elmore (2008) and Taylor Harbin (2007) are all part of the Aces’ 25-man active roster.

Mobile has seven former Osprey on its roster – the best we can tell, anyway … they open tomorrow night, so hopefully, they will have something online by then. Also have an e-mail in to their radio play-by-play man, but have not heard anything back yet. So, until the official list comes out … it consists of pitchers Yonata Ortega and Bryan Henry (both 2007 Osprey), catcher Rossmel Perez (2008), infielder David Nick (2009), infielder-outfielder Kyle Greene (2008), and outfielders Adam Eaton (2010) and Ollie Linton (2008). Linton, at last report, is likely to open the season on the DL.

Including the DL players, that brings the total list of assigned former Osprey to 47. That does not include former Osprey outside of the D-backs’ system, however. More on that later, hopefully still before the clock strikes midnight MT on Wednesday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks also announced their 25-man Opening Day roster on Wednesday. It includes a pair of former Osprey – first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (2009) and relief pitcher Bryan Shaw (2008) – who make their first MLB Opening Day roster.  Also on the squad is first baseman Lyle Overbay (1999), outfielder Gerardo Parra (2006) and catcher Miguel Montero (2002-03).