Tagged: Arizona Diamondbacks
Two Osprey alums ranked top hitters in MLB and down on the farm we go…
While Opening Day is just 21 days away, many former Osprey are making names for themselves in the big leagues and throughout the Diamondbacks minor league system.
Doug Mead, featured Bleacher Report columnist, recently included two Osprey alumni on a list of the top-100 hitters in Major League Baseball. Mead ranked Paul Goldschmidt third and Carlos González sixth.
MLB
Paul Goldschmidt (2009) is tearing it up this season for the Diamondbacks, hitting a solid .324 and tied for seventh in the MLB with 12 home runs. Goldy also leads the D-backs with a 1.002 OPS. In Arizona’s last game against Texas, Goldschmidt went 2-for-4 with one RBI. The D-backs have won their last three games and are currently on top of the National League West by 2.5 games.
José Valverde (2000) is back on the mound this season for Detroit, but still has his doubters. He has made 12 appearances and collected six saves in seven opportunities with an ERA of just 0.75.
Lyle Overbay (1999) could make the Yankees decision tough when Mark Teixeira returns from the DL . He is hitting .251 with eight home runs and has a fielding percentage of .995.
Carlos González (2003) is hitting .303 with 13 home runs for the Colorado Rockies.
Triple-A – Reno Aces (21-33)
Reno’s season has yet to turn around. The Aces are last in their division and sit 12 games back from the leading Tacoma Rainiers. The team is batting .281, fifth best in the Pacific Coast League, but their pitching drags them down with a 5.59 ERA, second highest in the league. Reno has allowed the most runs in the PCL with 335.
Shortstop Chris Owings (2009) continues to hit the ball well with a .335 batting average and driving in 30 RBI.
Second baseman Taylor Harbin (2007) is hitting .247 with 10 doubles on the season.
Adam Eaton (2010) irritated his elbow and had a setback in his rehab during his first game back with Triple-A Reno.
The Aces finish up a four-game series at Las Vegas this week.
Double-A – Mobile BayBears (26-26)
The defending Southern League champion Mobile BayBears are sitting at .500 and are three games behind the Southern League South Division leading Mississippi Braves. The BayBears are hitting .242 as a team.
Archie Bradley (2011) suffered his first loss of the season on Wednesday, but went eight solid innings allowing just one run in the defeat. Bradley has been dominant this season between Visalia and Mobile registering a 6-1 record while allowing just seven earned runs in nearly 63 innings of work.
First baseman Jon Griffin (2011) leads Mobile with six doubles and 28 RBI. Backstop Rossmel Perez (2008) has collected 12 RBI on the season and centerfielder Ender Inciarte (2009) is hitting .279 with two home runs and the most hits on the team, 51. Inciatre leads the club with three triples and has collected five two-baggers and 12 stolen bases, each just one short of Mobile’s leaders.
Raywilly Gomez (2009) was called up from Visalia and is producing with a .679 OPS and is hitting .283.
Outfielder David Nick (2009) is still struggling and only hitting .188. However he does have four doubles and has yet to make an error in the field.
In 10 starts on the mound, Bradin Hagens (2009) is 5-3 with a 2.93 ERA and 32 strikeouts. David Holmberg (2010) leads the BayBears with 41 strikeouts and is 1-3 in 10 starts with a 2.82 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Derek Eitel (2010) struck out 19 in 27.2 innings for the BayBears. Eric Smith (2009) has struggled in his first 18 appearances on the mound for Mobile with a 7.65 ERA.
Mobile will finish up a four-game series this week against Chattanooga.
Advanced-A – Visalia Rawhide (31-21)
Visalia is 2.0 games back from the San Jose Giants who lead the California League North Division. They won on Wednesday to snap a four-game losing streak.
Last year, third baseman Jake Lamb (2012) hit .329 for the Osprey and he continues the trend in Visalia with 21 RBI, a .299 batting average and leading the Rawhide in home runs, 7; walks, 28; and OPS, .996.
Twenty year-old catcher, Michael Perez (2012), has hit five home runs this season and leads Visalia with 23 RBI. However, Perez is still struggling at the plate and hitting only .172.
Outfielder Tom Belza (2011) is swinging the bat well with a .294 average and 10 doubles. He is also leading Visalia with seven stolen bases.
This year, Evan Marzilli (2012) has run into trouble at the plate, hitting just .203 and leading the Rawhide with 67 strikeouts.
In nine starts for Visalia, Andrew Barbosa (2012) is still pitching as well as he did for the Osprey one year ago (1-0 0.41 ERA, 28K’s in 22 IP). This season, Barbosa is 3-2 and struck out 43 in 38 innings with a 3.55 ERA. His ERA would be lower, but a few poor outings in early May skewed that statistic.
In 14 games, including two starts, righty Conrad Flynn (2011) is 4-2 and struck out 35 in 38.2 innings. Two former O’s, Seth Simmons (2011) and Patrick Schuster (2009-10), pitch in relief for Visalia and each maintains an ERA below three.
The Rawhide won their last game against Modesto to tie the series at one apiece. The series wraps up on May 31.
Class-A – South Bend Silver Hawks (34-16)
South Bend is dominating the Midwest League. Leading the Eastern Division by 5 games and losing only four games on the road, the Silver Hawks are on a 10-game win streak and it doesn’t look like that’s stopping anytime soon.
Third baseman Ryan Court (2011) is crushing the ball with a .396 average and an OPS of 1.061. Socrates Brito (2012), hitting .254, is not afraid to run the bases in South Bend and has managed to hit three triples and swipe 9 bags. Left fielder Alex Glenn (2012) has driven in 26 RBI on the season and leads the Silver Hawks with six homers. Roidany Aguila (2009-11) is hitting .271 and has collected nine doubles. Breland Almadova (2012) leads the Silver Hawks with three triples.
On the rubber, Frank Santana (2011) is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA, Enrique Burgos (2009, 11) has a 2.40 ERA with three saves, and Jesse Darrah (2011) leads the Silver Hawks with 48 strikeouts in 54.0 innings.
Osprey Opening Day is just 21 days away so don’t forget to pick up your tickets, they are on sale now at the MSO Hub Box Office. For the latest Osprey information visit http://www.missoulaosprey.com.
Perez activated, Goldy delivers, Valverde reports, and we take a trip around the farm…Missoula Geese?
Monday April 15 is not only TAX DAY, but 66 days from Opening Day for the Missoula Osprey.
Jose Valverde finally made it to Detroit Tigers minor league camp. He seemed to do just fine in his first outing at extended spring training.
Some geese invaded the Osprey nest adjacent to Ogren Park Allegiance Field. Look for the Osprey to have some promotions around geese this year at the stadium, but a franchise name change just isn’t in the cards at the moment.
Paul Goldschmidt delivered the lone RBI and run of the game in the D-Backs 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
Houston Summers has found a new niche, post baseball on the University of North Carolina Track & Field team and he’s excelling.
Lyle Overbay has stuck with the Yankees at first base and has raised his average to .278 with a pair of homers on the early season.
Let’s head around the Diamondbacks minor league system with updates on Osprey alumni.
49 on Full-Season Clubs – BayBears, Rawhide and Goldy Oh My…
The Missoula Osprey have 49 alums on full-season clubs within the Diamondbacks minor league system including Ender Inciarte, who was returned to the Diamondbacks system after spending opening day on the Phillies 25-man major league roster. Inciarte was assigned to Double-A Mobile and is one of ten alums on their roster.
Alums Bradin Hagens and Rossmel Perez were the battery in this gem thrown by Hagens for the BayBears. Hagens was helped at the plate by Jon Griffin and Inciarte. Eric Smith closed the game, earning his first save of the season, in an all-out-Osprey driven victory 2-1.
16 Osprey in the bigs, Valverde resigns with Tigers, Eaton rehabbing & GOLDSCHMIDT HAPPENS!
Osprey alum Ender Inciarte (2009) become the 40th Osprey to reach the major leagues this week spending Opening Day on the Philadelphia Phillies 25-man roster before being Designated for Assignment. Due to his Rule V status, it is likely he will return to the Arizona Diamondbacks organization once the speedy outfielder clears waivers.
Inciarte was one of 16 former Osprey to start the season on a 25-man major league roster including two from the inaugural club in 1999, Lyle Overbay with the New York Yankees and Jorge De La Rosa with the Colorado Rockies.
Papa Grande slims down, plus Shaw makes Tribe
The decision on roster spots is closing in for Major League Baseball teams as they get ready to break camp in both Arizona and Florida. In fact, some of the teams have already announced some of, if not all of, their intentions.
However, there are still players looking for teams to land on this season, with one of those being former Osprey reliever Jose Valverde (2000).
Jose Valverde … still looking for a team at the moment.
That could be solved soon. The free agent has not only shed the rough ending to last season with the Detroit Tigers, but he has shed some pounds, too. Continue reading
UPDATE: Eaton out 6-8 weeks, Parra likely to start in CF
Some bad news for Osprey fans came out of Arizona Diamondbacks’ camp this week, when it was announced that outfielder Adam Eaton (2010) would miss the first six weeks, possibly more, with an injury to his left elbow.
Eaton was batting .390 this spring, with 23 hits and 10 RBIs in 59 at-bats. The club’s timeline puts the outfielder back with the D-backs around the beginning of May. However, Eaton is saying he will do whatever it takes to get himself back as soon as possible. He will not have to wait long to swing the bat, and will take some at-bats in Extended Spring Training while working his arm back into shape and preparing for a rehab assignment. Continue reading
First update of Spring …
There’s 91 days until Opening Night in Missoula …
Welcome to Spring … officially. Today is the first full day of the Spring Equinox. It’s also the first of two days when people will call in sick then miraculously recover and head out to their favorite food establishment with big screen TVs to watch March Madness. Don’t worry … we’re not saying a word.
Roster Moves:
– The Baltimore Orioles have reassigned left-handed pitcher Daniel Schlereth (2008 Osprey) to minor-league camp. Schlereth struggled this spring, and will likely start the season at Triple-A Norfolk. Continue reading
The latest from Spring Training
by Ben Catley
94 days before the Season Opener and Home Opener
Well, the Major League Baseball season starts in two weeks. Yup, two weeks. I will let that set in for a moment …
Can you only imagine how this will all play out? No matter where your allegiances lie, there is plenty of intrigue about to play out all over the place.
Except in Center Field and at the top of the order for the Arizona Diamondbacks, where it is looking more and more like Adam Eaton (2010 Osprey) has taken full advantage of his opportunity and locked down that job. Eaton was featured in a MiLB Prospect Q&A recently, sharing a number of things, especially the reason why he doesn’t mind being a magnet for baseballs while he is at-bat. By the way, Eaton is hitting .358 this spring, with a pair of home runs and nine RBIs. Continue reading
News and Notes – March 14
The latest stuff on former Osprey players …
– The Arizona Diamondbacks reassigned 15 players to minor-league camp, including players on their 40-man roster. Several of them are former Osprey who were in camp. They are:
Optioned to Triple-A Reno: RHP Chase Anderson RHP Charles Brewer LHP Eury De La Rosa Optioned to Double-A Mobile: RHP Keon Broxton RHP Eric Smith Reassigned to Minor League camp: LHP David Holmberg INF Chris Owings
All of the players except for Holmberg (2010 Osprey) played in Missoula in 2009. Keep an eye out for three of them this season – De La Rosa, Brewer and Smith, who each had a handful solid Cactus League outings. Expect both Holmberg and Owings to at least start the 2013 season at Double-A Mobile.
– EatonMania is runnin’ wild on the internet and print these days. It seems as if the more that Spring Training goes along, the more attention Adam Eaton (2010) is getting from the media and blog-sphere. If it’s not a blogger saying that Eaton could wow people more than Mike Trout, it’s a Sports Illustrated piece on the web. That all said, the key for Eaton to “wow” people in 2013 is to stay healthy, something that manager Kirk Gibson is hoping actually happens. At times, Eaton has struggled with that, but his all-out style does bring that along with it as a drawback. One thing is clear – his teammates like him, but the opposition doesn’t particularly care for him. (Last link is to an ESPN Insider post, but the beginning is still worth the read.)
– Ryan Robowski (2009) made it to the second round of cuts for the Detroit Tigers before getting reassigned to minor-league camp. The Non-Roster Invitee was touched up in his limited time in Grapefruit League action in his first Major League Spring Training action. Robo is likely headed to either back to Double-A Erie or Triple-A Toledo.
– It looks like John Hester (2006) has his hands full as he battles for the backup catcher’s job with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
– Scott Hairston (2001) will be platooning in right field for the Chicago Cubs, and hitting fifth in the lineup when he does start.
– Jarrod Parker (2007) has gone from not-so-sure-what-we-have to ace of the staff for the Oakland A’s … and wants more success in 2013.
– Another pitcher that wants a better 2013 is former Osprey starter Jorge De La Rosa (1999), who is starting to find his old self with the Colorado Rockies, almost two years removed from Tommy John surgery.
That will do it for now … other than a plug for the current O’s Poll of the Moment, which you can find on the right-hand column. Vote on it often – because the look into the Osprey crystal ball by Ben Catley is coming soon! We’ll see how your votes match up with his predictions on whom the next Osprey players will be to make their Major League debuts.
The latest – March 6
There are about 106 days before Opening Night at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. Get ready Osprey fans!!
– Ollie Osprey will be at Southgate Mall on Saturday from 11:30 until 1:30, dropping by for his annual visit at the Kids Fair. The Osprey will have a booth for the duration of the event, which will run from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Kids will be able to join the Ollie Osprey Kid’s Club at the event, as well as sign up for the Osprey Baseball Camp, taking place on August 14-16 at Ogren Park Allegiance Field.
– The lineup for the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night, with the D-backs playing Team Mexico, included former Osprey Adam Eaton (2010) and Paul Goldschmidt (2009) hitting 1-3 in the order. Not too bad. Especially since Goldy is putting together one whale of a spring – minus last night’s 0-for-2 exhibition game against Mexico, Goldy is hitting .467 in eight Cactus League games, with a double, RBI and five walks. Eaton, meanwhile, ended up getting a half-inning interview on the telecast – which lasted six pitches. Continue reading
Bird Droppings 