Jared Cohen
We know what the Arizona Diamondbacks look like presently, but it is hard to keep up with the future because they don’t play here locally. However, most Minor League games are televised and can be viewed using the MiLB.TV package, including all Diamondback affiliates. Whether you can follow the teams or not, we will keep you up to date on what you need to know. Every week we take a look at the Diamondback’s farm system and a closer look at the top 20 prospects here in 2013 and their production throughout the season.
1. Archie Bradley-RHP-Mobile Bay Bears (AA)
Last week: 1 start (win), 7 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs (both earned), 0 walks, 10 Ks, 2.57 ERA
Season (Mobile): 17 starts (8-5), 103 innings, 81 hits, 31 runs (24 earned), 44 walks, 100 Ks, 2.10 ERA
Season (Visalia): 5 starts (2-0), 28.2 innings, 22 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 10 walks, 43 Ks, 1.26 ERA
*Notes: Bradley’s last two starts make his July 27th start seem even more head scratching. He had 7 walks in that game. In the last 2 starts (16 innings of work) he has just one walk and had none in his last start. His ability to respond from the adversity he faced on July 27th is very impressive. It’s also worth noting that he reached the century mark in strikeouts since being called up to Mobile. He did so in just 17 starts.
2. Matt Davidson-3B-Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
First game with Diamondbacks: Went 1 for 3 with a single to left field. Came into game after Cody Ross left game with injury.
Last 10 games in Reno: .189 AVG, 7 hits, 4 runs, 5 doubles, 0 home runs, 4 RBI, 3 walks, 14 Ks, .250 OBP
Season (Reno): 108 games, .278 AVG, 115 hits, 52 runs, 31 doubles, 3 triples, 16 home runs, 68 RBI, 42 walks, 123 Ks, 1 stolen base, .348 OBP
*Notes: Davidson made his first appearance in a Diamondback uniform on Sunday against the Mets and got his first big league hit. He has had a remarkable season in Reno and might be the top power bat in the Diamondbacks system. The big league club could use that bat down the stretch this season. Doubtful that he won’t see considerable time at 3rd now that he has been called up. So expect to see Prado in the outfield especially after the dislocated hip injury to Cody Ross.
3. Chris Owings-SS-Reno Aces (AAA)
Last 10 games: .146 AVG, 6 hits, 7 runs, 2 double, 1 triple, 3 RBI, 4 walks, 7 Ks, .239 OBP
Season: 99 games, .330 AVG, 168 hits, 95 runs, 26 doubles, 6 triples, 12 home runs, 70 RBI, 20 walks, 94 Ks, 16 stolen bases, .359 OBP
*Notes: Owings has seen his batting average drop almost 20 points in the last couple of weeks but is still hitting .330. He has run into a bit of a rough patch but he remains the top hitter in the Diamondbacks system and also the entire Pacific Coast League.
4. Braden Shipley-RHP-Hillsboro Hops (A short)
Last Week: 1 start (no decision), 4 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 2 walks, 6 Ks, 6.75 ERA
Season: 8 starts (0-2), 19 innings, 30 hits, 18 runs (16 earned), 6 walks, 24 Ks, 7.58 ERA
*Notes: Shipley is still being brought along very slowly in Hillsboro but his work load is starting to grow. He pitched a season high 4 innings in his last start. His walks are low which is great but his is still getting hit a little too often for his liking. Opponents as a team have hit above .300 in 5 of his 8 starts.
5. David Holmberg-LHP-Mobile BayBears (AA)
Last week: 1 start (loss), 5 innings, 2 hits, 3 run (1 earned), 2 walks 6 Ks, 1.80 ERA
Season: 23 starts (5-7), 140.1 innings, 122 hits, 54 runs (43 earned), 44 walks, 103 Ks, 2.76 ERA
*Notes: Holmberg has gone through a difficult stretch. He has not won a game since July 3rd. In this time since that win, he has pitched into the sixth inning just 2 times in 6 starts. But only one of those six starts could be considered a bad start. He still boasts a sub 3 ERA and has over 100 strikeouts on the season.
6. Zeke Spruill-RHP-Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
Last week: 1 starts (loss), 3 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, 1 K, 3.00 ERA
Season (Diamondbacks): 6 games (2 starts, 4 relief appearances), 11.1 innings, 17 hit, 11 runs (7 earned), 5 walks, 9 K, 5.56 ERA
Season (Reno): 12 starts (4-3), 72.1 innings, 70 hits, 31 runs (26 earned), 24 walks, 34 Ks, 3.24 ERA
Season (Mobile): 5 starts (0-3), 31.2 innings, 24 hits, 7 runs (5 earned), 12 walks, 20 Ks, 1.42 ERA
*Notes: Been a difficult first two starts for Spruill at the major league level. His most recent outing only last 3 innings and gave up 4 runs in the first however all were unearned because of a rare Paul Goldschmidt error. However, Prior to the error, Spruill walked 2 batters to load the bases with 2 outs in the inning. So though he wasn’t charged with the runs after the error, he is the one that put himself in the mess. He has only pitched a combined 7 innings in his first 2 starts combined.
7. Jake Barrett-RHP-Mobile BayBears (AA)
Last week: 2 relief appearances, 1 save, 1.2 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 3 Ks, 0.00 ERA
Season (Mobile): 16 relief appearances (1-1), 9 saves, 16.2 innings, 12 hits, 4 runs (1 earned), 3 walks, 10 Ks, 0.54 ERA
Season (Visalia): 28 relief appearances (2-1), 15 saves, 27.1 innings, 21 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), 9 walks, 37 Ks, 1.98 ERA
*Notes: Mr. Automatic continues to roll. He has not allowed a run in his last 6 outings and in his last two this past week, didn’t even allow a baserunner. In Visalia and Mobile combined, he has allowed just 7 earned runs in 44 innings pitched.
8. Andrew Chafin-LHP-Mobile BayBears (AA)
Last Week: 1 start (win), 5 innings, 4 hits, 1 run (earned), 0 walks, 5 Ks, 1.80 ERA
Season (Mobile): 17 starts (9-6), 105.2 innings, 97 hits, 36 runs (32 earned), 35 walks, 75 Ks, 2.73 ERA.
Season (Visalia): 6 starts (3-1), 31 innings, 32 hits, 16 runs (all earned), 14 walks, 32 Ks, 4.65 ERA
*Notes: Model of consistency is Andrew Chafin. In July and now August combined, he has allowed just 11 earned runs in 40 innings pitched. And just 8 walks to 31 strikeouts in that span. Every time out you can expect a quality start.
9. Stryker Trahan-C-Missoula Osprey (R)
Last 10 games: .179 AVG, 7 hits, 4 runs, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 4 RBI, 2 walks, 13 Ks, .417 OBP
Season: 23 games, .283 AVG, 32 hits, 24 runs, 11 doubles, 3 home run, 17 RBI, 13 walks, 26 Ks, .220 OBP
*Notes: Trahan has definitely cooled off a bit after his hot start. He has just 7 hits in 35 at bats in August thus far. That’s after he hit .282 in July. The biggest decline of late has been his RBI’s as he has just 4 in the last 10 games and is hitting .208 with runners in scoring position.
10. Anthony Meo-RHP-Visalia Rawhide (A+)
Last week: 1 relief appearance, 1 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 Ks.
Season (Mobile): 8 starts (0-4), 35.1 innings, 31 hits, 26 runs (25 earned), 25 walks, 17 Ks, 6.37 ERA
Season (Visalia): 13 relief appearances (1-0), 15.1 innings, 19 hits, 9 runs (all earned), 9 walks, 16 Ks, 5.28 ERA.
*Notes: Meo only took the mound once last week but in that one appearance did exactly what he needed to do, and that was get through it unscathed. He had allowed 6 earned runs in his previous two appearances. Meo is still working back into shape after losing his role as a starter coming off problems with dead arm earlier in the season.
11. Jake Lamb-3B-Visalia Rawhide (A+)
Last week : 7 games, .346 AVG, 9 hits, 5 runs, 2 doubles, 1 home run 5 RBI, 6 walks, 6 Ks,
Season (Visalia): 44 games, .297 AVG, 46 hits, 30 runs, 13 doubles, 9 home runs, 29 RBI, 35 walks, 49 Ks, .424 OBP
Season (AZL-Dbacks): 5 games, 5 hits, 4 runs, 2 doubles, 5 RBI, 2 walks, 5 Ks, .381 OBP
*Notes: Since Lamb was brought back up to Visalia from the AZL, he has been on an absolute tear. He has raised his batting average in Visalia 10 points in the last week. This has been the story with Lamb this season. He has been great for the Rawhide when he has been on the field. But 2013 has consisted of 2 stints on the disabled list.
12. Michael Perez-C-South Bend Silver Hawks (A)
Last 10 games: .265 AVG, 9 hits, 5 runs, 1 double, 4 RBI, 1 walk, 13 Ks, .278 OBP
Season (Visalia): 47 games, .173 AVG, 31 hits, 21 runs, 9 doubles, 5 home runs, 24 RBI, 11 walks, 1 stolen base, .223 OBP
Season (South Bend): 31 games, .241 AVG, 27 hits, 14 runs, 11 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 9 RBI, 8 walks, 38 Ks, .289 OBP
*Notes: Every time we check back in with Perez, his batting average is on the upswing. He is hitting .276 in August thus far coming off of a July where he hit .200 and was sent down to South Bend from Visalia.
13. Nick Ahmed-SS-Mobile BayBears (AA)
Last 10 games: .209 AVG, 9 hits, 4 runs, 1 RBI, 2 walks, 3 Ks, 2 stolen bases, .244 OBP
Season: 113 games, .221 AVG, 89 hits, 46 runs, 14 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs, 33 RBI, 28 walks, 65 Ks, 19 stolen bases, .276 OBP
*Notes: Ahmed leveled off a little bit after being on a tear over the last month and a half seeing his batting average climb well above the Mendoza line. Though he only sports a .209 average in the last 10 games, he has at least 1 hit in 8 of those games.
14. Joe Munoz-SS-Missoula Osprey (R)
Last 10 games: .194 AVG, 7 hits, 5 runs, 1 double, 1 triple, 1 home run, 4 RBI, 0 walks, 9 Ks, .216 OBP.
Season: 37 games, .270 AVG, 37 hits, 20 runs, 7 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs, 26 RBI, 10 walks, 41 Ks, 3 stolen bases, .329 OBP
*Notes: Welcome to the Munoz roller coaster! His batting average went from below .200 to above .300 in a 3 week span at the start of the season. Now he has seen his average drop more than 30 points in a two week span. He has shown flashes of greatness for Missoula. Now to just nail down that consistency.
15. Brandon Drury-3B/1B-South Bend Silver Hawks (A)
Last 10 games: .317 AVG, 13 hits, 8 runs, 5 doubles, 2 home runs, 5 RBI, 5 walks, 8 Ks, .391 OBP
Season: 114 games, .314 AVG, 142 hits, 69 runs, 46 doubles, 4 triples, 14 home runs, 78 RBI, 33 walks, 75 Ks, 1 stolen base, .362 OBP
*Notes: Drury continues to be one of the top hitters in the Diamondbacks system in 2013. On Sunday he had maybe his best game of the year going 3 for 5 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI in the game. He is an absolute playmaker and could the 3B of the future along side Matt Davidson. Drury is projected to be up to the big leagues by 2016.
16. Aaron Blair-RHP-Hillsboro Hops (A short)
Last Week: 1 start (no decision), 4 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, 4 walks, 5 Ks, 0.00 ERA
Season: 7 starts (1-0), 27 innings, 19 hits, 8 runs (all earned), 13 walks, 25 Ks, 2.67 ERA
*Notes: This 2013 draft pick of the Diamondbacks is really looking good in Hillsboro coming off one of his best starts as a member of the D-Backs system. In his last 3 starts, his opponents batting averages have been .188, .167, and .214.
17. Matt Stites-RHP-Mobile BayBears (AA)
Season (San Antonio Missions): 46 relief appearances, 14 saves, 52 innings, 37 hits, 16 runs (12 earned), 8 walks, 51 Ks, 2.08 ERA
*Notes: Stites is still listed on the disabled list after having an emergency appendectomy surgery just a few days before being traded to the Diamondbacks in the Ian Kennedy deal. He is not yet been assigned to a team in the farm system but said on twitter this weekend that he has finally made his way to Phoenix for a few days.
18. Evan Marshall-RHP-Reno Aces (AAA)
Last week: 3 relief appearances, 1.2 innings, 3 hits, 1 run (earned), 0 walks, 3 Ks, 7.50 ERA
Season: 46 relief appearances (3-6), 3 saves, 49 innings, 60 hits, 26 runs (22 earned), 26 walks, 51 Ks, 4.04 ERA.
*Notes: Marshall overall has been solid over the last few weeks. Some outings where he allows one run to cross home plate and some where he is lights out. One thing that has been consistent is he is still used in Reno a considerable amount with 2 to 4 relief appearances a week. He is a very valuable arm in their bullpen.
19. Felipe Perez-RHP-Missoula Osprey (R)
Last week: 1 start (no decision), 5 innings, 4 hits, 4 runs (0 earned), 3 walks, 2 Ks, 0.00 ERA
Season: 10 starts (4-4), 2 complete games, 66 innings, 68 hits, 47 runs (29 earned), 14 walks, 32 Ks, 3.95 ERA
*Notes: Was good for Perez to get back on track with a quality start last week. He allowed 17 earned runs in his 3 starts prior. Before those 3, he threw a complete game shutout. it has been feast or famine for him so it was good to see him on the feast side of things his last time out.
20. Kevin Munson-RHP-Reno Aces (AAA)
Last week: 3 relief appearances, 1.1 innings, 6 hits, 4 runs (4 earned), 0 walks, 3 Ks, 32.72 ERA
Season (Reno): 17 relief appearances (0-2), 1 save 17 innings, 17 hits, 10 runs (9 earned), 4 walks, 22 Ks, 4.76 ERA
Season (Mobile): 29 relief appearances (2-2), 13 saves, 31.2 innings, 17 hits, 12 runs (all earned), 15 walks, 39 Ks, 3.41 ERA
*Notes: Munson is new to the Dbacks On Deck blog as he has been penciled in as a top 20 prospect in the organization. He has been one of the top closers in the farm system this season. Do not let his blemish last week fool you. Before the 4 earned runs in his last outing he had only allowed five total in 16.2 innings since being called up to Reno.
Top 20 prospect outstanding performer last week: Jake Lamb-3B-Visalia Rawhide
Diamondbacks full minor league statistical hitting leaders:
-Hits: Chris Owings, SS, Reno Aces – 168 hits
-Home runs: Nick Evans, 3B, Mobile BayBears – 18 home runs
-Runs batted in: Brandon Drury, 3B, South Bend Silver Hawks – 78 RBI
Diamondbacks full minor league statistical pitching leaders:
-Wins: Daniel Watts, LHP, South Bend & Andrew Chafin, LHP, Mobile – 12 wins
-Strikeouts: Archie Bradley, RHP, Visalia/Mobile – 143 Ks
-Earned Run Average: Brad Keller, RHP, AZL D-Backs – 1.80 ERA
