D-backs minor league report: Blair, Trahan stand out in 1st half
PHOENIX -- The minor-league season hit the midway point this week, traditionally the time when rosters are adjusted to promote prospects and prepare for the second-half pennant races.
It's time for a couple of acknowledgements.
Aaron Blair
Right-hander Aaron Blair was the most consistent pitcher in the Southern League and at times the most dominant before his promotion to Reno last week. Blair was 6-3 with a 2.70 ERA in 13 starts at Mobile, making every start and going deep almost every time. He made 11 quality starts, which led the league at the time of his elevation, and was one-third of an inning short of a 12th. Blair, a durable 6-feet-5 and 229 pounds, still led the league with 83-1/3 innings a week after he left.
The D-backs always have liked the way Blair, a sandwich pick in the 2013 draft, takes the ball and does not give it back until he is deep in game. After a rough first start at Reno, Blair gave up one run on two hits in 6-2/3 innings of a victory at Tacoma on Tuesday.
"That's just who he is," D-backs head of player development Mike Bell said. "Aaron is a big leaguer, whether is in Mobile or Reno or wherever. It is just continuing to get the experience under his belt."
Catcher Stryker Trahan has begun to attack the ball more at the plate, and the results have followed.
Stryker Trahan
Trahan was slashing .245/.296/.531 with 14 doubles, 11 homers and 38 RBIs at Kane County in the Midwest League, known as a pitcher's league because of the bigger parks and often inclement early season weather.
"He's starting to be a little bit more aggressive," Bell said. "Sometimes he gets just a little passive at the plate, wants that perfect pitch and doesn't want to chase, which he doesn't do."
After a June promotion to Visalia, Trahan had three homers in his first nine games. Still only 21, Trahan was the D-backs' first pick in the 2012 draft out of Acadiana (La.) High and continues to improve behind the plate, although outfield remains an option, Bell said.
"He's throwing the ball well. He's catching well," Bell said. "When you sign a young high school kid you have to have some patience. He could still go there (outfield) since he's such a good athlete, but we like him catching right now."
Reno (AAA, Pacific Coast)
--3B/2B Brandon Drury was promoted to the Aces on June 23 after slashing .278/.306/.370 with 14 doubles, three homers and 36 RBI in 67 games at Mobile. He homered in two of his final six games with the BayBears and had two hits in his second game with the Aces.
--OF Peter O'Brien hit a grand slam to supply all the Aces' runs in a 4-3 victory over Tacoma on Tuesday. While O'Brien remains tied for fifth in the minors with 15 homers (Visalia teammates Stewart Ijames and Kevin Cron also have 15), his batting average has slipped to .292 after a 15-for-81 stretch in his last 19 games. He has played strictly outfield since last catching May 29.
Mobile (AA, Southern)
--2B Gerson Montilla hit second and played the full nine innings in the Southern League All-Star game Tuesday, which was won by the North, 9-0. Montilla, who was 0 for 4, was added to the South roster when Drury was promoted to Reno.
--CF Socrates Brito, who also played in the Southern League All-Star game, was named to the World roster for the Futures Game on July 12.
--RHP Adam Miller struck out the only batter he faced in the Southern League All-Star Game on Tuesday, getting former ASU second baseman Joey DeMichele on three pitches.
--OF Gabby Guerrero hit two of the BayBears' franchise-record five homers in an 11-4 victory over Pensacola on Sunday, when SS Jack Reinheimer also homered. The two were obtained in the Mark Trumbo trade June 3. Guerrero had eight hits and five RBI in his last five games.
Visalia (A, California)
--The Rawhide ran away with the first-half to clinch its first South division title since 1990 with a 42-28 record. Pitching coach Gil Heredia's staff led the league in ERA, shutouts, saves, strikeouts, fewest walks and WHIP.
--RHPs Zack Godley, John Omahen and Nickolas Sarianides pitched for the Cal League all-stars in their 9-2 victory over the Carolina League all-stars Tuesday. Godley, who leads the league with a 2.27 ERA and was tied for the league lead with eight victories, started. Omahen pitched a hitless inning for the victory.
Kane County (A, Midwest)
--RHP Wei-Chieh Huang, who is 3-0 with an 0.85 ERA in five starts since joining the Cougars, was named to the World roster for the Futures Game on July 12. Huang has 32 strikeouts and five walks in 31-2/3 innings.
--RHP Markus Solbach retired both batters he faced in the Midwest League All-Star Game on Tuesday, stranding an inherited runner. Solbach, 23, was 6-2 with a 2.76 ERA at the midseason break.
--IFs Marty Herum and Cody Regis swapped off at first base, each going 0 for 2, when the East blanked the West 5-0. Colid Bray played the whole game in center field, going 0 for 3.
Hillsboro (short-season A, Northwest)
--LHP Cody Reed, the D-backs' second-round pick in the 2014 draft, pitched four hitless innings in his season debut last Saturday. He struck out four, walked three and hit a batter. The 54th player taken in the draft, Reed was 0-2 with a 2.20 ERA in 11 appearances after signing for a $1,034,500 bonus last season, striking out 40 in 30-2/3 innings in stops in the Arizona League and Missoula.
--RHP Ryan Burr pitched a 1-2-3 inning Saturday in his first pro appearance after signing as a fourth-round draft pick out of ASU this June.
Missoula (R, Pioneer)
--RHP Bo Takahashi, a free agent from Brazil signed last season, pitched seven shutout innings in a 3-1 victory over Billings on Tuesday. He gave up four hits and struck out six. Takahashi, 18, was the Osprey's opening day starter and was 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his first two appearances.
--SS Isan Diaz, a competitive balance pick following the second round of the 2014 draft, hit safely in his first five games with a homer, two RBI, two stolen bases and three walks. Diaz, who spent last season in the Arizona League, signed for $750,000 as the 70th player taken in draft. He is 19.
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