Trevor Bauer is poster boy for the Diamondbacks’ minor
league mission.
Player development coupled with team success.
Bauer is boring his way through the D-backs’ minor league system with numbers
that make him an almost certain bet to get the call to the majors this season,
probably as early as a trade or an unfortunate injury clears a rotation spot.
At the same time, each of the four D-backs minor league affiliates has a
winning record entering the final few days of May, something not lost on the
organization.
“That is something that’s important to us,” said D-backs director of player
development Mike Bell, the man in charge of overseeing the minor league system. “It definitely sets a standard. We want
guys to get used to winning and that winning feeling, and not being OK with
losing.
“There’s a balance. We always put development first. We’re
not going to yank guys out of a game (for the sake of winning). We understand
that, too.”
Double-A Mobile has been the standard-bearer not only for the D-backs but for
the entire minor league system the last two years. Mobile, Baseball America’s 2011
Minor League Team of the Year after winning the Southern League championship,
is at it again.
Through Tuesday, The BayBears (31-21) held a four-game lead in the South
Division despite losing starters Bauer and Patrick Corbin to Triple-A Reno.
Reno (28-25) leads the Pacific Northern Division of the Pacific Coast League by
two games; South Bend (27-25) is in third place in the Midwest League Eastern Division;
and Visalia (27-25) is third in the California League North Division. Even the
D-backs’ instructional league team is 27-10 after a long winning streak.
Bell credits the player development staff, led by field coordinator Jeff Pico,
and scouting director Ray Montgomery for supplying and molding the talent.
“They don’t miss anything. It’s a very dedicated group,” Bell said.
Pitching is the strength of the system and the big reason the teams are
doing so well, with Bauer, the third player taken in the 2011 draft, setting
the standard.
Bauer is 9-1 record with a 1.74 ERA in 11 minor league starters, eight at
Mobile and the last three at Reno. He left his last Reno start with a 2-1 lead,
but the bullpen failed to hold it. Bauer has 84 strikeouts and 36 walks in 67
1/3 combined innings, and opponents are hitting .186 against him.
“You look at his numbers,” Bell said. “I’m not ready to say he can’t do that in
the big leagues. His stuff is that good. He likes the strikeout. He pitches for
strikeouts, so his pitch count is going to be high. He may walk some guys, but
he is not going to give up many hits.
“You give a little and get a lot. At every level he’s
progressed, he’s gotten better.”
Mobile has had more than its share of talented prospects in the last two years.
Paul Goldschmidt, Wade Miley, Ryan Cook, Bryan Shaw and Jarrod Parker all made
contributions for the D-backs last season.
Mobile manager Turner Ward has a new group in front this time. Bauer, Corbin,
Tyler Skaggs and Chase Anderson kept the starting rotation strong early on,
while third baseman Matt Davidson and outfielders Marc Krauss and Alfredo Marte
have taken steps forward offensively.
The rotation has been in a state of flux, with Bauer and
Corbin now in Reno and Anderson out with elbow soreness, but top prospect
Skaggs will take a streak of three earned runs in his last 23 innings into his
next appearance this weekend. He is 3-3 with a 2.72 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 46
1/3 innings. Former Mets prospect Gaby Hernandez was just signed to join the
staff.
Bauer, Corbin and Charles Brewer have joined Barry Enright at Reno, where the
offense has ignited a strong start. Outfielder Adam Eaton (.395) and infielder
Jake Elmore (.394) are 1-2 in the PCL in batting average, and first baseman
Randy Ruiz leads the league in RBIs with 48. Ryan Wheeler, back at third base after
swinging between first and third the last several years, is hitting .328 with
seven homers and 46 RBI.
Shortstop Chris Owings is having a breakout offensive season at Visalia, but
the Rawhide’s success also has been built on pitching. Starters Andrew Chafin
(2.91), David Holmberg (3.13) and Anthony Meo (3.45) are in the top 10 in ERA.
Chafin leads the league with 77 strikeouts, and Holmberg is third with 66, and
Holmbeg’s six victories are second in the league. Michael Bolsinger had 49
strikeouts in 38 innings before being promoted to Mobile, and David Hernandez’s
brother, Ray, is 5-2.
Archie Bradley, like Bauer a first-round draft pick in 2011, is 6-1 with a 3.06
ERA at South Bend. He has 51 strikeouts in 50 innings. He will be brought along
more slowly because he was drafted out of high school, but his ceiling is also
very high.
