Dbacks Minor League Round-Up 5/23: Broxton Coming to Life?

Keon Broxton has this thing for starting his seasons off slow. Last year Broxton had a horrendous April before coming to life and managing a fine overall season in Visalia. This year he started the year on the disabled list before joining Mobile around the beginning of May and hasn't hit a lick...until recently. Broxton had another good night at the plate going 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and his 4th homer. In his last three games he's 6 for 12 with 2 doubles, 3 homers and 5 RBI. That brings his average up to a paltry .220 though his OPS is now .720. I've said this is a make or break year for Broxton to show he has a future at the highest level and his first 14 games said he did not. We'll grant him the slow start since he missed most of spring training and all of April. Here's hoping he's ready to show he does have a future in the Dbacks' outfield.

Snake Stars
3 Stars: Keon Broxton, Mobile 3 for 4, 1 R, 2 DBL, 1 HR (4), 1 RBI
2 Stars: Brad Allen, South Bend 7 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 6 K, 0 ER, W (1-1)
1 Star: Robert Coe, South Bend 6 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 ER, W (1-1)
0 Stars: Mike Freeman, Mobile 0 for 5, 1 K, 1 E (6)

Triple A: Reno 3 @ Round Rock 4: Randall Delgado was at it again and he wasn't all that good again, though to be fair he wasn't horrible either. He was lifted in the 5th after getting the first two batters and surrendering consecutive singles, a walk, a hit batter and another walk. He finished with 4.2 innings, 4 hits, 3 walks, 7 Ks and 3 earned runs. The offense was limited to 7 singles with Taylor Harbin notching two of those.

Double A: Mobile 2 Mississippi 6. Andrew Chafin started and had it going early on but ran into problems in the 4th. With two out and nobody on he allowed 4 straight hits and 3 runs. In the 5th and 6th the defense got a little shaky and he allowed 3 more unearned runs. He completed 6 innings giving up 10 hits but just one walk while striking out 3. Most encouraging is the low walks total. If he can keep that up he'll always give himself a chance. The offense was limited to Keon Broxton who had 2 doubles and a home run.

High A: Visalia 8 @ Rancho Cucamonga 5. Cody Wheeler started and didn't pitch badly but he did give up three solo home runs. He finished 7 innings allowing 4 runs on 6 hits and a walk with 6 strikeouts. Once again the Rawhide offense rose to the occasion with late runs. They scored 2 in the 8th to take a one run lead, but closer Jake Barrett had his first really poor outing of the year with 3 walks in the 9th to allow the tying run. Barrett has 5 walks and no strikeouts in his last two outings. But the offense roared right back with 3 runs in the top of the 10th on a David Nick 3-run homer to win it. Jake Lamb and Ryan Court had big games again. Lamb went 2 for 3 with 2 walks, 3 runs scored, and a double. Court went 2 for 3 with 2 walks, a double and an RBI.

Low A: Game 1. South Bend 5 @ Fort Wayne 0. In Game 1 of a doubleheader Brad Allen tossed a 7-inning complete game shutout on 4 hits and 4 walks. He struck out 6. Brandon Drury supplied the offense going 2 for 3 with a double and 2 RBI.

Low A: Game 2. South Bend 1 @ Fort Wayne 0. The Silver Hawks completed the doubleheader shutout as Robert Coe threw 6 shutout innings and RJ Hively closed it for his 11th save. Coe allowed just 2 hits and a walk while striking out 6. The lone run scored when Rudy Flores drove in Alex Glenn with a triple in the 4th.