Mobile catcher Rossmel Perez had a career effort last night going 3 for 4 with a home run and 7 RBI. It was just the other day when one of the Snake Pit readers was mentioning Perez and wondering if he had a future in the big leagues, even if that future was just as a back-up a la Wil Nieves. I said I'd take a closer look. A 7-RBI night makes it hard not to take a closer look. Perez has only been playing catcher for a few years and he hasn't really demonstrated much power to date. So that alone makes it hard to give him a serious prospect ranking. But one has to give credit where it's due and Perez is picking things up of late with an ,866 OPS in his last 10 games, though he still only has a .615 OPS on the season. He's only 23 and he seems to be improving defensively and in controlling the running game. So while I haven't seen enough to give him a Top 60 ranking just yet, I'll keep watching.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Rossmel Perez, Mobile 3 for 4, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 HR (1), 7 RBI
2 Stars: Ryan Doran, AZL Dbacks 6 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 ER, W (1-0)
1 Star: Jesse Darrah, South Bend 7 IP, 1 H, 4 BB, 5 K, 0 ER, W (7-4)
0 Stars: Matt Helm, Visalia 0 for 3, 3 K
Triple A: Reno 2 Tucson 4. A couple of important rehabs in this one. J.J. Putz started again and pitched one inning and plans to do the same tomorrow to test out how things go on back-to-back nights. He threw one scoreless inning with a walk and a strikeout. Eric Chavez also saw his first rehab start as he went 0 for 3. Tyler Skaggs followed Putz and only got through 5 innings allowing 4 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks while striking out 5. The outing was going fine through his first 4 innings with 2 hits and 2 walks surrendered. But his 5th inning (the game's 6th) came undone on a hit batter, a pop out, a walk, a single and then a 3-run homer. He finished the inning with 2 strikeouts then was removed having thrown 96 pitches. The offense couldn't overcome the 4-spot with just 6 hits, 5 singles and a home run from Mike Jacobs.
Double A: Mobile 12 Jacksonville 0. Bradin Hagens tossed 5 shutout innings on 3 hits and 5 walks while striking out 7. The bullpen tacked on 4 more scoreless innings in the blowout. Rossmel Perez did most of the damage with a 3 for 4 night including a 3-run homer and 7 RBI. Hagens also had 2 hits and 2 RBI to help his own cause. Nick Evans and Garrett Webber each had a pair of singles and an RBI.
High A: Visalia 1 @ Stockton 4.Starter Keith Hessler had a middling effort with 3 runs allowed over 5 innings. The offense managed just 6 hits with Tom Belza getting 2 including a double, and Kevin Medrano getting 2.
Low A: South Bend 2 @ Great Lakes 1. Jesse Darrah had a sparkling outing allowing just 1 hit in 7 innings with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts. The bullpen held it together under duress with recently promoted Jose Jose pitching a scoreless 8th, and new closer Enrique Burgos (RJ Hively was promoted to Visalia) getting his 5th save, in spite of allowing 1 run. The offense was provided by Fidel Pena, who went 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored, and Brandon Drury who went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Short Season A: Hillsboro 2 @ Everett 3. The Hops lost another close game and are 3-8 to start the season with too many 1-run losses. Jonathan Pulley started and allowed 2 runs in 3+ innings. Chase Stevens took the loss with a run allowed in the 6th. Wagner Mateo led the meager offense going 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.
Rookie: Missoula 0 Billings 7. In the first rematch game of last year's championship series Billings got a leg up with a convincing 7-0 win. Bud Jeter started and didn't get out of the 2nd inning before allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks. Relievers Robbie Buller and Adam Miller also couldn't escape without allowing more damage. The Osprey offense could only muster 5 hits with 3 coming from center fielder Colin Bray.
AZL Rookie: Dbacks 4 Athletics 1.Minor League free agent signee Ryan Doran started and was electric going 6 innings allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 6. Doran went undrafted in spite of being San Diego State's top pitcher last season and squaring off against UCLA in the NCAA Regionals. After such an impressive debut I imagine Doran won't be in the AZL for much longer. There were no multi-hit efforts though Sergio Alcantara had a triple and an RBI, and Matt McPhearson went 1 for 2 with a walk and 2 stolen bases.