Dbacks Minor League Round-Up 8/6: Queliz Keeps Hitting

We just highlighted Missoula's secondary catcher Jose Queliz a few days ago because he was playing so well. Well, we're highlighting him again because he's playing even better than he was before. He's basically taken over Missoula's cleanup spot in the lineup and is 19 for his last 39 with 3 doubles, a triple and 4 home runs, which is a 1.460 OPS in his last 10 games. He's pushed Stryker Trahan down to the 6th spot in the lineup because he's only hitting .246 with an OPS of .761. Queliz has an overall OPS of .989. Trahan is still getting more starts at catcher than Queliz and the organization clearly wants him to make it as a catcher. His defensive peripherals seem to indicate he's improving there too. But right now Queliz is the best catcher on the team. The only argument against that is he's about 20 months older than Trahan and he turns 21 today. Trahan turned 19 a couple of months ago.

Snake Stars
3 Stars: Jose Queliz, Missoula 3 for 4, 2 R, 1 HR (4), 2 RBI
2 Stars: Ryan Doran AZL Dbacks 6 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 ER
1 Star: Seth Simmons, Visalia 2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 ER
0 Stars: Robert Coe, South Bend 5.1 IP, 8 H, 4 BB, 2 K, 6 ER

Triple A: Reno 2 @ New Orleans 4. Mike Bolsinger pitched well in spurts allowing 4 runs (3 earned) in 5.2 innings with 10 strikeouts. But it wasn't good enough as the offense managed just 5 hits and 2 runs. Matt Davidson led the meager offense with a double and 2 RBI.

Double A: Mobile - Rained Out

High A: Visalia 7 San Jose 3. Daniel Watts pitched better than he has in his first three starts in High A ball, but it wasn't anything special allowing 3 runs over 5 innings. The bullpen on the other hand was electric, particularly Seth Simmons who struck out the side in both the 7th and 8th innings. Most of the offensive output was via the home run with Sean Jamieson, Ryan Stovall and Matt Helm all homering.

South Bend 8 Bowling Green 9.The Silver Hawks appeared headed to an easy win after they took a 7-2 lead in the top of the 6th. But starter Robert Coe and reliever Kyle Schepel couldn't get out of the bottom of the 6th before Bowling Green scored 8 times. Brelan Almadova had a big game going 3 for 5 with a double and a triple. Rudy Flores hit his 16th home run and Fidel Pena went 2 for 5 with a walk, a double, an RBI and a stolen base.

Short Season A: South All Stars 8 North All Stars 7. The Northwest League played its all star game last night and several Hops figured prominently. Relief pitchers Daniel Gibson and Will Locante each tossed perfect innings of relief. On offense the only Hillsboro participant was Yogey Perez-Ramos who singled in a run in the top of the 9th during the South's 3-run rally that won the game for them.

Rookie: Missoula 5 Billings 2. Andrew Potter had a nice outing on the mound pitching into the 7th inning while allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. The bullpen held onto a slim lead with with Silvino Bracho earning a nervous save, his 6th. Jose Queliz continued on his torrid hitting rampage with 3 more hits including his 4th home run. He's hitting .487 in his last 10 games.

AZL Rookie: Dbacks 3 @ Indians 0. Ryan Doran was outstanding on the mound throwing 6 shutout innings on 3 hits while striking out 5. Bud Jeter was just as good in relief pitching the final 3 frames in shutout style on one hit. The game remained scoreless until the top of the 9th when Jamie Westbrook and Justin Williams singled, followed by a couple of wild pitches and an intentional walk, and the crusher, a 2-run single by Joel Thys. Justin Williams went 3 for 4 with a run scored.