Notables Down on the Farm: July 26th, 2014

Norfolk Tides

Since being brought up to the Triple-A level just nine days ago, Christian Walker has been on an absolute tear. The up-and-coming first baseman has made use of every chance he has gotten this year and his 29 plate appearances with the Norfolk Tides has been no exception.

Since coming up to Baltimore’s Triple-A affiliate, Walker has batted .345 with six runs batted in. Despite not recording a home run yet with the Tides, his batting average and on-base percentage (.475) are signs that this young player is ready to play at the Major League level.

Another Tides player to make note of is Jimmy Parades. The Orioles signed him to a Minor League deal earlier in the week. In his first game with the Tides on Friday, Parades went 2-4 with a double and a two-run single which helped give the Tides a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Clippers.

Parades is a career .233 hitter in the Majors and is primarily a utility player.  If he were to get a call up to the Orioles, he would more than likely be a player to come off the bench much like David Lough and Delmon Young have been to the team so far this season.

Also, Mike Wright recorded his second win of the 2014 season. In a year where good things are hard to come by for Wright with a 2-9 record and 6.16 ERA, last night’s performance was one of them. He pitched seven strong innings, allowing only two runs off of seven hits. He also fanned six batters in Norfolk’s victory.

Bowie Baysox

I feel as though I keep talking about this player whenever the Bowie Baysox are brought up in a conversation, but it is because he is continually doing so well.

Mike Yastrzemski went 2-4 again on Friday night and not surprising to anyone who has followed Yaz, he hit another extra-base hit with a double in the bottom of the eighth inning. Yaz improved his batting average in Bowie to .342 and his on-base percentage to .390. The question is, if he continues to hit the way he has been and playing great defense, could Yastrzemski see another promotion this season from Double-A to Triple-A.

If so Yastrzemski would have started 2014 in Single-A Delmarva and ended it in Triple-A Norfolk. To say this young man is on the rise would be an understatement.

Delmarva Shorebirds

14 1/3 innings. That is the number of scoreless innings Luis Gonzalez has thrown since giving up a run in the top of the second inning of Delmarva’s July 9th game. The 22-year-old from the Dominican Republic has made a name for himself so far this year as a Shorebird.

He has a 5-0 record in 12 games played (11 games started). Gonzalez’s perfect record is due in part to his phenomenal 2.44 ERA and great walks:strikeout ratio (5:17). In his last outing on July 24th, Gonzalez pitched six scoreless innings, limiting the Rome Braves to just three hits. By striking out eight batters in his last start, Gonzalez now has over 50 strikeouts this season (51). A promotion to the next level this season is almost guaranteed for this future star.