One night after Luis Mendoza fired a controversial No Hitter in Triple-A against the Memphis Redbirds, the combo of Will Smith and Kelvin Herrera combined for a No Hitter of their own for the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals against the Arkansas Travelers. Smith went 7 innings allowing no hits, a pair of walks, and striking out five. Herrera closed it out with two perfect innings in the eighth and ninth to close out the no hitter. In addition the Naturals turned a Triple Play after Smith walked the first two batters in the 6th inning. Travelers pitcher Matt Shoemaker was a very tough luck loser as he went 9IP, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 8K’s and got the loss.
Tuesday’s Notable Minor League Home Runs
AAA:
Ryan Lavarnway Boston Red Sox – Home Run #11
Devin Mesoraco Cincinnati Reds – Home Run #10
Stefan Gartrell Atlanta Braves – Home Run #21
Mauro Gomaez Atlanta Braves – Home Run #16
Jason Kipnis Cleveland Indians – Home Run #12
Ryan Strieby Detroit Tigers – Home Run #15
Alex Liddi Seattle Mariners – Home Run #20
Bryan LaHair Chicago Cubs – Home Run #28
Trayvon Robinson Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #25
Matt Dominguez Florida Marlins – Home Run #8
Chris Davis Texas Rangers – Home Run #22
AA:
Tim Wheeler Colorado Rockies – Home Run #28
Ben Paulsen Colorado Rockies – Home Run #12
Tyler Moore Washington Nationals – Home Run #21
Beau Mills Cleveland Indians – Home Run #10
Grant Green Oakland Atheltics – Home Run #5
Wilin Rosario Colorado Rockies – Home Run #16
High-A:
Ian Gac Chicago White Sox – Home Run #25 & #26
Matt Szczur Chicago Cubs – Home Run #1
Kyle Jensen Florida Marlins – Home Run #20
Chase Austin Florida Marlins – Home Run #4 & #5
Rockies Prospect Tyler Matzek Returns To The Mound Wednesday With A Mike Marshall Hybrid Pitching Style
The folks at InsideTheRockies.com have put up a phenomenal piece chronicling Tyler Matzek‘s return to Low-A Asheville following nearly a month long return to California to work with his youth pitching coach Lon Fullmer, and return to the hybrid version of the Dr. Mike Marshall pitching style that he had grown up with. See below for the differences in Matzek’s delivery between high school in 2009 and now as a pro in 2011. The pitching techniques taught by Dr. Marshall, the 1974 National League Cy Young Award Winner and a Ph.D. in Kinesiology, are all but blackballed by major and minor league pitching coaches. Among the drills that are part of the program is pitching with 20 pound wrist weights and using an iron ball (see video below). The Inside the Rockies article goes in-depth with Fullmer who describes returning Matzek to the style of pitching he grew up with. The drastic action of sending Matzek home came about after the lefty got off to a 0-5 start with an ERA of 10.71, and 61 walks in 42 combined innings between High-A Modesto and Low-A Asheville. It will be interesting to see what kind of a difference the change in approach makes for Matzek, who was the 11th overall pick in the 2009 draft. Again the Inside the Rockies piece is a must read.
Matzek set to start for Asheville on Wednesday — InsideTheRockies.com
UPDATE: Matzek went 4IP, 0ER, 2H, 5BB, 6K in his return to Asheville on Wednesday.
UPDATE #2: Matzek went 5IP, 2ER, 4H, 3BB, 8K, WIN in his second start back.
Tyler Matzek throwing for Capistrano Valley High School in 2009:
Tyler Matzek throwing for High-A Modesto on April 30th:
Mike Marshall wrist weight & iron ball pitching drills:
Mike Marshall breaks down his pitching motion:
Our Interview With Colorado Rockies Top Prospect Nolan Arenado
Since being drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the second round of the 2009 draft out of El Toro High School in California, all Nolan Arenado has done is hit. The 20 year old is a career .307 and is currently blistering the California League to a tune of a .310 average with 24 Doubles, 1 Triple, 11 Home Runs, and 74 RBI’s as a member of the Modesto Nuts. Among the most impressive stats from Arenado’s career thus far is that he’s struck out in just 108 of his 924 career at-bats, a rate of just over 11 percent. Equally as impressive is that over 37 percent of his hits go for extra bases. Arenado played in the 2011 Futures Game and did what he does best, hitting a double off Royals pitching prospect Kelvin Herrera. We hope you enjoy our Q&A with Nolan Arenado.
TPA: What was it like being around all of the best prospects in baseball at the Futures Game?
Nolan Arenado: It was a blast. It felt so good being around players you hear and read about, and some of them I know personally, like my high school classmate Austin Romine of the Yankees.
TPA: What were some of the things you will take with you from the Futures Game experience?
Nolan Arenado: We were treated so well. All of the attention on us was nice. Playing for such a big crowd was awesome and Chase Field is a great ballpark. It was an honor representing the Rockies. You never know if an opportunity like this will come up again, so I just tried to enjoy every minute.
TPA: After a slow start to the season offensively in 2011, you’ve been one of the hottest bats in the minors over the last month or so. What adjustments did you make to help lead to your recent success?
Nolan Arenado: I did start out slow but I didn’t panic. I made some small tweaks to my swing. I have since tried to stay consistent with what I’m doing at the plate.
TPA: What type of approach and swing thought do you take with you to the plate?
Nolan Arenado: I want to drive the ball. I look for a fastball to hit. I try to do what the situation dictates, and not try to do too much.
TPA: You did a bunch of Perfect Game events when you were in high school, describe that experience, and how seeing the some of the best prep pitching in the country at the time helped prepare you for pro ball?
Nolan Arenado: Perfect Game was a good experience. The more I did them, the more confidence I got. You definitely improve when you play against better competition.
TPA: What’s been your biggest challenge thus far in your pro career?
Nolan Arenado: It is a long season. So, staying consistent in my hitting is a challenge at times.
TPA: Being from Southern California what has it been like getting to play some of your road games this year in cities close to home?
Nolan Arenado: That’s one of the best parts. I’ve been lucky to have my family and friends come out and watch me play. Their support means a lot.
TPA: What has been your best memory so far as a pro?
Nolan Arenado: I am going to have to say the Futures Game so far. I had extended family come out as well, and it was great seeing them. On the field, meeting and talking to pro players was unforgettable. Also, another highlight was working out with Tulo this past winter.
Check out the clips below to see some of what Arenado experienced while at the Futures Games
Batting Practice
Arenado’s Double In The Game
Arenado’s Fan Fest Interview with MLB.com
Another Futures Game Interview With MLB.com
Jose Altuve To Make Major League Debut With The Houston Astros
The Houston Astros have called up Jose Altuve who has been one of Minor League Baseball’s biggest breakout prospects in 2011. The 21 year old second baseman began the year with the High-A Lancaster Jethawks batting .408 with 13(2B), 7(3B), 5HR, 39RBI, and 19 stolen bases in 52 games. Following a promotion to Double-A Corpus Christi, Altuve continued his hot hitting posting a .361 batting average with 9(2B), 3(3B), 5HR, and 25RBI. He has struck out just 40 times in 357 combined at-bats this season. Altuve will be one of the shortest players in the big leagues, officially listed at just 5’7″, but is possibly a little shorter than that. Altuve went 2-3 with a double during the 2011 Futures Game.
Cincinnati Reds Prospect Dan Tuttle Suspended 50 Games
A 50 Game suspension for a violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program has been handed down to Cincinnati Reds pitching prospect Dan Tuttle. The 20 year old was a 5th round pick back in the 2009 draft. Tuttle was a combined 7-4 with a 4.59ERA with 85 strikeouts in 80 innings between the Rookie League AZL Reds and the Low-A Dayton Dragons.
Awesome Time Lapse Of A San Francisco Giants Game
This is the coolest thing you will see today. The guys at Oliver Padilla Studios took a time lapse of AT&T Park during a mid-July San Francisco Giants from the opening of the gates until the last fan leaves. It’s over five hours of baseball cut down to just over two minutes. It’s really cool. You can follow Oliver Padilla on twitter @OliverPStudios
Brandon Belt Tries To Hit His Way Back To San Francisco While At Triple-A Fresno
It has been quite a roller coaster season to this point for former Texas Longhorns star Brandon Belt. He’s gone from making the opening day roster of the San Francisco Giants, to being demoted to Triple-A Fresno after hitting just .192, only to be called up again days later, only to break his wrist after being hit by a Trever Miller pitch on May 31st. Now belt is back to being healthy, back in Fresno, and coming off a Pacific Coast League Player of the Week honor. Belt talks about the ups and downs of his season, his desire to get back to San Francisco, and the adjustments he is making as a hitter to make sure his next opportunity in the major leagues lasts longer and is more successful than his first.
Grizzlies’ Belt swinging to get back to Giants — FresnoBee.com
UPDATE: Brandon Belt was recalled by the San Francisco Giants this afternoon.
Interview With Bernie Gerl The Last Living Survivor Of The Fatal 1948 Duluth Dukes Bus Crash
In 1948 a bus carrying members of the St Louis Cardinals affiliate the Duluth Dukes collided head on with an ice truck in St. Paul, Minnesota killing the team’s manager, the bus driver, and four players. Bernie Gerl, at age 84 is the last living member of the 1948 Dukes team. He talks about the crash and the legacy left by the the 1948 Duluth Dukes. Fascinating story.
Q&A with survivor of Duluth Dukes bus crash — Duluth News Tribune
Tuesday’s Notable Minor League Starting Pitchers
List compiled by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz. Follow JP on twitter @Jaypers413
Trevor May Philadelphia Phillies – High-A
Asher Wojciechowski Toronto Blue Jays – Triple-A
Matt Bashore Minnesota Twins – Rookie
Kyle Drabek Toronto Blue Jays – Triple-A
Rudy Owens Pittsburgh Pirates – Triple-A
Chad Jenkins Toronto Blue Jays – Double-A
Joe Wieland Texas Rangers – Double-A
Simon Castro San Diego Padres – Triple-A
Drake Britton Salem Red Sox – High-A
Chien Ming Wang Washington Nationals – Triple-A
Maikel Cleto St Louis Cardinals – Triple-A
No games in the Southern, California, Midwest, or South Atlantic Leagues today.
Note: List is gathered at MILB.com, is tentative, and all of the day’s starting pitchers may not have been revealed at post time.