By Adrian Noche, AngelsWin.com Minor League Reporter -
1.) Nate Smith, Starting Pitcher, Arkansas Travelers
Last two starts: 1-0 13.0 IP 3.00 ERA 9 H 3 BB 16 SO 0.92 WHIP
Overall: 8-4 101.2 IP 2.48 ERA 82 H 28 BB 81 SO 1.08 WHIP .216 BAA
Nate Smith carried his brilliance over from the Pan-Am games right back to the Arkansas Travelers. Smith earned two wins during his time pitching representing Team USA. Smith was victorious over Cuba, allowing just one hit in six innings pitched with 2 runs allowed and 6 strikeouts. He was also victorious over Canada, allowing just 1 run in 5.2 innings pitched with 10 strikeouts (U.S. Pan-Am record). In two starts back with Arkansas, Smith has only allowed a single earned run in 13.0 innings pitched with 9 hits and 3 walks allowed with 10 strikeouts. Smith’s season ERA is down to 2.48 with a WHIP of 1.08.
2.) Kaleb Cowart, Third Baseman, Salt Lake Bees
Past 10 games: .368 AVG 14 H 5 Doubles 0 Triple 0 HR 1 SB
Overall: .288/.367.447
It’s 49 games since Cowart’s promotion to Triple-A and he has refused to cool off. Cowart is batting .368 in his past 10 games with 5 doubles. Kaleb Cowart’s slash line at Salt Lake now stands at .345/.417/.524 and his season line is up to .288/.367.447.
3.) David Fletcher, Shortstop, Burlington Bees
Past 10 games: .364 AVG 16 H 2 Doubles 2 Triples 0 HR 3 SB
Overall: .337/.395/.457
After a strong start in Orem, David Fletcher was promoted to Low-A Burlington Bees on July 28th. The 6th round draft pick of the 2015 draft was batting .336 with 12 doubles, 3 triples and a 14:8 BB:SO ratio in Orem before his promotion. Now, Fletcher is 9-for-26 (.346) with1 double, 1 triple and 3 walks to 2 strikeouts in 6 games with the Burlington Bees.
Minor League Affiliate Report
Triple-A Salt-Lake Bees
The Bees went 3-5 since last week and have an overall record of 44-66 (16.5 GB). Nick Tropeano was solid in his return to the Bees on the 29th, allowing just 3 earned runs in 6.0 innings pitched. Jett Bandy’s bat is starting to heat up again, with a .417 batting average in his last 10 games with 1 double and 1 home run. Kyle Kubitza hit his 6th home run of the season on Sunday.
Double-A Arkansas Travelers
The Travelers are 6-2 since last week and currently sit in first place with a second-half record of 22-16. Sean Newcomb made his Double-A debut on Sunday, striking out 5 in 5.0 innings with 2 earned runs allowed and 5 walks. Chris Ellis pitched 6.2 innings of shutout baseball on the 30th, allowing 3 hits, walks and striking out 2. Chad Hinshaw is batting .293 in his past 10 games with 3 doubles.
High-A Inland Empire 66ers
The 66ers are 17-18 (2.5 GB) in the second half of the season after going 5-3 since last week. Andrew Daniel is batting .400 with 5 doubles in his lat 10 games. Daniel has a slash line of .317/.371/.500 in 31 games with the 66ers. Roberto Baldoquin was placed on the 7-day DL on the 28th.
Low-A Burlington Bees
The Bees are 2-4 since last week and have a second-half record of 14-23 (14.0 GB). After hitting a rough patch of outings, Jake Jewell has lowered his ERA to 4.21 with just 3 earned runs allowed in his last 15.0 innings. Keynan Middleton allowed just 1 earned run in 6.0 innings pitched with 3 hits, 1 walks and 4 strikeouts on the 29th.Relief pitcher, Jacob Kopra, has yet to allow an earned run in 16.2 innings pitched for Burlington this season. Second baseman, Tim Arakawa is batting .341with 2 home runs in his last 10 games.
Class-A Short Season Orem Owlz
The Owlz went 5-2 since last week and sit in second place of their division with a second half record of 4-2. Jaime Barria, 19 years old, made his Owlz debut on Saturday, allowing 1 earned run in 5.0 innings pitched (7 H 1 BB 4 SO). Jared Foster hit for the cycle on Saturday, going for 4-for-5 and is batting .333 in his last 10 games. Third baseman, Kenny Towns had a 5-hit game with 2 doubles, 4 RBIs and a stolen base on Friday. Michael Pierson continued to hit the ball extremely well, with an average of .419 and 4 stolen bases in his last 10 games (.395 on the season). Alex Abbott hit his 4th home run of the season on Sunday and has an OPS of .939 with the Owlz this season.
AZL Angels
The AZL Angels are 0-5 since last week and are 0-6 to start the second half of their season. 11th round draft pick, Jimmy Barnes, hit his first home run of the season on Tuesday.