Minor League Update: Turley excelling on mound with MLB rosters set to expand
The following are updates on local baseball players at the minor league level
Nik Turley (La Cañada resident) Rochester Red Wings pitcher: Since being optioned back to Rochester by the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 22, Turley hasn’t allowed a run in two relief appearances for the triple-A squad of the International League. Perhaps his most recent outings will earn Turley another trip back to Minnesota once the player rosters expand to 40 on Friday.
The left-hander gave up one hit and struck out two in two innings in Rochester’s 8-1 loss against the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders on Tuesday. On Friday, Turley struck out one and walked one in two innings in a 2-1 defeat versus the Buffalo Bisons. Turley didn’t factor into the decision in either contest.
Turley, who was called up twice by Minnesota this season, is 5-4 with a 2.66 earned-run average in 18 appearances through Tuesday (10 starts) at Rochester. He’s struck out 79, walked 22 and yielded 24 runs (20 earned) in 67 2/3 innings.
At Minnesota, Turley is 0-2 with a 12.51 ERA in five outings (three starts). Turley struck out 10, walked five and gave up 19 runs (all earned) in 13 2/3 innings.
Blake Gailen (Glendale Community College, 2005) Tulsa Drillers: After signing a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in June, Gailen has made some noise for Tulsa, the double-A affiliate in the Texas League.
Gailen, who represented Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic in the spring, is batting .261 (35 for 134) with six home runs and 27 runs batted in through Tuesday. Gailen has eight doubles and walked 13 times in 44 games.
He finished with one hit Monday — a lead-off bunt single in the second inning — in an 8-0 loss against the Springfield Cardinals.
Things worked out well on Sunday for Gailen, who had two hits, one RBI and one run to help Tulsa pick up a 6-5 win versus Springfield. Gailen drove in a run in the second and later added a double in the sixth before scoring on a hit by Yusniel Diaz to give Tulsa a 4-3 lead.
David Olmedo-Barrera (St. Francis High, 2012) Charlotte Stone Crabs outfielder: The former All-Area and All-Mission League honoree had an impressive performance during the first game of a doubleheader against the Clearwater Threshers on Tuesday. Olmedo-Barrera finished with two hits, two runs batted in and a run to propel Charlotte to an 8-2 victory.
He drove in a run in the first on a fielder’s choice before recording a run-scoring single in the fifth for Charlotte, the class-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays of the Florida State League. The Cal State Fullerton product added an RBI single in the third and registered a single in the fifth. In the second contest, he went hitless in three at-bats in a 3-2 defeat.
Olmedo-Barrera didn’t record a hit in four plate appearances Wednesday in a 6-4 win against Clearwater.
On Friday, Olmedo-Barrera had a run-scoring single in the eighth in Charlotte’s 14-2 defeat against the Fort Myers Miracle.
Olmedo-Barrera was hitting .248 (105 for 424) with 16 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 44 RBI. He’s got 26 walks and 19 stolen bases in 115 games through Wednesday.
Jared Akins (Glendale Community College, 2016) Gulf Coast League Twins outfielder: Akins, who was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 13th round (376th overall) of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in June, has begun to heat up lately for the Rookie League squad.
Akins, a former All-Western State Conference South Division selection, hit in three straight games before seeing the streak end Tuesday in the second game of a doubleheader against the Gulf Coast Rays. Akins, who transferred to Fresno State, had two hits in the first game in the Twins’ 3-2 victory. Akins had a single in the second inning and a single in the sixth.
On Aug. 24, Akins had a hit and a walk to help the Twins post a 7-1 win versus the Gulf Coast Orioles. He walked in the sixth before registering a single in the eighth. Akins collected a second-inning single in a 9-6 victory over the Orioles on Aug. 23.
Through Tuesday, Akins was batting .239 (21 for 88) with three home runs and 11 runs batted in. He’s notched four doubles and stolen five bases in 34 contests.
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
