Minor League Update: Bergman fares well in first start with triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Christian Bergman throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in Anaheim, Calif.
The following are updates on local baseball players at the minor league level.
Christian Bergman (St. Francis High, 2006) Albuquerque Isotopes pitcher: The former All-Area Baseball Player of the Year began the season with the Colorado Rockies before being sent to triple-A Albuquerque on June 11. After working out of the bullpen throughout most of the season with Colorado, Bergman made his season debut with Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League as a starter Monday.
It turned out to be a successful transition for Bergman, who tossed three scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory against the visiting El Paso Chihuahuas. Though Bergman didn’t factor in the decision, the right-hander allowed one hit and struck out four in a 40-pitch effort before being relieved by Jair Jurrgens to begin the fourth. After giving up a double to Abraham Almonteto to lead off the game, Bergman retired the next eight batters he faced. He got an inning-ending double play in the first. Bergman struck out one batter in each inning.
For good measure, Bergman, 27, had a single in the third inning and later scored on a double by Cristhian Adames to right field to give the Isotopes a 1-0 lead. The Isotopes are 30-37 and in third place in the league’s Southern Division through Wednesday.
With the Rockies, Bergman made 14 appearances, 13 coming in relief, including his last appearance June 10 against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Rockies then assigned Bergman, who made his major league debut last season, to the minors to get more mound opportunities.
Bergman went 2-0 with a 4.18 earned-run average with Colorado. In 32 1/3 innings, Bergman has surrendered 15 runs (all earned) and 39 hits. He struck out 20 and walked seven.
Bergman had a successful first stint in the minors. He was tabbed the California League Pitcher of the Year in 2012 and named a Texas League All-Star in 2013.
Alonzo Gonzalez (Glendale Community College, 2012) Dunedin Blue Jays pitcher: Gonzalez recently returned from the disabled list for Dunedin, the Toronto Blue Jays class-A advanced club in the Florida State League. The left-hander, who received All-Western State Conference recognition with the Vaqueros, came out of the bullpen Thursday and struggled against the host Palm Beach Cardinals. He allowed one run and two hits in one-third on an inning in Dunedin’s 4-1 defeat. Gonzalez walked two, struck out one and had a wild pitch.
Gonzalez made his first appearance Monday after coming off the disabled list. Gonzalez, 23, tossed a scoreless eighth inning in Dunedin’s 2-1 loss against Palm Beach. He struck out two and allowed one hit after facing four batters.
Gonzalez began the season with the Lansing Lugnuts, the class-A affiliate for the Blue Jays, before being assigned to Dunedin.
At Dunedin, Gonzalez is 0-0 with a 5.56 earned-run average in six appearances. In 11 1/3 innings, he’s allowed 14 runs (11 earned) struck out 16 and walked 11.
Through Thursday, Dunedin is 30-37 and in fourth place in the league’s North Division.
Fernando Valenzuela Jr. (St. Francis High, 2000) Toros de Tijuana first baseman: The former Glendale Community College standout, who transferred to UNLV, is in his first with Tijuana of the triple-A Mexican League after previously playing for Leones de Yucatan.
Valenzuela, who played in the league’s all-star game in 2011 and 2013, is currently on the team’s reserved list in the minor leagues. Valenzuela, 32, last played for Tijuana on June 2. Serving as a pinch-hitter, he had a run-scoring single in the fifth inning in Tijuana’s 16-1 home victory against the Moncolva Acereros del Norte.
Valenzuela is batting .244 (10-41) with six runs batted in. He’s participated in 25 contests with Tijuana, which is 27-32 and in sixth place in the league’s Norte Division through Wednesday.
Ryan Sherriff (Glendale Community College, 2011) Springfield Cardinals pitcher: Sherriff, a left-handed reliever, remains on the disabled list and hasn’t pitched since the first week of the season.
Sherriff, who helped the Vaqueros qualify for the state tournament in 2011, took part in a pair of games in early April for Springfield, the double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Both appearances came against the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Texas League.
Sherriff, 25, is 0-0 with an 11.57 earned-run average.
Through Wednesday, the Cardinals are 27-38 and in last place in the league’s North Division.
