Minor League Baseball Update: Olmedo-Barrera continues to sizzle at plate with Princeton Rays
The following are updates on local baseball players at the minor league level.
David Olmedo-Barrera (St. Francis High, 2012) Princeton Rays outfielder: Olmedo-Barrera is enjoying the best streak of his young career with Princeton, the rookie ball team of the Tampa Bay Rays.
The former All-Mission League and All-Area first-team selection has hit safely in his last 10 games through Tuesday. In that stretch, which began Aug. 8, Olmedo-Barrera is batting .275 (11 for 40) with one home run, six runs batted in and six runs.
On Tuesday against the host Kingsport Mets, Olmedo-Barrera had two hits and scored two runs to help Princeton pick up a 10-5 victory. Olmedo-Barrera, who was taken by Tampa Bay in the 12th round with the 358th pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Draft on June 10 after helping Cal State Fullerton advance to the NCAA College World Series, had a double in the fifth and six innings and proceeded to score each time.
On Friday, Olmedo-Barrera had one hit and drove in a pair of runs in Princeton’s 7-2 home win against the Bluefield Blue Jays. He had a two-run triple in the eighth and later scored on a passed ball.
Through Tuesday, Olmedo-Barrera was batting .270 (33 for 122) with two home runs and 17 runs batted in. In 32 contests, Olmedo-Barrera had registered eight doubles and three stolen bases.
Princeton was 31-24 and in second place in the Appalachian League’s East Division.
Nik Turley (La Cañada native) Sacramento River Cats starting pitcher: The left-hander responded nicely in his last appearance Tuesday following two shaky starts for Sacramento, the triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.
On Tuesday, Turley allowed one run on four hits in seven innings in Sacramento’s 3-2 home victory against the Round Rock Express. Turley gave up two runs (one earned), struck out three and walked three and didn’t factor into the decision. Turley, 25, threw 70 of his 109 pitches for strikes.
In Turley’s previous start against the Tacoma Rainiers on Aug. 11, he surrendered four earned runs on four hits (two home runs) in five innings. Turley, who struck out three and walked three, didn’t receive a decision in Sacramento’s 9-4 road win.
Turley took the loss in an appearance against the host Fresno Grizzlies on Aug. 6. He allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits in a 5-2 defeat. Turley struck out five and walked five in six innings.
Through Tuesday, Turley was 5-6 with a 4.69 earned-run average in 15 appearances with Sacramento. He had struck out 60 and walked 35 in 78 2/3 innings.
The River Cats were 61-63 and in second place in the Pacific Coast League’s Northern Division.
Angelo La Bruna (La Cañada native) Gulf Coast Nationals infielder: La Bruna, 23, had hit safely in five of his last 10 games through Tuesday.
The USC product, who was selected in the 33rd round (1,004th overall) of the Major League Baseball First-Year Draft in June, had a single Tuesday for the rookie ball team of the Washington Nationals in the Gulf Coast League. La Bruna had a hit to center in the seventh inning of a 10-3 road loss against the Gulf Coast Cardinals.
On Aug. 10 against the visiting Cardinals, La Bruna collected two hits and scored a run in a 5-4 loss. La Bruna finished with a three-hit effort against the Marlins on Aug. 6. He had three singles and scored a run in a 7-3 defeat.
Through Tuesday, La Bruna was hitting .269 (21 for 78) with three doubles, one triple and four runs batted in. In 28 games, he had scored nine runs for the Nationals (20-31 and in last place in the league’s East Division).
Kelson Brown (La Cañada High, 2006) Indianapolis Indians infielder: It’s been a frustrating season of late for Brown, a former All-Rio Hondo League and All-Area honoree. Brown was placed on the disabled list by Indianapolis, the triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, on Aug. 4 with a sprained right ankle. It came after Brown had spent time earlier in the season on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle.
Brown, 27, last played Aug. 2 against the Charlotte Knights. He went hitless in three at-bats in Indianapolis’ 4-2 home victory.
Brown is batting .250 (six for 24) with two doubles and three runs batted in. He’s scored four runs in 13 games for Indianapolis, which was 73-52 and in first place in the International League West Division through Tuesday.