St. Francis grad Christian Bergman thriving with Modesto Nuts
The following are updates on local baseball players at the minor league level.
Christian Bergman (St. Francis High, 2006) starting pitcher, Modesto Nuts: Quality starts are nothing new of late for the former All-Area Player of the Year and UC Irvine graduate. With Bergman on the mound, the Nuts, a class-A advanced affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, have thrived.
Bergman (7-4) turned in another impressive performance during his last start on Wednesday against the visiting Inland Empire 66ers at John Thurman Field. The right-hander and former All-Mission League honoree allowed two runs (one earned) and six hits in 6 1/3 innings to spark the Nuts to a 4-2 victory. Bergman struck out five and walked one of the 26 batters he faced in winning his third straight start and lowering his earned-run average to 2.80.
In his previous start on June 1 against the visiting High Desert Mavericks, Bergman allowed only one earned run over seven innings to earn a 3-2 win. He struck out eight and didn’t issue a walk.
Entering Monday’s road game against the Visalia Rawhide, Bergman struck out 57 and walked 16 and opponents are batting .233 against him in 10 appearances.
The Nuts are 31-33 and are in third place in the California League’s North Division.
Ryan Sherriff (Glendale Community College, 2011) starting pitcher, Palm Beach Cardinals: Sherriff, a left-hander who pitched part of last season with the Glendale Angelenos, continues to dazzle for Palm Beach. Since being promoted May 20 to the class-A advanced affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals of the Florida State League, Sherriff hasn’t missed a beat.
Sherriff, who began the season with the class-A Short Season New York-Penn League Muckdogs, improved to 4-0 as he struck out a season-high six over six innings to lead the Cardinals to a 3-2 win against the Fort Myers Miracle on Saturday. Sherriff, who had registered nine strikeouts entering Saturday’s contest, allowed two runs on four hits.
Sherriff also fared well in his previous start June 1 against the Clearwater Threshers. In seven innings, he allowed one earned run and four hits and struck out three in Palm Beach’s 4-1 victory.
In 26 innings at Palm Beach, Sherriff has struck out 15 and given up 16 hits. He’s walked five and sports a 2.42 ERA.
Entering Monday’s game against Fort Myers, the Cardinals are 28-33 and in third place in the league’s South Division.
Bryan Longpre (Crescenta Valley High, 2005), relief pitcher, Dunedin Blue Jays: Longpre has excelled in the bullpen for the Blue Jays, who are a class-A advanced affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Longpre went a season-high three innings to pick up his first victory of the season June 4.
The right-hander and a former All-Area pick pitched the fourth through sixth innings in Dunedin’s 9-2 road victory against the Charlotte Stone Crabs. Longpre struck out two, walked one and allowed one earned run.
In six appearances, all in relief, Longpre has struck out six and allowed three hits. He has a 1.17 ERA over 7 2/3 innings.
Dunedin is 41-20 and in first place in the Florida State League’s North Division. Entering Monday’s game against the Clearwater Threshers, the Blue Jays owned a nine-game lead over Clearwater.
Trevor Bell (Crescenta Valley High, 2005) starting pitcher, Salt Lake Bees: Bell, a former All-Area Player of the Year, remains on the disabled list with a right-elbow strain. Bell last pitched May 6 against the La Vegas 51s, in which he lasted 2 1/3 innings. He yielded four runs on six hits and also surrendered a walk.
Bell (1-4) has struck out 14 and walked 15 and has a 7.56 ERA.
The Bees, the triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, are 34-30 and in second place in the Pacific Coast League’s Pacific Northern Division.
