Minor League Baseball Update: Olmedo-Barrera hits first professional home run
The following are updates on local baseball players at the minor league level.
David Olmedo-Barrera (St. Francis High, 2012) Princeton Rays outfielder: It’s been an eventful few weeks for Olmedo-Barrera, a former All-Mission League and All-Area honoree.
Olmedo-Barrera helped Cal State Fullerton advance to the NCAA College World Series and was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 12th round with the 358th pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Draft on June 10.
Olmedo-Barrera achieved a milestone moment June 16, as he hit his first professional home run to help Princeton earn a 7-6 win in 10 innings against the visiting Kingsport Mets. Olmedo-Barrera, who made his debut with Princeton on July 5, hit a two-run home run in the fifth to knot the contest at 3. Olmedo-Barrera, 21, finished the game with three hits, two runs and one run batted in while serving as the designated hitter.
He’s been showing gradual improvement for Princeton, a rookie team in the Appalachian League’s East Division, after getting off to a rough start. Through Tuesday, Olmedo-Barrera was hitting .175 (seven for 40) with one home run and six runs batted in. He’s scored five runs in 11 games.
Olmedo-Barrera had a fine outing Tuesday in Princeton’s 7-6 road victory against the Elizabethton Twins. He had a run-scoring single in the fourth inning before driving in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Through Tuesday, Princeton was 16-10 and in first place.
Nik Turley (La Cañada native) Sacramento River Cats starting pitcher: The left-hander enjoyed perhaps his best outing of the season Tuesday for Sacramento, the triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Turley regrouped nicely after losing his two previous appearances while pitching in the Pacific Coast League.
On Tuesday, Turley struck out eight and walked two in six innings to help Sacramento to a 5-4 home win against the El Paso Chihuahuas. He supported himself at the plate, recording a single and scoring a run in the fourth inning. The River Cats scored four runs in the fourth to take a 4-0 lead.
On the mound, Turley, 25, proved to be in control. He struck out two batters in the first and second before striking out the side in the third. Turley made 99 pitches, 66 for strikes.
On the season, Turley is 5-4 with a 4.53 earned-run average. The starter has struck out 45 and walked 23 in 55 2/3 innings. He made a start earlier in the season and picked up a win for the San Jose Giants and picked up a win.
Angelo La Bruna (La Cañada native) Gulf Coast Nationals first baseman: Since being taken in the 33rd round (1,004th overall) in the Major League Baseball First-Year Draft in June, La Bruna is making the transition and receiving a fair amount of playing time for the rookie ball team in the Gulf Coast League. La Bruna, a former USC infielder, has hit safely in five of his last 10 games.
La Bruna, a reigning Pac-12 All-Academic second-team selection, had a two-hit effort Friday against the visiting Gulf Coast Cardinals in a 14-4 victory. He had a run-scoring single in the sixth inning to give the Nationals a 9-3 lead. La Bruna later had a single and scored a run in the eighth.
On Monday, La Bruna had a hit in a 3-2 home defeat against the Gulf Coast Mets. La Bruna collected a single to center field in the first. La Bruna went hitless in four at-bats Tuesday in a 2-1 road loss against the Mets.
Through Tuesday, La Bruna is batting .245 (13 for 53) with two doubles, one triple and four runs batted in. He’s scored seven runs in 18 games for the Nationals, who were 12-14 and in third place in the league’s East Division through Tuesday.
Kelson Brown (La Cañada High, 2006) Indianapolis Indians second baseman: The former All-Area and All-Rio Hondo League honoree last played for Indianapolis, the triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, on June 28. He’s participated in seven contests.
Through June 28, Brown is batting .400 (four for 10) with two runs batted in and three runs. In his last outing, Brown pinch ran for pitcher Clayton Richard and scored a run in the seventh inning in Indianapolis’ 5-1 home win against the Syracuse Chiefs. Brown came off the bench and had a two-run pinch-hit double in the seventh to help Indianapolis post a 9-1 win against Syracuse on June 26.
The Indians are 57-40 and in first place in the International League’s West Division.
Fernando Valenzuela Jr. (St. Francis High, 2000) Toros de Tijuana first baseman: Valenzuela, who also played at Glendale Community College, is in his first season with Tijuana of the triple-A Mexican League.
Valenzuela, who played in the league’s all-star game in 2011 and 2013 while a member of Leones de Yucatan, is on the team’s reserved list. Valenzuela, 32, last played for Tijuana on June 2. He had a run-scoring single in the fifth inning as a pinch-hitter in Tijuana’s 16-1 win against the visiting Moncolva Acereros del Norte.
Valenzuela is batting .244 (10-41) with six runs batted in. He’s competed in 25 contests with Tijuana, which is 40-45 and in sixth place in the league’s Norte Division through Tuesday.