Minor League Update: Olmedo-Barrera makes pro debut

The following are updates on local baseball players at the minor league level.

David Olmedo-Barrera (St. Francis High, 2012) Princeton Rays outfielder: Fresh off a memorable run to the NCAA College World Series, Olmedo-Barrera made his professional debut Sunday for the Tampa Bay Rays’ rookie ball squad.

Two games later on Wednesday, Olmedo-Barrera notched his first professional hit when he went one for three with his first run and a walk against Pulaski in a 6-3 loss.

Olmedo-Barrera’s first pro game Sunday saw him go 0 for four in a 5-2 loss to Elizabethton. On Monday, he was 0 for three with a walk and a stolen base. Then his first hit came Wednesday as a part of a one-for-three day with a walk.

Olmedo-Barrera was assigned to Princeton on Sunday and made his debut that day.

Heading into Thursday, the Rays, who hosted Pulaski Thursday night, were 9-6 for second place in the Appalachian League East.

Ryan Sherriff (Glendale Community College, 2011) Springfield Cardinals pitcher: Playing for the St. Louis Cardinals’ double-A affiliate, Sherriff returned from the disabled list on June 21 after having missed all of May and most of April and June.

In six appearances over six innings of relief since returning, he’s allowed just one earned run.

For the season, he’s pitched 9 1/3 innings with a 3.86 earned-run average and 14 strikeouts to five walks.

Sherriff’s streak of scoreless appearances stopped at seven overall with his last appearances on Wednesday, as he tossed an inning, gave up one hit, one run, one walk and struck out two in Springfield’s 2-0 loss to San Antonio.

Heading into another road game Thursday night at San Antonio, the Cardinals were 7-6 for second place in the Texas League North.

Alonzo Gonzalez (Glendale Community College, 2012) Dunedin Blue Jays pitcher: Following a stint on the disabled list in which he missed the last half of May and the first half of June, Gonzalez has made seven appearances since June 15 heading into Thursday.

For the season, the former Vaquero, who’s playing for the Toronto Blue Jays’ class A advanced squad, is 0-2 with a 4.43 earned-run average across 20 1/3 innings with 23 strikeouts to 12 walks.

Upon Gonzalez’s return on June 15, he threw an inning of scoreless relief with two strikeouts and a hit allowed.

Gonzalez’ last appearance was likely his best of the season as he threw a season-high four innings, allowing four hits and one run, while striking out three on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-5 left-hander and the Blue Jays won, 6-1, with Gonzalez getting the start and leaving with a no-decision.

Heading into Thursday’s game at Dayton, the Blue Jays were stuck in last place in the Florida State League North with a 5-9 mark.

Michael Noteware (Glendale Community College, 2011) Winnipeg Goldeyes pitcher: Noteware was signed Wednesday by Winnipeg of the American Assn. of Independent Professional Baseball.

An undrafted signee by the New York Yankees’ organization in 2014, Noteware posted a 2-1 record with a 2.35 earned-run average over 15 1/3 innings with two saves and 13 strikeouts to three walks last season. Despite the sturdy numbers, he was released by the Gulf Coast Yankees.

This season, he found himself released Monday by the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks before getting scooped up Wednesday by Winnipeg.

With Fargo, Noteware made 18 appearances and went 1-3 with a save, tallying 23 strikeouts and 11 walks in 28 innings, struggling to a 7.07 earned-run average.

Noteware made his Winnipeg debut the same day he was signed and, on Wednesday, pitched a scoreless inning against Fargo in an 11-0 Goldeyes win. It was a bit of a rocky inning, as he allowed two hits and a walk and got a strikeout.

Winnipeg was 19-25 heading into Thursday’s home game against Fargo.