MINOR LEAGUE UPDATE: Former St. Francis High standout Christian Bergman selected to All-Star Game
The following are updates on local baseball players at the minor league level.
Christian Bergman (St. Francis High, 2006) pitcher, Tulsa Drillers: Bergman, who was named last season’s California League Pitcher of the Year, is now thriving in the Texas League.
He’s quickly made a name for himself after pitching for the Modesto Nuts last season and diligently working his way up the ladder in the Colorado Rockies farm system.
Bergman, a former All-Area honoree, was selected Tuesday to participate in the league’s 77th all-star game on June 25 in Springdale, Ark., for the North Division. He’ll be one of six Drillers, the Rockies double-A affiliate, picked to compete in the contest. Bergman will be joined by Tulsa teammates Tyler Matzek, Kent Matthes, Kyle Parker, Angelys Nina and Kiel Roling.
The players were chosen for the contest via voting by the league’s managers and media.
Bergman, 25, is 3-5 with a team-leading 3.10 earned-run average in 13 starts. The right-hander has struck out a team-best 54 and allowed 39 runs (27 earned) in 78 1/3 innings.
Bergman turned in a quality start in his most recent outing Tuesday against the Springfield Cardinals, who turned to starting pitcher Ryan Sherriff, a former Glendale Community College standout. In seven innings, Bergman allowed three runs (two earned) and struck out two. He did not pick up a decision in Tulsa’s 4-3 home victory. Bergman threw 96 pitches, 62 for strikes. He also had a hit in two plate appearances.
The Drillers are 32-33.
Ryan Sherriff (Glendale Community College, 2011) pitcher, Springfield Cardinals: Sherriff, who helped GCC advance to the state tournament in 2011 and then played for the Glendale Angelenos, recently earned a promotion by being moved up to Springfield, the double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in the Texas League.
The left-hander began the season with the Palm Beach Cardinals of the Florida State League. Sherriff has made four appearances with Springfield, with his latest coming against former St. Francis High standout Christian Bergman of the Tulsa Drillers on Tuesday.
Sherriff didn’t factor into the decision. He yielded two runs on 10 hits and struck out three in seven innings in Springfield’s 4-3 road defeat. He threw 60 of his 88 pitches for strikes. He also had one hit in three at-bats.
Sherriff earned the win for Springdale on May 31 against the visiting Midland RockHounds. In five innings, he surrendered one run on six hits and struck out three in a 15-5 victory.
Sherriff is 1-1 with a 3.27 earned-run average. He’s struck out 13 and allowed 27 hits and eight runs in 22 innings.
Springfield is 31-34 in the league’s North Division.
Trevor Bell (Crescenta Valley High, 2005) pitcher, Pensacola Blue Wahoos: Bell, a former All-Area Baseball Player of the Year and first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2005, signed a free-agent contract with the Detroit Tigers shortly after last season ended. However, he was released before the 2013 season began before being picked up by the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Bell, 26, has since found a home with Pensacola, a double-A affiliate of Cincinnati in the Southern League.
Things seem to be clicking early on for Bell, a right-hander. In two relief appearances, he hasn’t allowed a run. In two innings, he’s struck out six and allowed two hits.
Bell picked up his first save Tuesday against the Mississippi Braves. He yielded a pair of hits and struck out the side to preserve Pensacola’s 7-3 road victory.
Pensacola is 24-41 in the league’s South Division.
