DSL No Games Scheduled Gulf Coast League
Play begins on June 26th Arizona League
Play begins on June 24th Appy League Play begins on June 22nd
Pioneer League Play begins on June 19th Short-Season League RHP Julio Benitez (Northwest Salem-Keizer – San Francisco) 22 years old 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K LoA RHP Pedro Avila (LoA Fort Wayne – San Diego) 20 years old 7 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 12 K, Win Season Stats: 2-4, 5.14 ERA, 56 IP, 64 H, 32 ER, 20 BB, 71 K in 12 appearances with 11 starts
- Avila was the youngest National League pitcher to be selected as one of my “Ones to Watch” in 2016. He was coming off a 2015 UTR Organizational All-Star with the Washington Nationals from the DSL and one Gulf Coast League start. He just fell short of repeating as a UTR-OAS in 2016, but posted decent numbers in his debut of full season ball. Across 34 appearances (33 starts) the Venezuelan native owned a 2.93 ERA and a 10.5 K9 rate. The Nationals shipped Avila to San Diego in December for Derek Norris and assigned the 20 year-old to HiA Lake Elsinore. He held most of his peripherals steady while in the California League, though he proved hittable and was torched with a 4.98 ERA. He was demoted to Fort Wayne last week and was lit-up in his first start allowing 5 ER in 5.2 innings. Yesterday, the hard-throwing righty pounded the zone marking a career-high 12 strikeouts while issuing only one walk. Getting that taste at the next level, it might be best to let Avila develop in Fort Wayne. This is Avila’s second UTR-POD mention (May 23rd).
- Ruxer was in the Los Angeles Angels system and posted decent enough numbers to slide into my final UTR Organizational All-Star spot at the end of that season. When it was time to post that roster to this site, the Angels traded the 12th round pick from 2014 to the Royals for Brooks Pounders. The Royals tested Ruxer with an assignment to Double-A Northwest Arkansas and it didn’t go well. In 3 appearances (1 start), the 6′ 3″ right-hander tacked a 16.50 ERA (11 ER in 6 IP). Since his demotion back to HiA, Ruxer has gotten back on track with 3 ER in 14.2 innings with the Blue Rocks.
Under The Radar Minors 