Early Risers
A pair of 2014 draftees have made impressive impressions early in the season. Right-handers Brock Stewart and Trevor Oaks were both promoted from High-A Rancho to Double-A Tulsa within the first month of the season.
Stewart, the sixth-rounder in 2014, finally showed he was human on Sunday, allowing three runs in six innings, raising his season ERA to 1.61 in his first 5 starts. However, he struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter, extending his strikeout-to-walk ratio to 30-to-6.
Oaks, who was drafted a round after Stewart, saw his velocity jump this spring. He has also posted an impressive ratio (26:3), and has walked just one batter in his last four starts. The Riverside native posted a 2.65 ERA in 23 games last year between Great Lakes and Rancho, and now sports a 3.19 ERA so far in 2016.
Drillers catcher and 2013 eighth-round pick Kyle Farmer hit the ground running this season, matching his 2015 home run total in the first nine games of the season. He cooled off late in April before heading to the disabled list after taking a foul tip to the head.
A quartet of Quakes hitters have gotten off to hot starts. Catcher Julian Leon, who had a disappointing 2015 season, is batting .326 with seven doubles and a .923 OPS in his first 13 games this season.
Outfielder Andrew Toles, signed as a Minor League free agent last September, is batting .370 with nine stolen bases in 22 games. Toles ranks second in batting and third in steals in the Cal League. Outfielder Kyle Garlick, last year’s 28th-rounder, has been one of the top hitters in the league, placing eighth in OPS and tied for third with six home runs.
Shortstop Erick Mejia, acquired in the trade that sent Joe Wieland to Seattle, is batting .351 with solid defense at short.
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