Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘Arizona Diamondbacks’

Sibling Diamondbacks’ farmhands, Jarrod and Justin Parker will continue to progress through Arizona’s system this year.

After Jarrod’s showing in the MidWest League with the Silverhawks, he probably won’t be back there. This spring, he made an impression on ESPN’s Peter Gammons. His natural progression would be to begin the year with the high-A Vasalia Rawhide. But don’t be surprised if he moves up to Double-A before the season’s end.

The No. 1 prospect, 19-year-old Jarrod Parker, could find his way to Mobile before the end of the season because many believe the hard-throwing right-hander, who averaged 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings in the second half of last season at Class A South Bend, is on a fast track to the majors [everythingalabama.com].

Also be sure to check out Bad Wax for Jarrod’s card. Here’s their take:

Jarrod Parker – P – Diamondbacks- 2007 – 1st round – He had a great first year in his pro career playing for the South Bend Skyhawks.  Where he went 12-5/3.44/1.24 with 117 strikeouts in 117 innings.  The Diamondbacks see big things for this low level prospect.  Look for him to split time between high A and AA this season.

Oen has to wonder where Justin Parker will begin and ultimately play the bulk of the season. Perhaps we’ll get treated to having him in the Midwest League with the Silverhawks. What makes that even better is the fact tha the is an infielder – not a pitcher – so we’ll likely get to see him on his first trip rather than having to take our chances with a rotation. Bad Wax also has a look at Justin:

Justin D. Parker – 2008 – Arizona – 6th round – He had a tough first season in the minors.  For Yankima he hit 0.210/0/14/12 in 181 at bats.  He projects as a 5 tool player, even if it doesn’t seem that way from the stats.

Former Norwell standout, Jarrod Parker was recently named as the third best Midwest League prospect by Baseball America. And as MinorLeagueBaseball.com points out, he’s building upon a solid foundation that saw his first year as a professional baseball player turn out to be a success by all measures.

In 24 starts, Parker went 12-5 with a 3.44 ERA, tying for third in the system in both wins and ERA, striking out 117 over 117 2/3 innings while showing impeccable control with only 33 walks.

During the 2008 season, parker showed relative mastery of his fastball, slider and changeup. Now he’s attempting to add a hard curve to his repertoire. And now, with his foundation built after a full season in nearby South Bend, Parker seems to be in position to see the rest go up pretty quickly.

“He probably could have pitched up to Double-A this year stuff-wise and in terms of maturity as he started to develop as a man,” Hinch said. “But just like a house, once the foundation is built, the rest goes up pretty fast. Year two is probably the time to push the gas pedal a little and challenge him and see what he can do.”

The Yakima Herald recently caught up with shortstop and recent Diamondbacks draft pick, Justin Parker. Parker is currently playing in the Northwest League (Class-A Short Season) for the Yakima Bears.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Parker was born March 14, 1987 in Fort Wayne, Ind. He played collegiately at Wright State University . . . and has a younger brother, Jarrod, who pitches for South Bend, an Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate in the Class A Midwest League.

He answers about 10 questions, spanning his favorite movies, baseball superstitions and more.

One day after Eddie Bonine made his Major League Debut with the Detroit Tigers, his 2004 Wizards teammate became the 66th. Leo Rosales was called up by the Arizona Diamondbacks from their Triple-A club, the Tucson Sidewinders, to provide some additional bullpen relief. They wasted little time in getting his feet wet.

In his debut, Rosales faced eleven hitters, but he was roughed up for four hits and an earned run over an inning and two-thirds. He threw 43 pitches, with 27 of them going for strikes.

Rosales appeared in 28 games for the Sidewinders, all of them in relief. He was 2-1 with a 4.08 ERA over 35 1/3 innings and was 9-for-9 in save opportunities. He may be with the club for a while or he could be used simply as an innings-eater for the next few games.

The 27-year-old right-hander came to the Diamondbacks‘ organizations last July in a trade with the Padres that sent Scott Hairston to San Diego. Rosales was described as having the best changeup in the Friar’s farm system at the time, so it’s a bit surprising that they would let him go knowing how valued that pitch is within the organization.

With the Wizards in 2004, Rosales went 6-1 with a 1.40 earned run average. He struck out 66 batters over 57.2 innings in 53 games and walked just 16 while racking up 26 saves.

Last year, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Norwell’s Jarrod Parker with their first round selection. This year, they selected another Indiana Parker when they chose shortstop Justin Parker with the 198th pick during the 7th round of the 2008 MLB Draft.

Parker is a former Wayne High School standout and a junior at Wright State University. He lettered all four years for the Generals and was a two-time All-Summit Athletic Conference selection. As a senior, he was named to the Division 3A All-State team as he hit .498 with six home runs and 22 stolen bases.

Parker also holds the school record for batting average in a season, which he set as a senior while leading his team to the sectional championship. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 43rd round of the 2005 Major League draft but chose Wright State over going pro. While in school, he has earned honors as 2007 Second Team ABCA All-Region, 2007 First Team All-Horizon League and 2006 Horizon League All-Newcomer Team.

This season, Parker hit .395 with 70 hits, 44 runs scored and 53 runs batted in over 177 at bats. He hit 8 home runs and drew 25 walks. He started 46 games at shortstop and collected 21 multi-hit and 15 multi-RBI games. He missed seven games after being struck in the jaw with a pitch at Arkansas in February. 2008 honors included First Team All-Horizon League, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team and he was on the Preseason Brooks Wallace Award Watch List. Parker also is tied for first in career doubles (55) at Wright State.

Norwell standout and 2007 first round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jarrod Parker is set to make his Midwest League debut tonight. Game time has yet to be announced, but audio of the game can be obtained though the Quad Cities River Bandits’ feed. I’ll update if a game time is announced (seems that should already be available). Parker is gunning to put the South Bend team in the win column (at least the Wizards have one, right?). The season is young, no worries.

UPDATE: Parker went 2.2 innings for South Bend. He gave up 3 unearned runs on 5 hits and had 3 strikeouts. Nerves may have gotten the best of him in his debut. He threw wild pitches in both the second and third innings before being relieved by Alvaro Ortega.