Orioles Minor Leaguers of the Week: Zach Davies & Ivan De Jesus
Baltimore Orioles farmhands Zach Davies and Ivan De Jesus both had an outstanding week with their respective teams. Davies, a Bowie Baysox pitcher, threw 13 1/3 innings, giving up 11 hits, 3 ER, 2 walks, while striking out 13 batters and winning both of his starts on the week for the double-A affiliate of the Orioles.
The right-hander was selected by the Orioles in the 26th round of the 2011 draft out of Mesquite High School in Gilbert, Arizona. The 21-year-old was the #16 ranked Orioles prospect by MLB.com entering the 2013 season, and the #11 ranked prospect by Baseball America following the 2013 season.
Davies is enjoying a very successful 2014 season with Bowie, as the youngster is 8-6 with a 3.30 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings pitched so far.
De Jesus, a triple-A All-Star this season for the Norfolk Tides, went 11 for 26 (.423), with 4 runs, 1 double, 1 HR, and 6 RBIs on the week. While De Jesus may not be the highly touted prospect that Davies is, the infielder has been on many prospect lists when he was a Los Angeles Dodgers minor league player.
The 27-year-old De Jesus was a 2nd round draft pick in 2005 by the Dodgers, and was selected by Baseball America as one of the Dodgers top prospects for seven consecutive years (2005-2011). The Orioles obtained De Jesus in December of 2013 by signing the infielder on a minor league contract. De Jesus is hitting .299, with 50 runs and 48 RBIs this season for Norfolk.
Other Orioles minor leaguers that enjoyed a good week include:
Shorebirds
Chance Sisco – 6 for 16 (.375), 1 run, 2 RBIs; Creede Simpson – 8 for 23 (.348), 1 run, 1 double, 2 RBIs; Jared Breen – 4 for 12 (.333), 3 runs; Steven Brault – 5 1/3 IP, 5 hits, 1 ER, 2 walks, 9 K’s; and Luis Gonzalez – 6 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER, 2 walks, 7 K’s, 1 win.
Keys
Jason Esposito – 9 for 24 (.375), 1 run, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 4 RBIs; Jerome Pena – 7 for 18 (.388), 6 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 2 RBIs, 1 SB; Branden Kline – 5 1/3 IP, 6 hits, 0 ER, 3 walks, 3 K’s, 1 win; Mark Blackmar – 6 IP, 4 hits, 0 ER, 2 walks, 5 K’s; and Lex Rutledge – 4 1/3 IP, 0 hits, 0 ER, 3 walks, 2 K’s, 1 save.
Baysox
Glynn Davis – 9 for 26 (.346), 4 runs, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 1 SB; Niuman Romero – 10 for 28 (.357), 5 runs, 3 doubles, 1 HR, 4 RBIs; Garabez Rosa – 10 for 25 (.400), 3 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 5 RBIs; David Adams – 8 for 20 (.400), 3 runs, 2 doubles, 4 RBIs; and Marcel Prado – 6 IP, 7 hits, 2 ER, 3 walks, 8 K’s, 1 save.
Tides
Steve Clevenger – 7 for 21 (.333), 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Quintin Berry – 10 for 20 (.500), 2 runs, 1 double, 4 RBIs, 2 SBs; Dariel Alvarez – 9 for 29 (.310), 4 runs, 5 doubles, 1 RBI; Cord Phelps – 9 for 21 (.429), 4 runs, 2 doubles; Mike Wright – 5 IP, 6 hits, 0 ER, 0 walks, 4 K’s, 1 win; Josh Stinson – 9 1/3 IP, 2 hits, 1 ER, 3 walks, 7 K’s, 2 wins; Robert Coello – 4 2/3 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER, 2 walks, 3 K’s, 1 win; and Evan Meek – 3 IP, 2 hits, 0 ER, 0 walks, 3 K’s, 1 save.
