Eliezer Mesa. Seriously. A day after hitting two doubles and a triple, Mesa reversed that by hitting two triples and a double on Sunday, throwing in an extra single to boot. He even stole home. So anytime a player hits six extra base hits in two days (seven of nine hits for extra bases overall in three games) we have to notice, I don't care if it is McCormick Field. Mesa hasn't registered on the radar of most prospect sites yet (Russ did get a question answered about him by Matt Eddy at BA in last year's Pioneer League top 20 chat) largely because he spent his first two years in the Rockies organization in Casper, where prospects get obscured by the dust devils and altitude, particularly those without power, but he's speedy, and he's showing extremely good contact rates since the beginning of last July.
Eddy suggests that he's a reserve OF at the big league level, which I would have had a hard time seeing last year, but that might be just because the Rockies reserve OF's are particularly good. Well, this has been a particularly good weekend for Mesa. His 2.024 OPS in Asheville after three games I have to say has me at least mildly curious as to how much of that he could sustain. It's still very early to call, but to me this looks very much like a player that's potentially had a significant breakthrough in their development. Take note.
Tulsa and Asheville broke out the bats against decent pitching prospects for their opponents (Wynn Pelzer is a top 10 in the Padres system, Brody Colvin is highly thought of with the Phillies).
Colorado Springs: L 3-4
Eric Young Jr. is struggling out of the gate, he went zero for four yesterday to drop his average on the season to .063. Brad Eldred had three hits, including a double and a pair of RBI. Chaz Roe pitched five innings giving up the four Tacoma runs and taking the loss. Roe seemed to hit a wall right around the 70 pitch mark, giving up a single, home run and double in succession after recording two outs in the fifth. He pitched well otherwise, so this could just be a sign that he'll be fine once he's stretched out.
Tulsa: W 9-6
Wilin Rosario had two hits in four at bats, including a triple and a pair of RBI and runs scored. He's still really young for his level, but he's also registering too many strikeouts to be a certain MLB player, four in eleven AB's on the season thus far. Anthony Jackson homered and singled and also had two runs scored and two RBI. Rounding out the Drillers with multiple hits was shortstop Radames Nazario. Jeff Kindel had a single and two walks. Eight of Tulsa's runs and all of their extra base hits came in the first inning off of the Missions' starter Pelzer. Bruce Billings started for the Drillers and lasted five innings to earn the victory despite giving up five runs himself.
Modesto: 2-7
game suspended after two innings
Asheville: W 8-7
Besides Mesa, Angelys Nina had a solid three hit day, including a home run, and Tyler Massey hit his first HR of the season. Helder Velazquez also added two hits, including a double. Juan Gonzalez only lasted two outs into the fifth inning, giving up four runs on seven hits, but he was pounding the strike zone, with zero walks and four K's. He also had a 6-1 GO to FO rate, which is nice to see. Three of the runs came in the first inning off of a Jeremy Barnes home run, after that Gonzalez settled down nicely it seems.
The relief crew had an issue with inherited runners (and letting those runners on in the first place) allowing three of five to score, but Charlie Ruiz was very effective in getting his first save of the year with two K's in a perfect ninth inning to seal the win.