Fun on the Farm: Taijuan Walker looks a lot like Taijuan Walker

AAA Tacoma Rainiers (64-61, Pacific Coast League)

In five rehab starts with the Rainiers, Michael Saunders is batting .353 with 7 walks, 1 double and 2 runs batted in.  He's managed to reach base safely in 13 of his 24 plate appearances, which is pretty ridiculous.  Whenever he rejoins the team, his bat and plate discipline will really help this lineup.  If he can come back and produce the way he did before his injury, that would be a huge addition.

Roenis Elias was optioned to Tacoma after his last start in an effort to manage his innings, and he was absolutely spectacular in his spot start yesterday.  The Cuban lefty tossed 5.0 scoreless, no-hit innings with 6 strikeouts and only 1 walk.  Elias is should join the team in Philadelphia and is expected to start on Monday night against the Phillies.

In case you somehow missed it, Taijuan Walker looked a lot better in his latest start for Tacoma on Sunday.  Just one week after his worst performance of the year, he pitched one of the best games of his career.  Walker went 7.0 strong innings, allowing only 1 earned run on two hits with 13 strikeouts and a walk.

Where there's Smoak, there's.........ugh, nevermind.  But seriously, Justin Smoak is kind of on fire lately.  Over his last 10 games, he's hitting .378 with 7 walks, 3 doubles and 3 runs batted in.

Shortstop Ketel Marte has looked really good since getting the promotion to Tacoma last week.  He has hit safely in all three games he's played in with the Rainiers and is 5-for-12 (.417) so far.

AA Jackson Generals (56-65, Southern League)

Third baseman D.J. Peterson hit another home run last night, his 8th since joining the Jackson Generals and 26th minor league dinger of the year.  You might have to check my math on this, but I believe Peterson is currently on pace for all of the home runs.  Peterson also has 97 runs batted in this season, which is currently the third highest total among all minor league players on earth.

Jordy Lara had his 10-game hitting streak snapped last night.  During the impressive streak, Lara was 17-for-40 with 1 walk, 6 doubles, 1 home run and 12 runs batted in.  Since being promoted to Jackson, Lara is batting .305 (18-for-59) with 5 walks, 7 doubles, 1 home run and 13 runs batted in.

Patrick Kivlehan has recorded a base hit in 10 of his last 11 games.  During these 11 games, he's 16-for-39 with 6 walks, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs and 7 runs batted in.

A High Desert Mavericks (59-62, California League)

Want to hear something insane?  In just his last 10 at-bats, catcher Tyler Marlette has 2 doubles, 2 home runs and 6 runs batted in.  Marlette has been driving in runs like crazy recently, with 19 RBIs and 7 multi-RBI games since July 24th.

Second baseman Lonnie Kauppila went 2-for-4 yesterday, improving his hitting streak to 9 games.  Kauppila is 13-for-36 (.361) during the streak.

Jabari Henry is really giving D.J. Peterson some serious competition for the top spot in homers among M's minor leaguers.  Henry homered last night, giving him 25 home runs on the year and extending his hitting streak to 5 games.  During his streak he's hitting .381 with 2 doubles, 1 home run and 4 runs batted in.

Andrew Kittredge is still striking people out at a ridiculous rate.  He has managed to strike 101 batters out in 70.2 innings pitched (12.86 K/9) over the course of 35 relief appearances.

A Clinton LumberKings (52-67, Midwest League)

Over his last 17 games, outfielder Aaron Barbosa is 22-for-68 with 14 walks, 10 stolen bases, 2 doubles, and 1 run batted in.

Third baseman Joseph DeCarlo is batting .367 with 4 walks, 5 doubles and 5 runs batted in over his last 9 games.

Short-A Everett AquaSox (20-38, Northwest League)

Austin Cousino has been pretty solid over his last 15 games.  The young outfielder is batting .323 with 10 runs scored, 10 doubles and 6 runs batted in.  He has recorded at least one base hit in 12 of those 15 games.

Right-handed pitcher Daniel Altavilla is 4-0 with a 3.13 ERA in his last 4 starts.  He has allowed only 8 earned runs over 23.0 innings during those 4 starts.

Rookie Pulaski Mariners (28-23, Appalachian League)

Starting Pitcher Taylor Byrd hasn't allowed a single run since July 16th.  He's pitched 13.0 innings over the course of 4 starts in that time.

Relief pitcher Trey Cochran-Gill has still allowed just 2 earned runs in 25.2 innings in his 18 relief appearances.  Cochran-Gill is 3-0 with 8 saves, 33 strikeouts, 3 walks and a .165 opponent batting average.

Rookie AZL Mariners (24-17, Arizona League)

Right-handed pitcher Osmel Morales hasn't allowed a run in his last 16.1 innings. Reliever Ronald Dominguez is 3-1 with 1 save, 33 strikeouts, 7 walks, a .167 opponent batting average and a 0.52 ERA.