Former ace in Triple-A
For The Madera Tribune
Connor Brogdon.
Former Liberty pitcher Connor Brogdon has steadily climed the ladder through the Philadelphia Phillies organization.
He began the year in Single-A Clearwater and recorded a 2-0 record with a 1.80 ERA in 10 games with 20 innings pitched and 23 strikeouts while holding batters to a .164 batting average.
On May 9, he got the call to head to Double-A Reading for the Fightin Phils in the Eastern League.
In 15 appearances, he recorded a 1-1 record with a 2.66 ERA. He had two saves in 23 2/3 innings with 39 strikeouts against just seven alks. He held batters to a .150 batting average.
On June 29, Brogdon got another call and this time to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the International League.
He has had a little trouble in the advanced league with a 6.23 ERA through four games, but he has eight strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
In all, Brogdon is 3-1 with a 2.63 ERA. He has 70 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched with just 15 walks and batters are hitting just .183 against him.
Meanwhile, in the San Francisco Giants organization, J.J. Santa Cruz (Liberty) has had his ups and downs. He started the season with San Jose in Single-A advanced. He had a 3.32 ERA in 10 games wtih 14 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched.
He received a call-up to Triple-A Sacramento on May 5. He appeared in two games for the River Cats giving up two runs in two innings with three walks and three strikeouts.
He was sent down to Single-A Full season Augusta on May 8. In 13 games, including a nine-day stint on the injured list, Santa Cruz has a 3.28 ERA with a 3-1 record in 13 games. He has 38 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings.
Recent Los Angeles Dodgers draftee Alec Gamboa (Madera) stayed in Camelback Ranch in Arizona and is playing for the Dodgers rookie league team. In three games, he has a pitched 2 2/3 innings with two earned runs and three strikeouts.
