Draft Day

 Tonight begins the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft with the First Round and Compensation A Round. The Aces active roster currently includes two first-round selections. RHP Trevor Bauer was taken 3rd-overall by the Diamondbacks in 2011. OF A.J. Pollock, who has had two stints withe the Big League club this season, was Arizona’s first-round selection in 2009 (17th overall).

Last year, Arizona became the first club to have two of the first seven draft selections. This year, the D-backs make their first selection with the No. 26 overall pick, and then do not have another chance until No. 90.

Live coverage of the draft begins today 3 p.m. PT on MLB.com and MLB Network, starting with a one-hour preshow.

Mascot Mania!

Mascot Mania is upon us!

Fans across Minor League Baseball can participate in Mascot Mania to determine Minor League Baseball’s top mascot. The Aces Round Mound of Red, Archie, is up against Sluggo from the Eugene Emeralds in the first round of voting.

First round voting runs through Tuesday, May 29. Click here to support Archie and to check out the other competitors!

Adam Eaton Collects 300th Career Hit

Outfielder Adam Eaton collected his 300th career hit on Thursday night, as the Aces won 7-4 over the New Orleans Zephyrs. Eaton, who is in just his 3rd season of professional ball, took only 235 career games to reach the 300-hit plateau.

Eaton was drafted by Arizona in the 19th round of the 2010 draft. There were 570 players selected before him–including 268 position players. Of those 268 position players, just one has reached the 300-hit plateau in his career (INF Jed Gyorko, 316 hits, 2nd round, 59th overall, San Diego). Among those 268 position players taken before Eaton, just 53 have more than 200 hits. Only eight have more than 250 hits and just 11 have reached the Triple-A level or higher. Eaton entered last night’s game with 67 hits in the 2012 season, good for 2nd most among all Minor League batters.

Going into tonight’s game, Eaton ranks 2nd in the PCL for batting average (.388) behind teammate Jake Elmore (.392). The pair also lead the PCL in on-base percentage (Elmore with .497, Eaton with .458).

Congratulations to Adam!

Online Fan Voting Returns For 2012 Triple-A All Star Game

Triple-A® Baseball and MLB Advanced Media, LP (MLBAM) are excited to announce that fans across the country will once again have the opportunity to vote online for their favorite players to be selected to the Triple-A All-Star Game. The 25th annual contest will be held at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, N.Y., home of the Buffalo Bisons, on July 11 at 7:00 p.m. EDT and will match outstanding players from the International League and the Pacific Coast League.Online Triple-A All-Star Balloting is proudly sponsored by PERT® Plus, Official Shampoo Partner of the Triple-A All-Star Game. PERT Plus 2-in-1 shampoo plus conditioner is known for helping users get great, healthy looking hair without the hassle, and can be found in the locker rooms of select MiLB teams across the country. For more information about PERT Plus, visit www.facebook.com/pert2in1 and www.pertplus.com.

Fans can register for a chance to win an MiLB prize pack when they cast their ballots online at the official websites of Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB.com), the International League (ILBaseball.com), the Pacific Coast League (PCLBaseball.com), and the websites of all 30 Triple-A teams. The online sweepstakes, which is presented by PERT Plus, includes special MiLB prize packages and MiLB.TV subscriptions.

All fans who participate in the online balloting from May 25 to June 22 will be able to vote for players for both the IL and PCL rosters. Fans can select one player for each of the infield positions, plus three outfielders, a designated hitter, and four pitchers – two starters and two relievers. Write-in votes for players not listed on the ballot will also be accepted. Up-to-date statistics and position-by-position comparisons will be available at the click of a mouse to help fans make their selections.

Fan balloting will account for one-third of the total vote along with ballots cast by members of the media and each club’s field manager, coaches, and general manager. Using MLBAM online voting services, fans will be able to access the ballots at the official websites of Minor League Baseball (MiLB.com), the Pacific Coast League (PCLBaseball.com), the International League (ILBaseball.com), and the websites of all 30 Triple-A teams. Once again this year fans will also be able to share links to their online ballots through Facebook and Twitter to encourage friends and followers to cast votes for their favorite Triple-A players.

The 25th annual Triple-A All-Star Game will be broadcast live from Buffalo on Wednesday, July 11 on MLB Network as well as MiLB.TV on the World Wide Web. The All-Star Game festivities in Buffalo will include the annual Triple-A Home Run Derby on Monday, July 9 and the Triple-A All-Star Luncheon featuring Tom Seaver on Wednesday, July 11. For more information on festivities or to purchase tickets, fans can visit the official website of the Buffalo Bisons, www.Bisons.com.

Hudson on Rehab Assignment with Reno

 RHP Daniel Hudson will make a Major League Rehabilitation start for the Aces tonight. He was placed on Arizona’s 15-day Disabled List on April 21 with a right shoulder impingement.

Prior to being shelved, Hudson was 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 3 starts for the D-backs. He will become the 20th player sent to Reno on a rehab assignment in club history, and will be the second assignment for the Aces on this homestand.

Tickets are on-sale now at RenoAces.com, by calling (775) 334-7000 or by visiting the Aces Ballpark Ticket Office.

 

Happy Birthday Mike DeMark!

Aces righty reliever Mike DeMark is celebrating his 29th birthday today. The Pennsylvania native was signed as a non-drafted free agent by San Diego in 2007, then signed by the D-backs in June of last year.

DeMark earned a save in each of Reno’s two postseason victories last season. He was 3-2 with a 1.75 ERA with 15 saves and 48 strikeouts in 32 relief outings with Double-A Mobile and Reno in 2011.

DeMark has complied a 3-2 record with a 7.29 ERA and 12 strikeouts so far in 2012 with the Aces.

Happy Birthday Mike!

Happy Birthday Joe Paterson!

Reliever Joe Paterson is celebrating his 26th birthday today.

The lefty started the season with the Diamondbacks, and joined Reno at the end of April. He has earned one win and compiled a 1.86 ERA for the Aces.

Happy Birthday, Joe!

Trevor Bauer Takes the Mound for Reno

RHP Trevor Bauer, who entered the season ranked the 8th-best prospect in all of baseball, will take the mound for the Aces today in his Triple-A debut.

Bauer, who was Arizona’s top pick and third pick overall in last year’s draft, started the 2012 season with Double-A Mobile. He was 7-1 with a 1.68 ERA in eight games with Mobile. He compiled 60 strikeouts, and allowed just 33 hits through 48 1/3 innings.

The 21-year-old helped lead UCLA to the College World Series championship game in 2010. The following year, he was named the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year for his work with the Bruins. Bauer won the 2011 Golden Spikes Award, which is presented to the top amateur baseball player in the country each year.

Tickets for tonight’s game and a jam-packed weekend at Aces Ballpark are on-sale now at RenoAces.com, by calling (775) 334-7000 or by visiting the Aces Ballpark Ticket Office.

Chris Young Joins Aces on Rehab Assignment

 

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Chris Young will continue his Major League Rehabilitation Assignment tonight with the Reno Aces at Aces Ballpark, the club announced today.

Young, a 2010 National League All-Star, was placed on Arizona’s 15-day Disabled List on April 18 with a right shoulder contusion. After beginning his rehab assignment with Advanced-A Visalia, Young will join the Aces in time for tonight’s series opener against the Oklahoma City RedHawks at Aces Ballpark. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. PT, and tickets are available now.

Before being sidelined, Young was batting .410 with five home runs and 13 RBIs through just 11 games. As one of the game’s premier all-around players, the Houston native helped lead the Diamondbacks to a National League West Division Championship last season.

This stint will mark Young’s second in an Aces uniform. In 2009, he played in 13 games for Reno, batting .370 with nine extra-base hits and nine RBIs.

Tickets for tonight’s game and a jam-packed weekend at Aces Ballpark are on-sale now at RenoAces.com, by calling (775) 334-7000 or by visiting the Aces Ballpark Ticket Office.

Happy Birthday Jensen Lewis!

Aces’ reliever Jensen Lewis is celebrating his 28th birthday today. The righty, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 3rd round of the 2005 draft.

Entering his first season in the D-backs’ organization, Lewis has earned one save and compiled a 1.69 ERA this season with the Aces. During his four major league seasons, he limited right-handed hitters to a .223 average.

Lewis graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2006 with a degree in communications, and was 17-12 in three seasons with the Commodores. He was the 2010 Roberto Clemente nominee for the Indians in 2010.

Happy Birthday Jensen!