April 5th Honor Roll: Jarrett Grube and Anthony Aliotti

On Friday, three starters pitched 6.0 innings of no-hit baseball in the minor leagues but none of them could match Jarrett Grube‘s 6.1 inning, 1-hit effort for Arkansas. His start stood alone thanks to the fact that he didn’t walk a batter. On the offensive side of the equation, the A’s Anthony Aliotti remained perfect on the season. In ten plate appearances so far in 2013, he’s collected six hits and walked four times with 11 total bases proving he’s not just a singles machine.

Neither Grube, 31 and on his third organization, or Aliotti, 25, cracked their respective organization’s Top-30 prospect list (according to Baseball America). However, on April 5th they were the best the minor leagues had to offer.

It’s only been two days, but Midland’s Aliotti still hasn’t been retired. (Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

Pitcher of the Day: LAA – Jarrett Grube, Arkansas Travelers (AA): 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO

Hitter of the Day: OAK – Anthony Aliotti, Midland Rockhounds (AA): 4-4, 3 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB

Pitching:

MIL – Hiram Burgos, Nashville Sounds (AAA): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO

PHI – Perci Garner, Clearwater Threshers (A+): 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO

SEA – Roenis Elias, Jackson Generals (AA): 6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO

SF – Jack Snodgrass, Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA): 6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

SF – Edwin Escobar, San Jose Giants (A+): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO – “Esky” matched up with Visalia’s Archie Bradley and the two combined to pitch 10.2 innings of shutout baseball. Bradley had the edge in strikeouts with nine but also allowed nine runners to reach base.

SF – Martin Agosta, Augusta Greenjackets (A): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO

TOR – Taylor Cole, Lansing Lugnuts (A): 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO

WAS – Tanner Roark, Syracuse Chiefs (AAA): 6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO

Hitting:

BAL – Xavier Avery, Bowie Baysox (AA): 5-7, 3 R, 2B, 2 RBI

BAL – Brenden Webb, Frederick Keys (A+): 4-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, SB

CHC – Zeke DeVoss, Daytona Cubs (A+): 3-5, R, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, SB

CIN – Mike Hessman, Louisville Bats (AAA): 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI, BB, SO – Seven at bats in his first two games of 2013 have resulted in 4 hits – all of them home runs – with 4 RBI and 4 runs. He may be 35-years old with a 0.231/.312/.463 slash line over 18 minor league seasons but that’s an impressive start no matter how far removed Hessman may be from “prospect” status.

COL – Nolan Arenado, Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA): 3-3, 2 R, 2B, HR, RBI

CWS – Micah Johnson, Kannapolis Intimidators (A): 4-5, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 SB, SO

SD – Cory Spangenberg, Lake Elsinore Storm (A+): 3-4, R, 2B, RBI, 4 SB, BB