Minor-league spotlight
Juan Nicasio, RHP, Asheville
It was easy to understand the concern of the Asheville Tourists’ coaching staff when the Rockies promoted left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich to Modesto of the high Single-A California League two weeks ago.
Friedrich, the Rockies’ No. 1 June draft pick a year ago, had been about the only early-season bright spot on the pitching staff. The Rockies’ player development department sent unknown Juan Nicasio into Asheville from extended spring training to fill Friedrich’s spot in the rotation.
Nicasio, signed by the Rockies as a nondrafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2006, didn’t have Friedrich’s advanced billing, but that hasn’t stopped him.
In his third start Thursday night for the Tourists, Nicasio gave up one hit in a 5-0 victory over Lexington in the South Atlantic League. The only hit was a bunt single with one out in the eighth inning.
“He’s one of our young pitchers who throws the fastball between 90 and 97 miles per hour,” said Marc Gustafson, Rockies director of player development. “The Asheville staff has been pitching better the last week or so and he’s one of the reasons.”
The 22-year-old Nicasio is 1-0 for the Tourists, with an 0.55 ERA, six walks and 16 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings.
Organizational leaders (Through Thursday)
HITTING: (50 games) Mike McCoy, Colorado Springs, .352; Matt Miller, Colorado Springs, .344.
RUNS: Eric Young Jr., Colorado Springs, 57; McCoy, Colorado Springs, 52.
HITS: Miller, Colorado Springs, 78; Young, Colorado Springs, 69.
TRIPLES: Jeffrey Cunningham, Asheville, 6; Miller, Colorado Springs, 5; David Christensen, Asheville, 5.
HOME RUNS: Christensen, Asheville, 9; Ryan Harvey, Tulsa, 8.
RBIs: Miller, Colorado Springs, 52; Christensen, Asheville, 32.
STOLEN BASES: Young, Colorado Springs, 38; McCoy, Colorado Springs, 21.
PITCHING VICTORIES: Joey Williamson, Modesto, 7; Samuel Deduno, Tulsa, 6.
LOSSES: Six pitchers with five each.
SAVES: Craig Baker, Modesto, 19; Andrew Johnston, Tulsa, 16.
INNINGS: Jhoulys Chacin, Tulsa, 69; Jason Hirsh, Colorado Springs, 68.
WALKS: Deduno, Tulsa, 30; Connor Graham, Modesto, 28.
STRIKEOUTS: Christian Friedrich, Asheville/Modesto, 86; Bruce Billings, Modesto, 75.
ERA: (starters) Friedrich, Asheville/ Modesto, 2.34; Deduno, Tulsa, 2.98; (relievers) Matthew Reynolds, Modesto, 1.47, Carlos Luna, Modesto, 1.84.
