Pearl Getting Job Done for Blaze

Brian Pearl was not on the radars of many analysts before the start of this season. The righthander is having a breakout season and earned a spot on the California League All Star team. He's still gaining experience on the mound after being converted from an infielder in college. The closer has a mid-90's fastball and shown excellent control over his entire minor league career.

Bakersfield tied their game against Lake Elsinore with two runs in the sixth and added two more in the seventh to win 4-2 at Sam Lynn Field. Niko Vasquez led the Blaze offensively with two hits. He doubled in the sixth and scored the tying run and put his team ahead the next inning with a two run homer. Jamie Walczak got his third start of the season and allowed both Storm runs on five hits in four innings while striking out seven. Pat Doyle threw three 3+ innings of scoreless relief to pick up his seventh win. Brian Pearl pitched the final 1 2/3 and allowed only one base-runner while striking out four to get the save.

This season the Cincinnati organization is getting effective closing at higher levels with Aroldis Chapman and Donnie Joseph. Meanwhile Pearl is getting the job done at high-A Bakersfield with a 1.31 ERA over 28 appearances while picking up thirteen saves. He’s shown excellent command with a K/BB ratio of 41/8 over 34+ innings. That performance earned him a spot on the California League All Star team.

Pearl came into the Cincinnati organization out of the University of Washington through a ninth round selection in 2009. The right-hander started to work later that season at Billings where he saved eight games in twenty appearances. From the beginning he’s shown great control when his K/BB was 43/10 for the Mustangs. The next year an elbow strain took away almost his entire season. He began 2011 back at Billings but was soon promoted to Dayton where he had very forgettable results in twelve games. Now in 2012 the 24 year-old is having a breakout minor league season.

Pearl is listed at 6’1”/190#. He started out as an infielder in college before he was converted to a reliever before his final year. Being inexperienced on the mound his velocity varied, topping out around 94 m.p.h. He improved the consistency later that summer in the Northwoods League. Upon arrival with the Reds his agenda included development of secondary pitches which included a mid-70’s curve and a low-80’s slider with a late break.

There were some draft experts that felt Pearl’s talent merited a higher pick than where the Reds found him at #269. He was not on the radar of many analysts before the start of this season. Now his success at high-A is providing strong evidence that his prospect status will climb. He’s still relatively inexperienced on the mound for his age. It’s a good bet that a mid-90’s fastball with good command will demand a lot of positive attention for his future as a reliever.

Other news from the Farm:

Down the river at Louisville the Bats lost as series opener when Rochester scored two in the ninth to win 8-6. MLB veteran Dioner Navarro went 3-4 with a walk to raise his average to .333. Daniel Dorn went 3-3 with a walk and scored three runs. Felix Perez continued swinging a hot bat with two hits and three RBI. Ryan Feierabend got his second start with the Bats and allowed two runs while navigating around eight hits before he was lifted in the fifth. Jordan Smith pitched the final two innings and was charged with the loss.

Scott Rolen is expected to begin a rehab assignment for the Bats this weekend in Louisville.

Pensacola’s game against Mobile was suspended in the fifth while the Wahoo’s trailed 3-1. They will resume play at Blue Wahoo field today before their regularly scheduled game tonight.

Billy Hamilton Theft Watch:

Hamilton made it on base only once last night when he singled in the sixth. He stole second where he remained when the inning ended. He now has 75 steals in 65 games.

Dayton allowed the tying run in the eighth and the winner in ninth when they dropped their rubber game of the series at Great Lakes 5-4. Joe Terry and Juan Silva had two hits each for the Dragons while Kyle Waldrop got their scoring started with a solo homer in the fifth. Daniel Tuttle allowed two runs on four hits in five innings while fanning four without a walk. Ryan Kemp allowed the final two runs and was charged with his first loss.