Arkansans Across the Minors

Who's hot

DELTA CLEARY (Independent) has seen his batting average rise from .286 to .322 in the past 2 weeks. Cleary (Jonesboro) was 16 for 41 (.390), including a home run and a triple, with 8 RBI, 7 runs scored and 6 stolen bases in his past 10 games through Friday.

ZACK COX (Independent) was 13 for 45 (.289) with 8 runs and 14 RBI in his past 10 games through Friday. Cox (Arkansas Razorbacks) went 4 for 5 and was a single shy of the cycle with 3 runs scored and 5 RBI on July 17 in the Wichita Wingnuts' 15-5 victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries. He followed that by going 3 for 5 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored Monday in a 9-3 victory over Sioux Falls.

BRYANT NELSON (Independent) was 17 for 38 (.447) with 4 runs scored, 5 RBI, 3 stolen bases and 3 walks in his past 10 games through Friday. Nelson (Crossett) went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI on July 17 in a 3-2 loss at the Lancaster Barnstormers, then followed that Monday with by going 2 for 4 with 1 walk and 1 RBI in a 7-3 victory over Lancaster.

GERALDO VALENTIN (Independent) was 15 for 39 (.385) with 3 home runs, 6 runs scored, 9 RBI and 3 walks in his past 10 games through Friday. Valentin (Southern Arkansas) went 2 for 5 with a home run, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI on Friday in a 10-6 victory over the Wichita Wingnuts.

Who's not

JONATHAN DAVIS (High-A Blue Jays) was 4 for 33 (.121) with 5 runs scored, 2 RBI, 7 walks and 12 strikeouts in his past 10 games through Friday. Davis (UCA/Camden) has just 1 hit in his past 5 games.

ZACH GEORGE (A Pirates) was 6 for 34 (.176) with 2 runs scored, 3 RBI, 6 walks and 14 strikeouts in his past 10 games through Friday.

STUART LEVY (Short-A Orioles) was 5 for 30 (.167) with 4 runs scored, 2 RBI, 3 walks and 5 strikeouts in his past 10 games through Friday.

News and notes

• Catcher Tyler Spoon (Razorbacks/Fort Smith) was placed on the disabled list Monday, retroactive to July 16, by the Greenville Drive (A Red Sox) with a strained right oblique. Spoon last played for the Drive on July 15 against the Hagerstown Suns (A Nationals) and team officials said there is no timetable for his return.

• Pitcher Chandler Hawkins (Arkansas State) was promoted to the Class AA Springfield Cardinals from High-A Palm Springs on Wednesday. Hawkins made his debut for Springfield on Thursday in an 8-1 loss at the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA Royals), allowing 1 earned run on 2 hits with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts in 12/3 innings.

• Three pitchers with Arkansas ties were released from their respective teams this week. Torey Deshazier (Arkansas Baptist/Pine Bluff) was released by the Lexington Legends (A Royals), Colby Suggs (Razorbacks) was released by the Greensboro Grasshoppers (A Marlins) after a rehab assignment in the Gulf Coast League while coming off Tommy John surgery and Heath Wyatt (Searcy) was released by the Springfield Cardinals (AA Cardinals).

Around the horn

• Pitcher Jalen Beeks (Razorbacks/Fayetteville) earned his first Class AA victory Monday for the Portland Sea Dogs (AA Red Sox) in their 11-4 victory over the Trenton Thunder (AA Yankees). Beeks allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits with 4 strikeouts in 6 innings. ... Pitcher Connor Gilmore (UCA/Little Rock Catholic) earned his first two professional victories in his past two appearances for the Danville Braves (rookie Braves). His first victory came July 15 in an 8-6 victory over the Elizabethton Twins (rookie Twins), in which Gilmore allowed 2 hits with 3 strikeouts in 2 innings. He followed that Tuesday by getting 2 strikeouts in 11/3 innings of the Braves' 10-8 victory over the Pulaski Yankees (rookie Yankees). ... Pitcher Zack Jackson (Razorbacks) earned his first professional victory July 16 as the Vancouver Canadians (short-A Blue Jays) won 9-4 over the Boise Hawks (short-A Rockies) despite allowing 2 earned runs on 2 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts in his only inning of work.

-- Todd J. Pearce

Sports on 07/24/2016

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