Bakersfield first had pro baseball in 1941 with a Class C team and has had a long list of major league affiliations since 1946. This is the club’s first year of a second affiliation with the Seattle Mariners, the first one taking place in 1982-83. Since then, Bakersfield has been the home of the Dodgers, Giants, Rays, Rangers and, most recently, the Reds.
The Cincinnati ballclub was in town from 2011-2014, but left after last season for Daytona of the Florida State League. Enter the Mariners, who had been in High Desert most recently. So the players who call Sam Lynn Ballpark home are now property of Seattle.
LAST YEAR
First Half – 45-25, 1st
Second Half – 33-37, 4th
The first-half title for the then-Reds affiliate was rewarded with an automatic berth in the Cal League semifinals. The Blaze lost to the Visalia Rawhide 3 games to 1.
ORGANIZATIONAL LADDER
| LEVEL |
TEAM |
LEAGUE |
| Majors |
Seattle Mariners |
American |
| AAA |
Tacoma Rainiers |
PCL |
| AA |
Jackson Generals |
Southern |
| High A |
Bakersfield Blaze |
California |
| Low A |
Clinton Lumberkings |
Midwest |
| Short Season |
Everett Aquasox |
Northwest |
There are three Rookie level clubs as well.
2015 ROSTER
Org Prospect Rankings: (Baseball America/MLB.com)
RHP Trey Cochrane-Gill (20/20)
RHP Edwin Diaz (6/7)
RHP Jochi Ogando (28/-)
LHP Ryan Yarbrough (9/11)
C Tyler Marlette (14/9)
LF Tyler O’Neill (11/12)
CF Aaron Barbosa (27/-)
RF Austin Wilson (5/6)
Some highlights early on from the list above:
- Cochrane-Gill entered the weekend having pitched in 10 games (19 2/3 IP) and a stellar BB/K ratio of 3/18. His record stands at 2-1 with a WHIP of 0.56 and a 1.37 ERA.
- Diaz sits at 2-0 with a 0.77 WHIP and 1.45 ERA after six starts. Over 31 IP, he has walked just eight while striking out 34.
- Marlette is currently slumping (5-for-38 over his last 10 games) but he came out of the gate swinging a lethal bat. His hitting line stands at .256/.330/415 with 4 homers and 13 RBI.
- O’Neill leads the team in RBI (14) and is tied with Marlette for the team lead in homers (4).
- Yarbrough has made six starts and yielded just four walks over 31 2/3 IP while striking out 19
Elsewhere on the roster, RHP Brett Ash has pitched 17 innings over eight appearances and has a 0.94 WHIP with a BB/K ratio of 4/11…..OF Ian Miller leads the Cal League with 13 SB’s.
RECENT ALUMNI
OF Billy Hamilton (’12) – Second full season with the Reds, starting outfielder
RHP Robert Stephenson (’13) – Reds’ (1/1) prospect, currently at AA Pensacola
RHP Michael Lorenzen (’13) – Ranked (4/4) prospect for the Reds. Currently with the major league club, has made two starts, got his first win Tuesday against the Pirates.
OF Jesse Winker (’14) – (3/2) prospect for Reds, currently at AA Pensacola
RHP Ben Lively (’14) – Phillies (6/7) prospect, included in Marlon Byrd trade. Pitching at AA Reading.
MEDIA COVERAGE
For team news, results, etc:
OFFICIAL CAL LEAGUE PAGE
BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN
For prospects:
MLB PIPELINE
PROSPECT INSIDER
MINORLEAGUEBALL.COM -Top 20 Prospects for 2015
And for Reds players:
MLB PIPELINE
REDSMINORLEAGUES.COM
SPORTSPYDER.COM
Sam Lynn Ballpark:
WIKIPEDIA
STADIUM JOURNEY
BALLPARK REVIEWS
