Former D-Backs Prospect Jarrod Parker Demoted by Oakland, Collin Cowgill Shines

The Oakland A’s beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 Monday in a spring game and Manny Ramirez homered, however it wasn’t all good news for Billy Beane and company.

Former D-Backs top prospect Jarrod Parker–traded to Arizona for former ace Trevor Cahill–allowed two runs and walked eight batters in 3.2 innings, needing the help of two double plays to limit the damage, and was demoted following the game.  Following 2010 Tommy John surgery,

Parker had an unspectacular 2011 season at Double-A Mobile that saw him go 11-8 with a 3.79 ERA and the lowest strikeout per nine ratio of his career (7.7).  Despite 13 walks in 11 innings and a 1.73 WHIP this spring, Parker has a 3.27 ERA and .162 opponent batting average.  The Diamondbacks traded Parker along with outfielder Collin Cowgill and pitcher Ryan Cook for Cahill this past offseason.

Trevor Cahill has struggled through an ineffective spring as well, posting a 0-3 record with a 7.88 ERA and opponent batting average of .344 yet Cahill is certain to open the season as the D-Backs number three starter, behind Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson.  Meanwhile Collin Cowgill is having an excellent spring in the A’s outfield hitting .436 with 9 RBI and 4 stolen bases and is seriously pushing for a starting job in their outfield.  Ryan Cook has also been fairly effective posting a .100 batting average against with a .67 WHIP despite his elevated 4.50 ERA.

Despite the strong springs by Cowgill and Cook, neither player would have had much of a shot of making the Diamondbacks who have log jams in the outfield and bullpen.

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