Braden Shipley pitches in the 2014 Futures Game
By Joseph Jacquez
photo courtesy of milb.com
Last year it was the Arizona Diamondbacks no.1 pitching prospect Archie Bradley that got his turn in the Futures Game, and this time it was RHP Braden Shipley, the Dbacks first round selection in the 2013 First Year Player Draft.
Shipley pitched two thirds of an inning, after replacing Jake Thompson, scattering a one out single to keep the U.S team ahead 3-2. He allowed the one out hit while striking out none and walking none. What I notice about Shipley is his unbelievable composure on the mound. The atmosphere and the event itself would overwhelm alot of young players, but not Shipley.
Shipley is quickly moving up the Arizona system. He is not only the second best pitching prospect in the Arizona system, he is the second best overall prospect according to MLB.com. Shipley, after moving from the South Bend Silver Hawks, the Dbacks Class A affiliate of the Midwest League, to the Visalia Rawhide, the Dbacks Class Advanced A Affiliate of the California League, has struggled a little.
In seven starts with the Rawhide he has a 1-4 record and a 5.13 era. He has allowed 38 hits in 40.1 innings, while striking out 48 and walking 16. His problem is the long ball. He has already allowed 6 home runs. Shipley is having a hard time adjusting to more advanced hitters of the California League, but he is young, and there is no doubt in my mind that he will move up the system quickly. He is projected as a no.2 or no.3 starter.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets an invitation to spring training next year especially with all of the Dbacks rotation problems, and he should be a full time member of the rotation by 2016 if he pitches well and moves up in the system, possibly the middle of next year.
One Note: Dbacks prospect Andrew Velazquez a shortstop for the Single A South Bend SilverHawks reached base on a single in the second inning of a 10-7 win Sunday to extend his streak of reaching base to a minor league record 72 straight games. That is amazing. Kevin Milliar and Kevin Youkillis can move to second place. The streak began on April 22nd. He has collected 94 hits during the streak.