Around the League

BRISTOL PRESS: Former New Britain Bees outfielder De Aza continuing strong hitting with Twins Triple-A affiliate

Former New Britain Bee Alejandro De Aza earlier this season | Wesley Bunnell | Staff
By: Ryan Chichester

 

The New Britain Bees lost their best offensive presence last month when the contract of center fielder Alejandro De Aza was purchased by the Minnesota Twins organization. De Aza, who left the Bees after posting the Atlantic Leagues’ second-highest batting average up to that point (.346), was assigned to Triple-A Rochester in his first taste of affiliated ball this season.

The 35-year-old De Aza took some time to adjust to his new surroundings, but the former major league veteran has since took off, proving that the Twins’ decision to pluck him from the Atlantic League was a good one, while the Bees can celebrate the success of their former teammate, while also missing his consistent production at the top of their lineup.

De Aza caught up with the Rochester Red Wings on July 17, while the team was in the midst of a week-long road trip and began to settle into his new role. He wasted no time getting into the hit column with a two-run single in his first game against the Norfolk Tides, but went hitless in his next seven at-bats to begin his minor-league campaign with a 1-for-11 clip, including four strikeouts. He got back in the hit column in his fifth game with the team, going 1-for-3 on the day, and then took off.

Over his next 16 at-bats, De Aza racked up nine hits and his first extra-base hit in the form of a double during a 3-for-5 effort in his first home series with Rochester. In his first game following that torrid four-game stretch, De Aza smacked his first home run, which was a tease for a surprising power surge that began at the end of the month.

On July 30 at Buffalo, De Aza went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, then returned home for a series with the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Railriders, where he smashed a home run off of Yankees top prospect Deivi Garcia, then hit two more the following day to highlight a 3-for-4 performance that included nine total bases and three RBI. Two games later at Pawtucket, De Aza went 2-for-3 with a double to continue his hot hitting and raise his slugging percentage to a remarkable .613.

Through 18 games and 65 at-bats at the Triple-A level entering Wednesday, De Aza is slashing .323/.408/.600 with five home runs, somehow keeping pace with the production he maintained in the Atlantic League. It will be a hard level to maintain, but De Aza’s current OPS of 1.008 suggests the Twins added a valuable piece for their Triple-A affiliate, especially given his performance in the clutch. De Aza’s OPS with runners in scoring position sits at 1.068 and four of his five home runs have been hit with two outs in the inning. What’s even more impressive is the lefty’s production against southpaw pitching, which he has torched for a 1.411 OPS in 16 at-bats.

It’s a small sample size, but De Aza has made an immediate impact on his new team, and for now, it looks like his place in affiliated ball is safely secured.
 

http://www.bristolpress.com/BP-New+Britain+Bees/355976/former-new-britain-bees-outfielder-de-aza-continuing-strong-hitting-with-twins-triplea-affiliate



Search Archive »




Browse by Year »

2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015

Browse by Month »

March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015