5 players to watch as the Las Vegas 51s take on the Iowa Cubs
The Las Vegas 51s start the second half of their season Thursday against the Iowa Cubs, also kicking off an eight-game road trip. Here are five players to keep an eye on during the series, including the four All-Stars that played in Wednesday’s Triple-A All-Star Game.
Travis Taijeron, OF, Las Vegas
He is Las Vegas’ best power hitter, so it wasn’t a huge surprise when he went deep in the All-Star Game Wednesday, blasting a two-run home run in the second inning. He was the only member of the PCL squad to homer.
In games that count, he is hitting .308/.389/.564 with 13 home runs and a team-leading 51 extra-base hits.
Armando Rivera, RHP, Iowa
One of two Iowa All-Stars, Rivera boasts a 2.59 ERA out of the bullpen, with 57 strikeouts in just 41 2/3 innings. Surprisingly, not only is he not the Cubs’ closer, he has not even registered a save this season.
Rivera has allowed a run in just one of his previous 15 outings, including his last eight appearances and 13 innings. He went 1/3 of an inning in the Triple-A All-Star Game, allowing a home run and getting a strikeout.
Darin Gorski, LHP, Las Vegas
When the 51s dipped into independent ball for a pitcher, they couldn’t have expected the success Gorski has given them so far. He is 2-1 with a 3.79 ERA and has gone seven innings in each of his last two starts.
The walks are still a bit of a concern, with nine in 19 innings pitched. He is scheduled to pitch Thursday against Iowa.
Dan Vogelbach, 1B, Iowa
The major league Cubs have an embarrassment of riches in the position player department, so naturally some of that overflows into the minor league Cubs. Vogelbach, Iowa’s top power threat, joined Rivera at the All-Star Game.
And for good reason. Vogelbach leads the team in almost every power category, including home runs (15), doubles (18), RBIs (60), and total bases (156).
T.J. Rivera, 3B, Las Vegas
Rivera, along with Taijeron and pitcher Gabriel Ynoa, represented Las Vegas at the Triple-A All-Star Game. He batted second, going 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout.
Rivera missed about two weeks in the middle of June, but has raked on either side of his injury. He is hitting .348/.389/.500 and has three multi-hit games in his last six starts.
