Before shortstop Carlos Truinfel could accurately be labeled a teenage phenom in the Seattle Mariners’ minor league system, first he’d have to live up to the phenom part.
Early this season, that wasn’t easy.
Truinfel, 18, not only struggled with the High Desert Mavericks in the high-A California League, he was sent down to the Mariners’ extended spring training camp in Peoria, Ariz., to serve a week-long suspension for insubordination.
Truinfel is back in a big way now.
He had hit safely in nine of 10 games entering Tuesday, batting .455 in that span. It gave him a .276 season average with five home runs and 34 RBI.
Truinfel, the youngest player with High Desert, was named the California League’s player of the week after going 15-for-30 last week with two homers, nine RBI, 15 runs and six steals in seven games. He had three games with at least three hits.
High Desert was 15-22 and fifth in the California League South, six games behind first-place Rancho Cucamonga in the second-half standings.
Outfielder Kou Hui Lo, batting .257 with eight home runs in 76 games, has left the Mavericks to play for Chinese Taipei in the Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Around the minors
Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers: Left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith, sent down by the Mariners after the All-Star break to be stretched out as a starter, will make his second start tonight. His first one was a success, allowing three hits and two earned runs in 52/3 innings Friday at Nashville.
Catcher Rob Johnson went 4-for-4 and needed a triple to hit for the cycle Monday at Memphis, raising his average to a season-high .306. He batted .500 in a 10-game stretch entering Tuesday.
Shortstop Tug Hulett was batting .307 and had hit safely in 20 of 24 games, with nine of his 13 homers and 19 RBI in that stretch.
Outfielder Wladimir Balentien had two homers and five doubles in a 10-game stretch entering Tuesday, giving him 15 homers and 44 RBI for the season. He had a .252 average.
The Rainiers were 54-55 and 10 games behind first-place Salt Lake in the Pacific Coast League Pacific North Division.
Outfielder Mike Saunders, who batted .276 with 11 homers and 46 RBI this season for Tacoma and Class AA West Tennessee, has joined the Canadian team for the Olympics in Beijing.
Class AA West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx: Outfielder Mike Wilson has hit safely in eight of nine games, five of them with multiple hits. He’s batting .286 for the season with 20 home runs and 65 RBI.
Outfielder Greg Hallman hit safely in 11 of 13, giving him a .281 season average.
The Diamond Jaxx were 15-22 and fifth in the Southern League North, six games behind first-place Carolina.
Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: Outfielder Denny Almonte hit two home runs Monday in the Rattlers’ 10-0 victory over Beloit. He has eight homers, 36 RBI and a .259 average for the season.
Right-hander Joe Kantakevich, who pitched 11/3 scoreless innings Monday, has allowed one run in his past 72/3 innings of relief.
The Rattlers entered Tuesday 10-27 and last in the eight-team Midwest League Western second-half standings, 111/2 games behind first-place Burlington.
Short-season Class A Pulaski Mariners: Shortstop Mario Martinez had nine RBI in a four-game stretch and is batting .320 for the season. Catcher Juan Fuentes has dipped under the .400 mark after going 3-for-17 in a six-game stretch, giving him a .391 average entering Tuesday.
Right fielder Jose Rivero had hit safely in 20 of 25 games in July, with 17 RBI in his past 23 games after he’d driven in four in his first 15 games this season.
The Mariners, 25-14, led the Appalachian League East by 31/2 games over Danville.
Rookie-level Peoria Mariners: Shortstop Jharmidy DeJesus had hit safely in 20 of 25 games with 14 extra-base hits and 15 RBI in that span, giving him a .356 season average. He has four homers and 16 RBI this season.
Second baseman Cesar Fuentes is batting .295 and has hit safely in 16 of his past 19.
The Mariners, 1-1 in the second half of the Arizona League, finished 9-18 and 11 games behind the first place Tempe Angels in the first-half standings.
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