Dipoto’s son signs with WCL’s Yakima Pippins
YAKIMA — Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto will have a keen interest in the Yakima Valley Pippins this summer.
Jonah Dipoto, the son of the M’s GM, has signed to play with the West Coast League squad, the team announced Tuesday.
The right-handed relief pitcher is a sophomore at UC San Diego. He has been used exclusively from the bullpen this season, and that’s the role he’ll likely have with the Pippins.
“He will fill a similar role out of the bullpen this summer, with the ability to bounce back and impact games on the back end,” Yakima Valley manager Marcus McKimmy said in a release from the team, “We put a huge emphasis on playing with a lead and being strong in the late innings on the mound, and Jonah will be a big piece of that.”
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Dipoto leads the Tritons with 12 appearances this spring and has posted a team-best 0.45 earned-run average and has recorded two saves.
After his senior season at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach, Calif., he was selected in the 38th round of the MLB draft in 2015 by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, shortly before his father resigned as general manager of the club.
The Pippins also added Mitch Ellis, a junior outfielder from Western Illinois.
The Diamond Creek, Australia, native will be the first Australian to play for Yakima Valley.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound junior is batting .280 with a home run and six RBI this season for the Leathernecks, and recently won the Summit League’s player-of-the week award.
Collins declares for NBA Draft
Gonzaga freshman center Zach Collins declared for the NBA Draft and intends to hire an agent at a later date, the school announced Tuesday.
“This was a significant decision for my family and me,” Collins said. “It was definitely one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make. I just want to thank everyone at Gonzaga, especially the coaching staff and my teammates.
“This season was special and something I will never forget. It was the most fun year of my life. I want to thank all of the Zag fans for all of their support and passion. I’ll always be proud to be a Zag.”
Collins earned second-team All-WCC honors and was named to the WCC All-Freshman team. He averaged 10 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Tacoma Rainiers win home opener
TACOMA — If the Tacoma Rainiers can get this kind of production in 2017, both hitting and pitching, it is going to be a fun summer at Cheney Stadium.
Christian Bergman tossed five scoreless innings, and top prospect Tyler O’Neill homered in his first home at-bat as the Rainiers bopped reigning Pacific Coast League champion El Paso, 7-2, on Tuesday night in Tacoma.
The Rainiers have now won home openers in back-to-back seasons. Tacoma edged Albuquerque last year.
Gordon Beckham also homered for Tacoma, which scored in four of the first five innings against Chihuahuas starter Walker Lockett.
“We swung the bats like I know we are capable of,” Rainiers manager Pat Listach said.
Bergman, who has primarily been a starter in the minors, but was in Colorado’s bullpen last season, extended his dominance over El Paso. He now has two wins over 19 scoreless innings for his career against the Chihuahuas.
He struck out seven hitters in his five innings, one short of his career-high for a game. He’s had eight strikeouts twice, the last coming for Single-A Modesto in 2012.
“He just throw strikes, and uses both sides of the plate,” Listach said. “He reads hitters pretty well.”
But plenty of anticipation surrounded the home debut of O’Neill, the Southern League most valuable player. He hammered an 0-1 Lockett pitch way over the left-field fence for a solo shot — his second home run of the season.
O’Neill’s left-corner double leading off the fifth inning triggered a Rainiers’ three-run outburst to push their lead to 7-0.
Daily World wire reports
