Fresno Grizzlies: Newcomers Alex Bregman, Teoscar Hernandez make immediate impact

From his first at-bat in Triple A, Fresno Grizzlies newcomer Alex Bregman proved he wouldn’t need any time to adjust to the highest level of minor-league baseball.

Bregman, considered the top prospect in the Houston Astros’ farm system, singled in his first at-bat en route to a 4-for-5 night with two doubles and three RBIs in his first game with the Grizzlies.

He hasn’t stopped producing since.

Bregman, who made his Chukchansi Park debut during Monday’s Fourth of July game, has made an instant impact with the Grizzlies and left many wondering if his Triple-A stint will be brief.

Through his first four Triple-A games, the 22-year-old shortstop was hitting .471 (8 for 17) with two home runs, two doubles and eight RBIs. He had a whopping .526 on-base percentage and a .941 slugging percentage.

“I just think that my preparation in the past has given me confidence to succeed,” Bregman said Monday before his first game in Fresno. “I feel very comfortable and ready to go.”

Not even past Grizzlies greats Carlos Correa of the Houston Astros or Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants have come close to producing at such a rate during their first four Triple-A games.

Correa, who played 24 games with the Grizzlies before he was promoted to the majors last season, batted .278 (5 for 18) with no home runs or RBIs in his first four games. His OBP was .381 and slugging percentage at .389.

Posey, who played 82 games in Triple A in 2009 and 2010 with the Grizzlies, batted .278 (5 for 18) with no homers and four RBIs in his first four Triple-A games. His OBP was .263 with a .389 slugging percentage.

“He’s really driving the ball, showing some power, playing some solid defense,” Grizzlies manager Tony DeFrancesco said. “Definitely a guy who’s got many tools. We’ll see how he continues to perform.

“He’s in the same class of a Carlos Correa. They’re able to make adjustments quick in their career and has a chance to get to the bigs real quick.”

Bregman isn’t even the only young prospect making his mark with the Grizzlies.

Outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, who was promoted to Triple A at the same time as Bregman last week, led the Texas League with a .304 average while with Double-A Corpus Christi. And in his first four Triple-A games, the 23-year-old batted .294 with two homers, four runs and four RBIs. His OBP was .333 and his slugging percentage was .765.

Hernandez also made his Fresno debut Monday.

Their arrivals to Triple A, at least for the time being, have sent some of the more veterans on the Grizzlies’ roster to the bench.

Bregman, ranked as the No. 18 prospect throughout baseball according to MLB.com, was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft.

Hernandez was an international signee out of the Dominican Republic who’s developed into one of the Astros’ more coveted prospects.

“These young players are going to push some of these older guys either to compete a little bit more or make some adjustments,” DeFrancesco said. “That’s just the way this game is. The young guys are to be playing and the older guys are going to have to somehow figure out a way to survive.”

It’s unclear how long Bregman will be with the Grizzlies. In fact, it’s possible this early July eight-game homestand might be the only time Fresno fans can watch him in person.

The All-Star break follows the homestand, then the Grizzlies begin the second half of the season on the road for eight straight.

“Ever since I was drafted, I was going to do everything I could to prepare to get the big leagues and find a way to get there fast,” Bregman said. “If there’s any added pressure, I don’t really feel it.

“When there’s pressure on you, the best players come out in the pressure moments.”

This story was originally published July 4, 2016 at 7:38 PM with the headline "Fresno Grizzlies: Newcomers Alex Bregman, Teoscar Hernandez make immediate impact."