Fresno Grizzlies, minus key component, look to keep rolling as PCL finals begin

Tyler White took a few extra grounders than usual at the hot corner Monday.

He’s played third base for the majority of his baseball career, but had spent most of his time at designated hitter this season with the Fresno Grizzlies.

But with the promotion of Pacific Coast League MVP Matt Duffy to major league parent club Houston, the Grizzlies have quite the hole to fill – at third as well as in the middle of the order.

When the Grizzlies begin a best-of-five series for the PCL title against the Round Rock Express on Tuesday, the 5-foot-11, 225-pound White will take over in the infield with right-handed hitting L.J. Hoes as the designated hitter.

They’ll try to help make up for Duffy’s production – he hit .294 with 20 home runs and a minor league baseball second-best 104 RBIs during the regular season and had a .945 fielding percentage at third base.

“You hope that you keep him here for the playoffs, but we’re also very excited for Duffy,” said Grizzlies manager Tony DeFrancesco, who didn’t reveal how he would alter his 3-4-5 punch that generally has featured White, first baseman Jon Singleton and Duffy. “That’s just the way it is in Triple-A – even the playoffs. We’ll regroup.

“Whitey can fill in adequately over there. Hoes has hit for us throughout the season.”

The Grizzlies were able to give White some playing time at third during the final two weeks of the regular season after Fresno clinched its division with 13 games remaining.

In three starts there, White didn’t commit an error and had seven assists.

Of course, it’s White’s bat that makes him a must-start option. Splitting his season between Double-A and Triple-A, White combined to hit .325 with 14 home runs and 99 RBIs with a .442 on-base percentage.

“I really haven’t given it much thought,” White said. “It was good to play a couple games there at the end so I’m not completely rusty. Just going to go out there and get the job done. I’m not too worried about it. I spent a lot of time at third.”

Hoes batted .295 with three homers, 69 runs and 53 RBIs, and he had 26 steals in 34 attempts.

The Grizzlies also received help from within the Astros’ farm system.

Colin Moran, the No. 6 overall pick by Miami in the 2013 draft, was promoted Saturday night from Double-A Corpus Christi to the Grizzlies.

Moran, who will begin the series on the bench, has yet to play in a Triple-A game. The 6-4, 215-pounder hit .306 with nine homers and 67 RBIs and had a .381 on-base percentage in 96 games this season in Double-A.

“It’s exciting,” Moran said Monday. “I’ve played with a lot of the guys in the clubhouse before. It doesn’t feel too different. In Corpus, we had a lot of guys come up and down. So I’m used to playing with new teammates.

“I’m just the new (teammate) this time.”

Round Rock manager Jason Wood, a Fresno native, expressed excitement over facing the Grizzlies for the PCL championship.

“Getting to compete against Fresno, which was one of the best teams in the PCL this season, is going to be fun,” said Wood, who is in his first season managing in Triple-A. “There’s been numerous transactions we’ve had to play through here, like I’m sure Fresno’s had their share.

“It’s very gratifying (for Round Rock) to be back in the playoffs” for the first time since 2006. “And it’s against Fresno. It’s going to be a good series.”

This story was originally published September 14, 2015 at 9:05 PM with the headline "Fresno Grizzlies, minus key component, look to keep rolling as PCL finals begin."