Mazara continues hot start at Triple-A

Nomar Mazara's age may be suited for the Class A level, but his talent, approach and mentality are Major League caliber. That combination has the Rangers' No. 2 prospect one step away from "The Show" as the Minor League season nears its end.

Mazara bashed his first Pacific Coast League homer and registered three hits for the first time at the Minors' highest level on Friday night as Triple-A Round Rock defeated visiting Las Vegas, 4-1.

"I inserted him in a lineup that's kind of been struggling a little bit, and the professional at-bats that he gives on a nightly basis have paid dividends in our ballpark," Express manager Jason Wood said. "He's done a great job driving in a lot of runs. He's come up with some big hits, both off left-handers and right-handers. He plays way above his age. He's got a demeanor like you wouldn't believe."

MLB.com's No. 15 overall prospect brushed off a called third strike in the first inning to bash a leadoff homer in the fourth.

"He'd been punched out on a ball that was borderline, probably down, in his first at-bat," Wood said. "He didn't let it bother him. He had a few things to say, but he walked away from the at-bat.

"He found a fastball and just deposited it to right field on a line drive."

The 20-year-old connected with an offering from Las Vegas starter Seth Lugo (2-1) to open the scoring. Mazara then helped spark Round Rock's two-run sixth with a single to center, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Joey Gallo, Texas' top-ranked prospect.

One inning later, Mazara stroked another single to right to score Drew Stubbs, capping his sixth multi-hit effort in 11 Triple-A contests. Wood said he knows one of the major factors that has made the outfielder so successful already in the PCL.

"I think it's his maturity, his mental maturity," he said. "He's just got this confidence built inside him. He's not afraid of anything. It truly doesn't matter. He knows that if he puts a good quality at-bat up there, he can hit just about anybody."

Mazara's transition to Triple-A has impressed Wood and his staff, not just in its level of ease but the way Mazara has been a complete threat at the plate.

"He's got some pull-side power, but he's showing signs that he can rip the ball the other way," Wood said. "He's not afraid to beat shifts. He just grinds 'ABs' out. He's not the type of guy who goes up there just swinging. He's in complete control and has got great discipline at the plate."

With less than two weeks to go before the close of the regular season, Mazara isn't done with the challenges ahead of him in the Minors, but he seems equipped to handle the next step in his career, whenever or wherever that may come.

"He's going to be tested the next week or two as far as at this level," Wood said. "He's been tested a little bit, but he stays with his plan. He doesn't veer away from anything. If something goes off, doesn't go his way, he just sticks with his plan, sticks with his approach at all times. He's not trying to do too much."

Mazara helped Nick Martinez (1-1) record his first Triple-A win. The veteran of 50 big league appearances allowed a run on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts over seven innings. Roman Mendez fanned one in a perfect ninth for his fourth save.