SAL notes: Wiles gains traction in Hickory

Few teams have a better reputation for developing young pitchers than the Texas Rangers. It was that mind-set that kept the Rangers on the trail of Collin Wiles at Blue Valley West High School in Stillwell, Kansas, when several other teams believed the right-hander was adamant about playing baseball at Vanderbilt.

"I never told anyone I wasn't going to sign," said Wiles, who was selected by Texas with the 53rd overall pick in the 2012 Draft. "I guess people just looked at it like I was going to Vanderbilt based on other guys who had gone there. But as soon as the Rangers picked me where they did, I was 100 percent ready to get into this organization. I haven't looked back since, and I believe it was the best decision of my life."

Although Wiles signed shortly after he was drafted, success did not occur nearly as fast. He posted a 6.87 ERA in 14 outings in the Arizona League during his first season before going 2-7 with a 3.09 ERA in the Northwest League a year later. In 2014, he went a combined 3-3 with a 4.26 ERA between Class A Hickory and a short stint in Arizona, which left Wiles frustrated at times with his inability to generate significant momentum.

His determination, however, is beginning to reap rewards this year in the South Atlantic League. In his encore with the Crawdads, Wiles owns a 9-3 record with a 2.46 ERA in his first 16 outings, including 15 starts. He leads the SAL with a 0.97 WHIP, ranks third in ERA and is tied for fifth in wins. Wiles also has allowed only 73 hits and 19 walks while striking out 58 batters in 95 innings.

"The first couple of years didn't go as well as I had hoped," Wiles said. "It's nice to see that my persistence is starting to pay off a little bit. I think I learned a lot over the first two years, but the results didn't turn out the way I wanted. Now I think I've matured a little bit. I understand I'm not going to have my best stuff every time I go out there and that I have to work with what I have and make the best of it every time out."

Wiles gained confidence early this season when he did not allow a run in his first three starts, a span of 16 innings. He also had a pair of seven-inning scoreless appearances while surrendering only three and two hits against Savannah on May 10 and Augusta on July 18, respectively. Overall, he has given up two earned runs or fewer in 10 of his first 15 starts.

Wiles succeeds with impeccable command of all three pitches, which include a 90-mph fastball, a hard slider and a solid changeup. Wiles also does an excellent job repeating his clean delivery with above-average athleticism which, when combined with his feel for pitching and ever-growing experience, has him building momentum every time he takes the mound.

"This is a really good pitching organization," said Wiles, who turned 21 on May 30. "We have a lot of great pitching minds -- from the lowest levels of the system to the top. Everybody wants the best for you. I've taken a little bit from every coach I've had the opportunity to work with. I want to try everything they suggest and then make my decision from there. Working with [Hickory pitching coach] Oscar [Marin] for the third year is huge because he knows me in and out. It's been a great relationship with all of the coaches in our organization."

In brief

Moving on up: West Virginia's Austin Coley tied the Power's single-season franchise mark while winning his SAL-leading 12th game during a 13-3 victory over Hagerstown on July 28. Coley overcame a 31-pitch first inning in which he surrendered two runs, retiring the Suns in order in the second, third and fourth before departing after the fifth.

Mateo gets stronger: Conventional wisdom would suggest that 20-year-old shortstop Yankees prospect Jorge Mateo might be wearing down in his first full season, particularly considering he leads the Minors with 70 stolen bases. Instead, the Charleston infielder from the Dominican Republic is putting together his best month offensively during July. In his first 23 games this month, Mateo is hitting .310 with a .408 on-base percentage and a .440 slugging percentage, which represent his highest averages in every category this season. He is now hitting .275 on the season and is 18 steals ahead of second-place Johneshwy Fargas of Augusta among all Minor Leaguers.

Trevino receiving raves: SAL coaching staffs have been impressed with the offensive and defensive skills of Hickory catcher Jose Trevino. Drafted in the sixth round by the Rangers in 2014 out of Oral Roberts University, Trevino has displayed impressive blocking abilities and does an excellent job of working with the Crawdads' pitching staff. He also has above-average pop in his bat as evidenced by his 4-for-5 performance with a home run at Lexington on July 26. Trevino is hitting .371 with two homers and eight RBIs over his last 10 outings.