Scotts Valley Native Shaky in AAA Debut

Scotts Valley Robbie Erlin is quickly making his way through the minor league baseball ranks, but his debut in AAA wasn't exactly the bright spot so far in his career.

Erlin started the game on April 6 for the Tucson Padres — an affiliate of the San Diego Padres — and pitched three and 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs, walking three and striking out three on six hits.

Last year, he went 3-1 in 11 starts with an impressive 2.92 ERA, striking out 72 batters and only walking 14.

"My fastball command was off," Erlin told the Santa Cruz Sentinel. "It was a little elevated in the third inning. I took too long to make an adjustment. At that level, you have to make an adjustment the next pitch."

MLB.com recently rated Erlin the ninth overall prospect in the Padres minor league system.

Other minor leaguers from Santa Cruz County include Tyler LaTorre, Carlos Torres, Kevin Eichhorn, Bobby Crocker and Kyle Anderson, all of whom went to Aptos High School.