NL WEST NEWS AND NOTES

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Improved defense is earning Daulton Varsho the label “catcher of the future.” Baseball America , citing his improved footwork and throwing, named Varsho the farm system’s top player at the season’s midway point.

The left-handed hitter had a .300 batting average through 107 career games. In the high Class A California League this year, he was at .290 with eight homers in 57 games before breaking the hamate bone in his right hand.

Varsho, whose father, Gary, was an eight-year major league outfielder, has been impressive as a defender as well.

❚ A rehab assignment for pitcher Clay Buchholz will be set this week. Manager Torey Lovullo told MLB.com that Buchholz, who went on the disabled list June 25 because of a strained muscle in his side, is progressing well.

COLORADO ROCKIES

The consistency of the Rockies’ starting pitching this season will be tough to sustain because of two recent developments.

The season-opening rotation had remained intact until Jon Gray, considered the team’s ace, was sent to Class AAA on June 30 after several shaky outings. Then Chad Bettis went on the disabled list because of a finger blister.

The Rockies had 40 quality starts, fourth in the league, through 88 games. In a stretch of 15 games through July 7, the rotation had 10 quality starts and a 2.55 ERA.

Kyle Freeland will take a 3.18 ERA into a start against Arizona on July 12. Fellow left-hander Tyler Anderson is better than average, too, with a 3.90 ERA through 18 starts. German Marquez will be aiming for his third straight start of allowing one run or fewer runs when he pitches on July 11.

Bettis could return this weekend. In his first Class AAA outing, Gray gave up only two runs, struck out six and didn’t allow a walk in six innings.

❚ The Denver Post suggested Tampa Bay Rays catcher Wilson Ramos as a trade candidate for the Rockies this month. Last summer, Colorado added a veteran catcher, Jonathan Lucroy, now with the Oakland A’s.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Catcher looms as franchise strength, and that goes beyond the solid tandem of Yasmani Grandal (eligible for free agency at the end of the season) and Austin Barnes.

This month’s addition of MLB.com’s top-ranked player in the international amateur market, Diego Cartaya, gives the Dodgers another much touted prospect at catcher.

Cartaya, 16, is a “great receiver,” the website suggested. As a hitter, he draws praise for his contact skills, pitch recognition and feel for the strike zone.

The franchise’s top-ranked prospect, according to Baseball America, is 19-year-old catcher Keibert Ruiz, who was five years younger than the weighted average in the Class AA Southern League but was throwing out 32 percent of runners trying to steal.

❚ Right fielder Yasiel Puig’s trip to the disabled list because of a strained muscle in his right side presented a new opportunity for Andrew Toles, who had a breakthrough season with the Dodgers in 2016 but has been plagued by injuries since. Toles was hitting .324 in Class AAA.

SAN DIEGO PADRES

A second-half power surge from Eric Hosmer wouldn’t surprise. Perhaps it would reassure. Hosmer hit 25 homers for the Kansas City Royals each of the past two seasons before the Padres pledged him $144 million in February. Now, amid a streaky season, Hosmer’s power is down — nine homers through 87 games and a .406 slugging percentage that ranked near the bottom among first basemen.

On the plus side, he’s a good defender who leads the Padres in doubles and walks. And, for his career, his OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) is about 40 points better in the season’s second half.

❚ Chris Paddack’s spectacular results in the Cal League — 88 strikeouts and five walks through 11 starts and 58 1 ⁄ 3 innings — could earn the 22-yearold a late season promotion.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Crucial to the July 8 trade with the Texas Rangers will be Steven Duggar applying hitting lessons from recent months at Class AAA Sacramento (Calif.).

Considered the Giants’ center fielder and leadoff hitter of the future, Duggar hit .272 with a 354 on-base percentage in 78 minor league games. Dealing Austin Jackson to Texas opened up playing time for Duggar and cleared $2 million in salary space.

The Giants also sent reliever Cory Gearrin and pitching prospect Jason Bahr to the Rangers and will receive a player to be named or cash considerations.

❚ Catcher Buster Posey’s sore right hip will keep him out of the All-Star Game because the Giants want to try to make sure that’s the only game he misses. Manager Bruce Bochy announced on July 9 that Posey will get a cortisone shot in the hip after the final game before the break.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

YOSHIHISA HIRANO, DIAMONDBACKS: The newcomer from Japan, a right-handed reliever, has thrived on a pitching staff that leads the league in adjusted ERA. Hirano strung 22 2 ⁄ 3 scoreless innings over 26 games from May 6 to July 3 before Yairo Munoz of the St. Louis Cardinals homered off him. Hitters struggle to tell Hirano’s forkball from a 92 mph fastball.