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Arizona promotes hot pitching prospect to Double-A squad

The Cubs' Ryan Theriot waits for the ball as the Arizona Diamondbacks' Felipe Lopez slides into second base safely on a pickoff attempt during Chicago's 11-3 win in Phoenix on Tuesday.

The Cubs' Ryan Theriot waits for the ball as the Arizona Diamondbacks' Felipe Lopez slides into second base safely on a pickoff attempt during Chicago's 11-3 win in Phoenix on Tuesday.

PHOENIX – Pitcher Jarrod Parker’s next start will come for Double-A Mobile, but the Diamondbacks don’t appear to be paving the way for their top prospect to crack the big-league rotation in 2009.

After four dominating starts for Class A Visalia, Parker was promoted Monday to Mobile, where he will make his first start on Saturday.

Parker posted a 0.95 ERA with 21 strikeouts and four walks in 19 innings for Visalia.

“He was in control of every game that he pitched,” farm director A.J. Hinch said. “He showed better command of his secondary pitches. His composure, his game management, his understanding of how to use his weapons.

“He was advancing to the stage where he was ready to be challenged at the next level.”

A fellow high school pitcher from Parker’s draft class (Detroit’s Rick Porcello) already is in a big-league rotation, but the Diamondbacks appear to be handling their young arm more conservatively.

“There’s a lot of developmental objectives this year, things he can refine to be as ready as possible when it’s time to consider him a major league candidate,” general manager Josh Byrnes said. “One process you can’t accelerate is his conditioning for the (innings) workload.”

• Arizona second baseman Felipe Lopez got his first day off of the season, with Ryan Roberts starting in his place in Tuesday’s 11-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

• D’backs manager Bob Melvin gave catcher Chris Snyder the night off after he hit his first homer on Monday.

• Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who has a strained calf, will be re-evaluated when the club returns home Thursday.

• Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee, out with neck spasms, is set to return Wednesday.

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