There were times when Travis Ishikawa probably wondered if he’d ever get out of Connecticut. But the Federal Way High School graduate finally did last month. The first baseman was promoted by the San Francisco Giants to the Class AAA Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League from AA Connecticut.

Ishikawa is currently hitting .300 in 22 games with Fresno. He has 20 RBIs, four home runs, one triple, 11 doubles and scored 12 runs in just 80 at bats.

Ishikawa spent 6 1/2 seasons in the lower levels of the San Francisco Giants farm system before earning his first Triple-A promotion last month.

“I’ve been waiting for a long time to come here,” Ishikawa said in the Fresno Bee. “It’s an awesome park. It definitely favors the hitter a little bit, and there’s a lot of room for the ball to land.”

Ishikawa escaped pitcher-friendly Dodd Stadium by batting .291 with eight home runs and 48 RBIs in 64 games for the Class AA Connecticut Defenders.

Since joining the Grizzlies, the left-handed hitter hasn’t skipped a beat. Ishikawa had three hits on Saturday, including a two-run home run.

“Since this is my first time here, it’s all a new experience,” Ishikawa said. “I was maybe getting a little too comfortable in Connecticut. Now I’m one step below the major leagues, so I kind of feel like I’m right there.”

Grizzlies manager Dan Rohn has given his everyday first baseman positive reviews.

“He’s holding his own right now and putting some good swings on the ball,” Rohn told the Fresno Bee. “It’ll be interesting to see how other teams pitch to him the second time through the league.”

Ishikawa is on the San Francisco’s 40-man roster and played 12 games in the Major League’s in 2006. Ishikawa spent three separate stints with the Giants. In his 12 Major League games, Ishikawa hit an impressive .292 in 24 at bats. He also scored one run, had three doubles, a triple and four RBIs.

Since then, injuries and low averages have kept him at Connecticut and Class A San Jose.

Last year, the left-handed 24-year-old hit .243 in 104 games. Ishikawa scored 52 runs, had 18 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs and 51 RBIs. He also had 126 strikeouts.

Tony Barnette — The Thomas Jefferson High School graduate is having a solid season for the Mobile (Ala.) BayBears.

Barnette, who attended Central Arizona Community College and Arizona State University, is currently 5-7 with a 4.36 earned-run average for the Class AA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Barnette, a right-handed pitcher, was drafted in the 10th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft.

Barnette has started 19 games and thrown 105.3 innings. He leads the team with 92 strikeouts.

Brad Reid — The Decatur grad is currently pitching for the Class A Everett Aquasox in the Seattle Mariners’ organization. Reid was just sent to Everett from High Desert, the highest of the Mariners’ three Class A affiliates.

Reid, who was drafted in the 30th round of last month’s draft, has thrown in six games and has an ERA of 14.73. He is 0-1 for High Desert in 7 1/3 innings pitched. He hasn’t thrown an inning yet at Everett, but is on the roster.

Sports editor Casey Olson: 925-5565, sports@fedwaymirror.com