2013 Minor League Season in Review: Part One

by Rodger M. WoodEven though committed to teaching Latin at Freedom HS, South Riding, VA, 9 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, until June 8th, and having a slow start to the 2013 Season, shooting at only 9 games by June 2nd , I ended up shooting photos at a total of 59 minor league ball games, including 6 SALLY, Carolina, and Eastern League playoff games.I can’t possibly recount all of the great moments this season because I count seeing old friends in that count and I saw a lot of them. I will limit myself to describing only the season highlights.Javiar Baez Vine Line Cover, February, 2013Before the season even started, Vine Line used one of my posed shots of Baseball America’s Top Chicago Cubs prospect, Javier Baez, on the cover of their February issue. This was my first cover for Vine Line and started the 2013 season on a very high note.Trenton NJ, April 27th – 28th Xander Bogaert and Brandon WorkmanOn my first road trip of the season to Trenton , NJ, I shot posed and action shots of two Portland AA players, who the baseball world would see play in the World Series six months later.Red Sox BA #1 prospect, Xander Bogaert played shortstop in 56 games for the AA Portland Red Sox before advancing to play in 60 games AAA Pawtucket and the parent Boston Red Sox in September to play in the post season classic.Before the first game April 27th, Xander posed for my camera gyrations cheerfully and also gave me a lot of good game shots the two days I was there.After a grueling daily pre game work out, RHP Brandon Workman stopped to pose for some shots too. Little did I know, I would see him pitching against the Cardinals in the World Series only a few moths later.