Tigers #1 Jonathan Crawford, Another Frank Lary?
By Rodger M. Wood
Another Kaline on the Way in Detroit? Nick Castellanos, Erie Sea Wolves
By Rodger Wood
Older Tigers fans are praying young Tigers BA #2 minor league prospect, Nick Castellanos will develop into a HOF right fielder just like Al Kaline did back in the 1950s.Tigers brass invited comparisons of the 20-year old to the HOFer, who patrolled right field at old Briggs Stadium for over 20 seasons, when figuring 29-year old Miquel Cabrera would be holding down their hot corner for awhile, they moved young Castellanos from 3B to right field at AA-Erie Sea Wolves this past July.Erie manager Chris Cron thinks the youngster has all of the tools to be a good right fielder at the major league level.“He has a strong arm, good speed, moves, and catches the ball well, but he’s playing in only his 46th game in the outfield, and needs to learn the position through a thousand repetitions and lots more hard work.”
Castellanos says he’ll do his best to help his team at the new position. “I never played right field before, I played only shortstop and third base in high school, and minor league ball so I have to learn the hard angles I have to read to catch fly balls and especially line drives off a left handed batter. Right field is a tough position to to play but I’ll do it.”Drafted in the First Supplemental round of the 2010 MLB draft, 44th overall, after he hit 542 BA his senior year at Archbishop McCarthy HS (Southwest Ranches, FL), the young right handed hitter proved he could hit beyond his years at Rookie GCL, Low A - West Michigan, Lakeland. When he stops chasing bad pitches and develops better plate discipline, he has the swing and hitting instincts to develop into a 300 BA and 30 HR major leaguer.He’s advanced fast through the Tigers minor league organization, and while one of the youngest players in AA, he’s proved he can hit the more savvy Eastern League pitchers at AA Erie with a 276 BA in 74 games played, 15 2B, 1 3B, and 7 HR in 301 at bats. As he advanced from rookie to AA - ball, his power statistics have progressively increased against the tougher competition and has done better as the pitchers demonstrated better command of their pitches.When asked about comparison with the Tiger great, Castellanos modestly reflected, “Al Kaline was a great rightfielder, and I don’t think I can ever fill his shoes, but if given a chance, I’ll do my best to give the Tigers another good right fielder. “
Kaline was soft speaking and thankful off the field too. Maybe Nick Castellanos, thankful for the opportunity to play right field, will also be the answer to Tigers fans’ prayers when he runs out on the field.
Top Draft Pick’s Happy To Be A Red Sox: Pat Light – Lowell Spinners
By Rodger M. Wood
Even though he was born in Colts Neck, NJ and raised deep in New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies’ territory, Red Sox 2012 MLD 1st round sandwich, and 37th pick overall, Pat Light is overjoyed to be a Boston Red Sox.The 6’6” Monmouth University right hander said the Red Sox drafting him was “a dream come true. The Yankees/Red Sox rivalry across New Jersey is tough, and I probably will lose a few friends saying this, but I consider it to be a privilege to be with the Red Sox and part of that old rivalry. I’d love to beat the Yankees in Fenway Park some day.”Light started 13 games, pitched 75.2 IP, and struck 61 batters for the Blue and White this past college season. Before the 2012 season, he was a Golden Spike or college baseball’s Heisman Trophy Award candidate, and #53 on Baseball America’s pre-season draft prospect list.
After going 20-0 in three seasons at Christian Brothers Academy and winning a New Jersey high school state championship, he was the Minnesota Twins 28th round pick in the 2009 MLD but elected to go onto Monmouth rather than sign.Light throws a four seam fastball as fast as 99 mph, a solid slider, which breaks down and away on righthanded batters, and a split change up in the upper 70s.He knows how to pace himself to go the distance, throwing his fast ball in the low 90s and only occasionally slipping in a fastball in the 96 – 97 mph range to keep the opposing batters honest.
Sometimes victimized by an inconsistent, varying arm slot when throwing his off speed pitches, Light is working on repeating his most effective delivery every pitch at Rookie A NY Penn League Lowell.“Lowell pitching coach Paul Abbott is working with me every day to improve and maintain my mechanics. My slider and change up sometimes lose their effectiveness late in the game when I tire and change my delivery.”The 21-year old hurler must be learning his lessons. At Lowell, he is 0-2 W-L with a good 2.96 ERA in 10 starts and 24.1 iP. He’s stuck out 25 batters and walked only 5. The opposition has scored only 8 earned runs against him.His potential, work ethic, and the way he’s performing at Lowell most certainly make the Red Sox happy too that he’s a Boston Red Sox.****************************************************************************Click here if you want to view more Pat Light and Lowell Spinners photos.See a slideshow.
Top White Sox Pick Lights up The Field at Bristol
By Rodger M. Wood
#1 White Sox (13th overall) 2012 draft pick Courtney Hawkins has already shown the potential to dominate a baseball game at Rookie A – Bristol.In the game I saw him play, he singled to get on base his first two AB, stole second base each time, advanced to 3B on an overthrow and scored the first AB on a sacrifice fly, starting the home crowd buzzing at the old Bristol ball park with excitement.Although just an 18 year old, he has a certain aura about him which tells you he’ll get a hit, steal a base, and win a ball game for you.While his speed is rated as only above average, the radar gun doesn’t take into account his baseball canniness, instinct and ability to rile an opposing pitcher into trying to pick him off. I had three perfect opportunities to photograph young Hawkins slideback to 1B in the first inning alone.The book on this phenomen is he needs more plate discipline, but that will come with age. Critics will say he has struck out 27 of 92 AB in 24 games, but overlook the youngster has shown a knack for hitting the long ball with 2 HR and 5 doubles among his first 23 professional hits.Bristol is also loaded six other White Sox’s 2012 draft picks: #3 2B Joey DeMichele, #5 SS Nick Basto, #7 C Jose Barraza, #12 1B Zach Stoner, #19 Alex Williams, #23 CF Kale Kiser, and #31 3B Corey Thompson.You can view photos of all of the draft picks and other players in the photo galleries/featured photo folders/Bristol White Sox 2012 and Courtney.See the slideshow.See the gallery.
2011 Hagerstown Suns Legends Card Set
The Suns are offering a limited edition gift 30-card Hagerstown Suns Legends card set to fans, who purchase their 2012 ticket plan by December 22nd.Legend sets will also be offered for sale to collectors in the Suns store.The card set will include vintage cards of these past Hagerstown Suns players:#1Bryce Harper 2011#2 Jay Gibbons 1999#3 Matt Cain 2003#4 A.J. Cole 2011#5 Mike Coolbaugh 1993#6 Bryce Harper 2011#7 Carlos Gomez 2005#8 Orlando Hudson 1999#9 Francisco Liriano 2002#10 Grady Little 1984#11 Stephen Lombardozzi 2009#12 Felipe Lopez 1999#13 Chris Marrero 2007#14 Jason Martinson 2011#16 Boof Bonser 2001#17 Nyjer Morgan 2010#18 Mike Mussina 1990#19 Jonathon Niese 2006#20 Derek Norris 2009#21 Jim Palmer 1983#22 Brad Peacock 2008-2009#23 Shannon Stewart 1994#24 Drew Storen 2009#25 Stephen Strasburg 2011#26 Vernon Wells 1998#27 Arthur Rhodes 1990-1991#28 Michael Young 1998#29 Ryan Zimmerman 2011#30 Jordan Zimmerman 2010Twenty –six of the photos used for the set were taken from ones I shot at Hagerstown the past 28 years(1983 – 2011).You can view copies of this beautiful card set at this link.
More Bryce Harper and Harrisburg Senators Photos Added
Hickory’s Loaded with Top Talent!
By Rodger M. Wood
Led by All Stars at practically every position in the lineup, Texas Rangers’ Low A affiliate Hickory Crawdads won the 1st Half SALLY Northern Division and are leading White Sox’ Kannopolis Intimidators by a game in the 2nd Half.
Alejandro Selen (296 BA, 11 HR, 38 RBI in just 58 GP) is at 1B, Odubel Herrera (306 – 3- 35) at 2B, 2011 BA Rangers #2 minor league prospect and SALLY MVP Jurickson Profar (283-11-63) at SS, underrated Cristian Villenueva (277-17-81) 3B, and Kellin Deglan (221-6-39) catching.
The Crawdads outfielders are speedy Josh Richmond (248-11-48) in RF and Jake Skole (265-7-58) in CF.
The Crawdads Big Four Rotation on the mound are right hander Nick Tepesch (7-4 W-L, 3.55), Roman Mendez (9-1, 3.26), Cody Buckel (8-3, 2.65) and Rangers #1 2011 Draft pick out of Clemson, Will Lamb (1-0, 0.66).
I saw Hickory in mid-August at Hagerstown, where they swept a three game series away from home.
I shot posed and action shots of the players listed below, which you can access and view at this link.
Hickory Crawdads 2011
Texas Rangers – Low A SALLY
List of Available Players Photos
Alejandro Selen 1B
Bill Richardson mgr
Cody Buckel RHP
Cristian Villenueva 3B
Jake Skole CF
Josh Richmond RF
Jurickson Profar SS
Kellin Deglan C
Nick Tepesch RHP
Odubel Herrera 2B
Roman Mendez RHP
Will Lamb RHP
The Sea Monsters Are NY/Penn Stedler Division Leaders
By Rodger M. Wood
Led by shortstop Chih Fang Pan and right hander Seth Frankoff and Brent Powers, Oakland’s Rookie A NY Penn League Vermont Sea Monsters are a game and a half ahead of the Connecticut Tigers in the Stedler Division pennant race.
Pan is hitting 343, good for a league third highest batting average, Frankoff is 3-3 W-L, 3.19 ERA, and Powers 3-2, 4.15.
Also on the team are Baseball America’s 2011 #7 Oakland minor league prospect OF Aaron Shipman and BA #18 3B Chad Lewis.
I saw Vermont on Friday, July 15th at Aberdeen’s beautiful Ripken Stadium.
You can view the Vermont photo folder at this link.
Vermont Sea Monsters 2011
Oakland Athletics - Rookie NY Penn League
List of Available Players Photos
Aaron Shipman OF
Brent Powers rhp
Chad Lewis 1B
Chih Fang Pan ss
Clime Neurdy OF
Diomedes Lopez C
Jacob Tanis 3B
John Wasdin pc
Jordan Tripp OF
Michael Fabisch 2B
Nick Magrante mgr
Sean Jamieson ss
Seth Frankoff rhp
Xavier Macklin OF
Greenville’s Still In a Pennant Race
By Rodger M. Wood
Even without some top first half performers, the Greenville Drive, with a 26-18 W-L record, are still only a game and a half behind the New York Mets affiliate Savannah Sand Gnats, and battling for a second half SALLY League pennant.
After strong first half performances, Boston prospects, OF Bryce Brentz (359 BA, 11 HR 36 RBI in 40 GP), 1B Miles Head (338 BA, 15 HR, 53 RBI in 66 GP), SS Heiker Meneses (277 BA, 2 HR, 22 RBI in 51 GP), RHP Chris Martin (4-0 W-L, 2.17 ERA in 7 GP), and 2011 Red Sox Minor League Prospect BA #2 and 2010 top draft pick RHP Anthony Ranaudo (4-1 W-L, 3.33) were called up to face more savvy Carolinas League pitchers and hitters at the Red Sox High A – affiliate Salem Avalanche.
Staying back at Greenville, 2B Sean Coyle (249 BA, 11 HR, 47 RBI), SS Xander Bogaerts (240, 2 HR, 11 RBI in 47 GP), RHP Miquel Celestino (8-4 W-L, 3.88 ERA), Keith Couch (5-4 W-L, 3.05 ERA), RHP Brandon Workman (3-6, 3.92), RHP Manny Rivera (5-4, 3.58), and RHP Kyle Shoup (4-5, 3.95) are picking up the slack created by the players moved up.
With the exceptions of Bogaerts and Celestino, and Ranaudo, who I saw at Salem last week, I photographed most of the Greenville stalwarts listed below at three games I saw in early June at Hagerstown.
You can view my photographs of the players listed below at this link or go into photo galleries/ Greenville Drive 2011 featured photo folder.
You can also view Boston affiliates’ photos, Pawtucket, Portland, Salem, Greenville, and Lowell, back to 2008 in the photo galleries/baseball/minor league/team.
Editors, if interested in publishing any of the Red Sox minor league photos, they’ can be downloaded from the editors choice photo folder. Please send me an email requesting a password.
Boston Red Sox Low A SALLY
List of Available Players Photos
Billy McMillion mgr
Brandon Jacobs cf
Brandon Workman rhp
Chris Martin rhp
Cristian Vasquez c
David Renfroe 3b
Dick Such pc
Drew Dominquez 2b
Drtew Hedman 1b
Felix Sanchez of
Heiker Meneses ss/2b
Henry Ramos of
Jose Garcvia ss
Josue Peley of
Keith Couch rhp
Kyle Shoup rhp
Lucas LeBlanc of
Luis Lopez hc
Manny Rivera rhp
Miles Head 1B
Sean Coyle 2B
A Ball Game at Dayton!
By Rodger M. Wood
Although shooting photos on minor league fields all over the country the past 28 seasons, anticipating old time fun baseball at Fifth Third Stadium the next three games, my blood pressure rose excitedly when I walked through the Dayton Dragons office door to get my photography pass for a three game Peoria/Dayton series.
Dayton’s Fifth Third Field is the most fun field at which I have ever seen a baseball game. Season in and season out, Dragons staff and mascots, Heater and Gem, enthusiastically reve up the fans with their fun festivities before the game and between every inning. Team management makes tickets, and concessions affordable, and have sold out 815 straight games, and with the talent the Cincinnati Reds have put on the field this year, they will maintain their sellout streak the rest of the season.
Besides playing top notch baseball, Dragon players, including top prospects, are accessible to the fans, mingling, talking signing autographs before the game, catching first pitches, cooperating and working with a cheerful Dragons staff.
Blessed with shutout pitching and a murderers’ row, Dayton is tied for first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division with the rival Lansing Lug Nuts with a second half 23-13 W-L Record.
Veteran major leaguer, and Dragons manager, Delino DeShields is leading his young wards in their professional growth by his sound example.
Every day shortstop Billy Hamilton (258, 10 HR, 39 RBI) is lighting up the stadium with his outstanding plays in the hole, running the bases, and clutch lead off hitting.
CF Juan Duran (253, 10 HR, 48 RBI) is starting to show a young Vladimir Guerrero like potential in the field and at the plate.
2B Ronald Torreyes (390 BA, 2 HR. 22 RBI), 3B David Vidal (296 BA, 14 HR, 63 RBI), 1B Dominic D’Anna (286 BA, 8 HR, 58 RBI), and Donald Lutz (267 BA, 16 HR, 45 RBI) are making opposing pitchers shudder. Lutz hit for the cycle off Peoria’s RHP Starling Peralta in the second game of the series and was the first professional player I could speak my German with.
Led by RHP Josh Smith (9-6, 3.10), RHP Daniel Corsino (9-5, 3.41) RHP Daniel Renken (6-8, 3.18), RHP Pat Doyle (6-3, 3.90), RHP Daniel Wofford (5-1, 1.46) and RHP Drew Hayes (2-2, 1.77), the Dragons also have a strong pitching rotation and bullpen.
While the Dragons smoked the Chicago Cubs Low A- affiliate Peoria 13-5, 13-0, and 2-0 in the three game series, the Chiefs are a proverbial poor road team this season, who recently lost key performer CF Matthew Szczur to high A- Daytona.
But they have some strong prospects in their lineup. In the third game of the series, RHP Erik Jokisch (7-3, 3.07) shut Dragons hitters down for seven innings. 1B Richard Jones (307, 18 HR, 71 RBI) is the sixth leading Midwest League BA, and is 2nd in HR and RBI. 1B Greg Rohan is hitting 314, 5 HR, and 52 RBI. While not getting a lot of run support, LHP Austin Kirk is 5-7, 3.36 ERA.
It was good to see Chiefs manager Casey Kopitzke, whose photos I took when he played with Cubs affiliates, Lansing, Daytona, West Tennessee and Iowa
You can look at the highlight photos for each team at this link. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did taking them.
List of Available Players Photos
Dayton Dragons
Billy Hamilton SS
Chris Berset C
Daniel Corsino RHP
Daniel Renken RHP
Daniel Wofford RHP
David Vidal 3B
Delino DeShields Mgr
Dominic D’Anna 1B
Donald Lutz 1B/OF
Drew Hayes RHP
Frank Pfister 2B
Jefry Sierra OF
Juan Duran CF
Pat Doyle RHP
Ronald Torreyes 2B
Theo Bowe OF
Tucker Barnhart C
Peoria Chiefs
Anthony Giansanti OF
Arismendy Alcantara SS/2B
Brandon May 3B
Casey Kopitze Mgr
Daniel Berlind RHP
Dustin Geiger 3B
Eliot Soto SS
Eric Jokisch LHP
Micah Gibbs C
Richard Jones 1B
Rubi Silva OF
Sergio Burruel C
Starling Peralta rhp
Taiwan Easterling CF
Bryce Harper Harrisburg Photos
I saw Bryce Harper play the late innings in a day game against Bowie at Harrisburg June 20th and a full 9 innings at Bowie June 27th. After he was subjected to some serious bush league heckling from some of the Bowie fans, I got a photo of his payback on the next pitch, a long blast over the right center field fence for his first AA homerun.
You can take a look at the 77-best photos I I took at this link.
Binghamton Mets 2011
Binghamton Mets 2011
New York Mets AA Eastern League
List of Available Players Photos
I photographed the Binghamton Mets listed below at Bowie on Saturday, June 25th. Keep your eyes on the Mets keystone combination of 2B Josh Satin and SS Jordany Valdespin, BA #25, who are both hitting a ton and looks like they’ll be parent Met’s keepers in 2012.
Allen Dystra 1B
Brahiam Maldonado OF
Eric Campbell 3B
Jeurys Familia RHP
Jonathan Malo 2B
Jordany Valdespin SS
Jose Coronado 3B
Josh Satin 1B
Matt Den Decker OF
Matt Harvey RHP
Raul Reyes OF
Roy Merritt RHP
Solomon Manriq
Lucky To Get Any Lowell Photos
Lowell Spinners, Boston Red Sox Rookie NY/Penn LeagueGood thing I got to Aberdeen bright and early July 8th because I got some good posed shots of a few Lowell Spinners before the rain drove me away.After BA #7 Boston prospect 3B Garin Cecchini, RHP Neil Obando (1-2 W-L, 2.16 ERA), and RHP Swen Huijer (1-1, 1.32 ERA) posed for my camera, the clouds burst before I could finish up with LHP Miquel Pena (0-0, 3.60 ERA, #6 2011 Draft Pick), 3B Travis Shaw (321 BA, 0 HR, 6 RBI), and RHP Jason Garcia (2-0, 1.29 ERA).I had taken photos of BA #24 RHP Madison Younginer last season at Aberdeen so I felt I was in good shape with him.Although disappointed I didn’t get any photos of the other players or game shots, after thirty minutes of the hardest rain I saw in years let up, I was happy to run out to my car with the photos I had, drive home 85 miles, and hope for a better day next time..You can look at the Lowell photos I got at this link.
Inconsistent Pitching Haunts the Sea Wolves
Inconsistent pitching has put the Erie Sea Wolves In fifth place with a 42-44 W-L record, 9 games behind the Eastern League leading Harrisburg Senators.While Detroit Tigers #1 BA prospect Jacob Turner (3-3 W-L, 3.49 ERA), BA #6 Casey Crosby (5-3 W-L, 3.73 ERA), and Jay Voss (4-3, 3.80 ERA) are pitching good ball, other Erie starters Mark Sorensen (7-6 W-L, 6.38 ERA), Luke Putkoren (1-7, 7.57 ERA) and L.J. Gagnier (3-3, 4.42) have had their good days and their bad days, and been inconsistent so far this season.In the bullpen, only southpaw Austin Wood, 4-3, 2.41 ERA in 31 game appearances, is getting the side out most every outing.Other Tiger prospects with the Sea Wolves, #4 3B Francisco Martinez is hitting 285 and showing signs of power with 7 HR and 40 RBI.Former Texas Christian catcher and 2010 College World Series standout, Bryan Holaday is strong behind the plate, and hitting 237, 4 HR, 26 RBI.Outfielder Justin Henry is hitting 300 BA, 0 HR 22 RBI, 1B Rawley Bishop, 275, 6 HR 41 RBI, and CF Jamie Johnson, 276 BA, 4 HR, 29 RBI.Since I was a little boy back in Detroit, I’ve loved the Detroit Tigers, dreamed about playing at old Briggs Stadium, and always get a special feeling when I see their farm teams. It was that way when I saw Erie, May 22nd at Bowie, and took photos of the young Tigers listed below, which you check out at this link.Erie Sea Wolves 2011, Detroit Tigers Double A Eastern LeagueList of Available Players PhotosAndy Ciriaco SS,Austin Wood LHP,Brandon Douglas 2B,Bryan Holiday C,Bryan Pounds OF,Chris Cron Mgr,Francisco Martinez 3B,Jacob Turner RHP,Jamie Johnson OF,John Murrian C,Justin Henry OF,LJ Gagnier RHP,Mark Sorensen RHP,Michael Bertram OF,Rawley Bishop 1B,Shawn Roof 3B
Prospects, Prospects, And Prospects
Bowie Bay Sox 2011By Rodger M. WoodThe roster of the 2011 AA Bowie Bay Sox looks like a “Who’s Who’s” of Baseball America 2011 Baltimore Orioles rated minor league prospects.In any given game this season, Bowie Manager Gary Kendall can field a rated prospect at any position. He could use Joe Mahoney, BA #11 at 1B, LJ Hoes BA #4 or Greg Miclat, BA #26 at 2B, Pedro Florimon BA #29 or Greg Miclat at SS, Brandon Waring, BA #23 at 3B, catch Caleb Joseph BA #28, and put Ronnie Welty BA #19, Xavier Avery BA #3, and Robbie Widlansky, who is unrated but has shown AA power this season, (261 BA- 7 HR- 45 RBI) in the outfield. On the mound, he could start Choreye Spoone, BA #24, and have RHP Dan Klein BA #5, RHP Wynn Pelzer BA #6, and RHP Eddie Gamboa BA #25 available in the bullpen.Since call up from Frederick, Hoes, and 3B Buck Britton, and the return of 1B Joe Mahoney from injury to the Bay Sox lineup at the start of June, the offense has taken off. The Bay Sox are now only 5 ½ games behind first place EAS Western Division Harrisburg Senators and catching up quickly.Mahoney is hitting 290, 5HR, 19 RBI in 124 AB or 34 GP, LJ Hoes 304, 0 HR, 22 RBI in 42 GP, and Britton, brother of Orioles RHP Zach Britton, who is temporarily rehabbing at Bowie, 305, 2 HR, 14 RBI in 32 GP, and showing the glove of a Brooksie Robinson at 3B.Supporting and sometimes outshining the prospects are unrated stopper RHP Jose Diaz, 0-2, 1.48 ERA in 24.1 IP, RHP Tommy Bascom, 5-2, 2.96 ERA, Michael Ballard 4-0 3.40 ERA and RHP Steve Johnson, 5-1, 2.16 ERA,The best pitching prospect on the team may be unrated RHP Cole McCurry, who, since call up from Frederick, has shut down the opposition down with a 4-0 W-L record, 0.80 ERA in 15 IP.I’ve seen Bowie play three day ball games against Binghamton, Richmond, and Erie so far this season.You can check out the best of my photos this season at this link. The 21 players photographed are listed below.List of Available Bowie Bay Sox Players PhotosBilly Rowell 1B,Brandon Waring 3B,Buck Britton 3B,Caleb Joseph C,Carlos Rojas SS/3B,Choreye Spoone RHP,Gary Kendall mgr,Greg Miclat SS/2B,Joe Mahoney 1B,Jose Diaz RHP,Kennie Steenstra pc,LJ Hoes 2B/OF,Louie,Nick Bierbrodt LHP,Pedro Florimon SS,Rick Zagone LHP,Robbie Widlansky OF,Ronnie Welty OF,Steve Lerud C,Xavier Avery CF,Zach Clark RHP
Richmond’s Strength Is Pitching, Defense and a Savvy Manager
Led by 1, 233 + game winning manager Dave Machemer, good pitching and strong defense, 2010 World Champion San Francisco Giants’ Double A Richmond Flying Squirrels, five and a half games behind, are battling the Harrisburg Senators for first place in the Western Division Eastern League pennant race.LHP Eric Surkamp leads Eastern League pitchers with a 7-3 W-L record, 1.61 ERA and RHP Justin Fitzgerald is pitching good ball with a 6-4 W-L record, and 3.46.The Flying Squirrels are sound defensively with Aaron Lowenstein and Johnny Monell sharing time behind the plate, Wes Hodges at 1B, Charlie Culberson at 2B, Nick Noonan at SS, and Chris Dominquez at 3B.Richmond’s leading hitter is 2B Charlie Culberson with a 266 BA, 6 HR and 27 RBI. OF Roger Kieschnick is second highest, hitting 257 BA, 8 HR and driving in 41 RBI.The Flying Squirrels can field as many as ten Baseball America Giant 2011 top 30 rated prospects in the lineup: BA #8 Charlie Culberson 2B, BA #9 Eric Surkamp LHP, BA #14 Roger KIeschnick OF, BA #15 Chris Dominquez 3B, BA #19 Heath Hembee RHP, BA #23 Nick Noonan SS, BA #25 Ryan Verdugo LHP, BA#28 Johnny Monell C, BA #30 Clayton Tanner LHP.Chris Dominquez was particularly impressive the game I saw him at Harrisburg, hitting two doubles and a triple and fielding several one hop hot rockets shots at 3B without blinking an eye.I saw Richmond in day ball games at Bowie June 1st and Harrisburg June 22nd. Photos are available of the Flying Squirrels listed below. Click here to see a slide program of the photos.List of Available Players PhotosAaron Lowenstein C,Charlie Culberson 2B,Chris Dominquez 3B,Clayton Tanner LHP,Dave Machemer mgr,Edwin Quararte RHP,Eric Surkamp LHP,Heath Hombee RHP,Joe Kohansky 1B,Johnny Monell C,Juan Perez OF,Justin Christian OF,Justin Fitzgerald RHP,Nick Noonan SS,Osiris Matos RHP,Roger Kieschnick OF,Ryan Verdugo LHP,Skyler Stromsmoe 3B,Thomas Vassala RHP,Wes Hodges 1B
Harrisburg Senators 2011 Photo Folder Added to Photo Galleries
The Washington Nationals Double A Harrisburg Senators team are leading the Eastern League Western Division by five games over Richmond.BA Nationals #10 RHP prospect Brad Peacock is 9-2 W-L 2.14 ERA in 83.2 IP, and is the Eastern League 2nd best.BA #13 2B Steve Lombardozzi was hitting 309 BA before being promoted to Triple A Syracuse in mid – June.Veteran OF Archie Gilbert are hitting 308 BA and Chris Rahl 304 BA.All these prospects and the ones listed below are pictured in the 88 photo 2011 Harrisburg Senators folder, which we have recently added to the photo galleries and the editors choice folder, so the photo can be downloaded with a password.I took these photos at Trenton away and Richmond and Altoona at home.Look for Bryce Harper photographs in the 2011 Hagerstown Suns photo folders until I get a chance to see him in Harrisburg.If you want to check the Harrisburg photos out, click on this link.List of Available 2011 Harrisburg Senators PlayersAlex Valdez 3B,Archie Gilbert OF,Bill Rhinehart OF,Brad Peacock RHP,Chris Rahl OF,Devin Ivany C,Jimmy Barthmeier LHP,Josh Johnson SS,Pat McCoy RHP,Steve Lombardozzi 2B,Tanner Roarke RHP,Tim Pahuta 1B,Tyler Moore 1B
Altoona Is Loaded With Prospects but Still Lost to Harrisburg 6-0
I saw the prospect loaded Altoona Curve play the Harrisburg Senators in a 2 o’clock game at the new look Senators Stadium last Sunday, June 26th.Senators hurler, Shairon Martis shut the young Curve lineup down 6-0 with his wide assortment of major league pitches and changing speeds.The strong Harrisburg lineup scored 4 unearned runs in the 4th against young RHP Philip Irwin, whose pitching performance deserved better than a loss.BA #4 Starling Marte, who is hitting 331 BA, good for second highest in the Eastern League, patrolled CF, but struggled at the plate until he rapped a 1-out double to right center field off Senators’ closer Rafael Martin in the 9th. Marte is scheduled to play in the Future Game next week.BA #6 RHP Bryan Morris allowed 2 runs in the 8th. BA #11 Andrew Lambo played RF, BA #21 Quincy Lattimore, pinch hitting in the 9th, grounded out, and BA #22 Jody Mercer played a flawless 9 innings at SS, but also struggled at the plate.Pirates BA #2 catcher Tony Sanchez, BA #8 RHP Jeff Locke, and BA #28 RHP Aaron Pribanic didn’t play in the game.You can view the 80-photo Altoona Curve gallery hereAltoona Curve 2011, Pittsburgh Pirates, AA Eastern:List of Available Player Photos
Even More 2011 Hagerstown Suns Photos
We added “even more 2011 Hagerstown Suns photos” to our photo galleries with new photos of the players listed below:Adrian Sanchez 2B,AJ Cole RHP,Blake Kelso SS/3B,Bryce Harper OF,Cole Leonida C,David Freitas C,Jason Martinson SS,Randolph Oduber OF,Robbie Ray RHP,Sammy Solis LHP,Taylor Jordan RHP
Old Time Baseball Is Played At Pawtucket McCoy Stadium!
Old Time Baseball Is Played At Pawtucket McCoy Stadium!Sunday baseball games at Pawtucket McCoy Stadium start at 1:05 PM, have stands filled to capacity with loyal, vocal Boston Red Sox fans, and bring back to mind old time baseball.Sunday, June 12th I enjoyed seeing the Charlotte Knight, AAA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, play the Pawtucket Red Sox in a matinee game at McCoy.Pitching for Pawtucket, former major league pitcher, Kevin Millwood dueled Knights Matt Zaleski in a close hard fought 2-1 game, until both starters faltered in the 7th, and relievers Randy Williams came in to relieve Millwood and Miguel Socolovich the same for Zaleski.There was a mixture of veterans and prospects in both lineups. Baseball America 2011 Red Sox #1 prospect, Jose Igleslias started at shortstop for Pawtucket, and BA #8 Lars Anderson at 1B, while White Sox BA #5 Eduardo Escobar was at SS, BA #18 Jordan Danks CF, and BA #3 Dayan Viciedo, RF for the Knights.Click this link to view game photos of the Pawtucket players.
Pawtucket 2011 List of Available Players