Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at Greensboro Grasshoppers

What: Four-game series

When: Monday through Thursday (7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday; 12:30 p.m. Wednesday)

Where: NewBridge Bank Park (Greensboro, N.C.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Miami Marlins

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (9-1, 2.13) vs. LH Charlie Lowell (3-3, 4.35); Tuesday, LH Luis Cruz (5-4, 3.70) vs. RH Jose Urena (5-4, 3.36); Wednesday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (1-2, 4.40) vs. RH Austin Brice (5-2, 4.26); Thursday, RH Jonas Dufek (5-1, 4.72) vs. RH Josh Hodges (5-5, 3.78).

Jonas Dufek

Legend to watch: Thursday starting RHP Jonas Dufek (6-foot-5, 218 pounds, will turn 24 Saturday, from Omaha, Neb.) has earned wins in his last four games. At 5-1, 4.72 overall, he has appeared in 14 games, including one in relief. Over 74 1/3 innings, Dufek has 59 and walked 20, holding opponents to a .277 batting average. In June, he is 4-0, 2.52 with 23 strikeouts to four walks, holding foes to a .236 average. Selected by the Astros in the ninth round of the 2011 draft, out of Creighton University, Dufek played last year for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League. He made 11 starts, going 3-4 with a 3.71 ERA, one complete game, 37 strikeouts and 16 walks over 51 innings. With Creighton, Dufek was named first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference last year and was MVP of the conference tournament. In addition, he was named third-team All-American.

Brent Keys

Grasshopper to watch: SAL all-star Brent Keys (6-1, 210, age 21, bats/throws L, from Simi Valley, Calif.) is batting .355 with four homers and 32 RBI through Saturday. He leads the Grasshoppers in average, runs (53), hits (89), stolen bases (15), on-base percentage (.427) and OPS (.893), and is second in total bases (117 games). Over 66 games and 251 at-bats, Keys has more walks (32) than strikeouts (22). Selected by the Marlins in the 17th round of the 2009 draft, out of Simi Valley High School, Keys broke in with the Gulf Coast League Marlins in 2009, then advanced to the NYPL’s Jamestown Jammers in 2010. He divided time last season between Jamestown and Greensboro. For three minor-league seasons leading into this year, Keys batted .282 with a homer, 61 RBI, 81 runs and 35 stolen bases in 158 games.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

This entry was posted on June 24, 2012 at 4:51 pm and is filed under Baseball, Creighton University, Greensboro Grasshoppers, Gulf Coast League Marlins, Houston Astros, Jamestown Jammers, Lexington Legends, Miami Marlins, New York-Penn League, South Atlantic League, Tri-City ValleyCats. Tagged: Austin Brice, Brent Keys, Charlie Lowell, Jonas Dufek, Jose Urena, Josh Hodges, Luis Cruz, Luis Ordosgoitti, Mike Foltynewicz. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.