Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at Kannapolis Intimidators

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights; 5:05 p.m. Sunday)

Where: CMC-NorthEast Stadium (Kannapolis, N.C.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Chicago White Sox

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Nick Tropeano (0-0, 0.82) vs. RH Kevin Vance (1-0, 0.90); Friday, LH Kyle Hallock (0-0, 11.12) vs. LH Brandon Parrent (0-0, 6.52); Saturday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (2-1, 1.72) vs. LH Blair Walters (0-1, 2.87); Sunday, LH Luis Cruz  (0-1, 4.38) vs. RH Daniel Webb (0-2, 9.53).

Nick Tropeano

Legend to watch: Thursday starter Nick Tropeano (6-foot-4, 205 pounds, from West Islip, N.Y.) has yielded one earned run over his first two starts, spanning 11 innings. During that time, he has struck out 18 and walked only three. His last start was a six-inning, four-hit shutout performance against the Intimidators, when he fanned eight and walked two but got a no-decision. Selected by the Astros in the fifth round of last year’s draft, out of Stony Brook (N.Y.) University, he was among 25 finalists for the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s Pitcher of the Year. He also earned second-team all-America honors from three organizations. He was the first player to be named America East Conference Pitcher of the Year two times. Last year, his junior season, Tropeano went 12-1 with a 1.84 ERA over 14 starts, setting conference records for wins and strikeouts (119). As a sophomore, he led the conference with 106 strikeouts over 99 2/3 innings. He made his pro debut last summer with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League, going 3-2, 2.36, with 63 strikeouts to 21 walks over 12 starts and 53 1/3 innings.

Keenyn Walker

Intimidator to watch: CF Keenyn Walker (6-3, 195, from Salt Lake City) leads Kannapolis in RBI (9) and stolen bases (5) through Tuesday. Over 13 games, he’s batting .280 with three doubles, a triple and six runs. He bedeviled the Legends in their home opener, going 5-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored. Baseball America ranks him as the sixth-best prospect and fastest baserunner in the White Sox organization.  The White Sox used a supplemental first-round draft pick (47th overall) to select Walker last June out of Central Arizona College, where the switch-hitter batted .412 and stole 65 bases in 63 games. He signed for $795,000 and reported to the rookie-league Great Falls Voyagers. He hit .333 with seven doubles, a triple, nine RBI and 11 stolen bases in 15 games, earning a promotion to Kannapolis. Over 39 games with the Intimidators, Walker hit .228, with a double, two triples, 15 RBI and 10 stolen bases. He also was drafted by the Chicago Cubs when he came out of high school, and by the Philadelphia Phillies after his initial junior-college season.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

A tip of the (baseball) cap to Steve Fohl, assistant director of athletic public relations at Eastern Kentucky University, for the following …

 The EKU Department of Athletics unveiled its All-Century Baseball Team in a special ceremony at the annual Diamond Legacy Dinner on Saturday night in the Keen Johnson Ballroom. Twenty-one of the 29 players and coaches on the team were able to attend the event, while two others were represented by family.

The All-Century Baseball Team is made up of the following positions: infielders (nine), outfielders (seven), pitchers (six), catchers (three), utility players (two) and coaches (two). 

EKU is celebrating “100 Years of EKU Baseball” during the 2011 season. The storied program, which first fielded a team during the 1911 season, has won 19 Ohio Valley Conference Championships (regular-season and tournament), advanced to four NCAA Regionals and produced 21 All-Americans, nine OVC Players of the Year and 97 All-OVC players. 

TheAll-Century Baseball Team members:

Infielders
Frank Borgia (1966-68) – Started at shortstop for Eastern for three seasons and was selected first-team All-OVC twice.  He batted .475 in 1968 which still stands as the modern record at Eastern for highest single season batting average.  He finished sixth in the nation in batting in 1968 and stole 18 bases in 19 attempts as a freshman.
Jimmy Cain (1967-69) – A two-year All-OVC third baseman for the Colonels who batted .395 and .400 in those two seasons.  His junior year, he finished second in the nation in home runs and runs batted in per game while being named the team’s Most Valuable Player.  He was also a member of the 1967 OVC championship squad.
Lee Chapman (1997-2000) – Started four years for the Colonels at first base and received All-OVC recognition his junior and senior seasons.  Still the holder of five Eastern school records, he hit 52 career home runs and knocked in 210 runs at EKU, while stealing 47 bases and collecting a .329 batting average.
Clay Elswick (1983-86) – A four-year letterman and three-year starter for the Colonels at first base.  His senior year, he posted 20 home runs, 82 RBI, a .426 batting average and was selected OVC Player of the Year in leading the Colonels to a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Frank Kremblas (1986-89) – A two-time All-OVC performer that played both second base and catcher. He batted .381 as a junior with seven home runs, 43 RBI and 21 stolen bases, and he was a 23^rd round draft choice of the Cincinnati Reds.
Jayson Langfels (2008-10) – Started at third base all three years he played for Eastern and was a first team All-OVC choice the past two years.  EKU’s all-time leader in triples with 18, he turned in a fantastic 2009 season when he hit .441 with six triples, 12 home runs and 72 RBI.  He finished his EKU career with 203 hits, 32 home runs, 161 runs batted in and a .364 batting average.  He was drafted this past June in the 16^th round by the Colorado Rockies.
Arnold Nyulassy (1965-68) – A three-time All-OVC first baseman who hit .378 as a junior in 1967 and was part of an Eastern infield that turned 38 double plays in 29 games.
Neil Sellers (2001-04) – A three-time All-OVC third baseman and is listed in the EKU record books for RBI, hits, at bats, doubles and home runs.  His career totals at Eastern include 41 home runs, 62 doubles, 279 hits and 214 runs batted in while compiling a four-year batting average of .353.  Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 32^nd round of the 2004 draft, he is now a member of the Florida Marlins’ organization after playing the previous three years in the Philadelphia Phillies’ organization.
Jason Sharp (1997-2000) – A four-year starter who received all-conference notice from the OVC in 1998 and 1999.  He played both shortstop and third base in his career for the Colonels and had career totals of 32 home runs, 145 runs batted in and a .337 batting average.

Outfielders
Josh Anderson (2001-03) – The OVC Player of the Year in 2003 and Eastern’s first-ever, first-team Louisville Slugger All-American choice after leading the nation in stolen bases with 57 and batting a national third-best .447 his junior year.  He was a fourth round draft selection of the Houston Astros and has played for four major league teams.  Anderson was also a three-time all-conference selection and is an EKU Athletics Hall of Fame member.
Joe Banko (1989-90) – A two-time All-OVC player for the Colonels and was a member of the 1989 OVC champion and NCAA Tournament Eastern squad that won 39 games.  An All-South Region performer, his two-year career statistics showed him with a .341 batting average, 17 home runs and 89 runs batted in while stealing 64 bases. 
Brandon Berger (1994-96) – Drafted after his junior season at Eastern in the 14^th round by the Kansas City Royals.  He received all-conference recognition his last two seasons at Eastern and batted .301 with eight home runs and 38 runs batted in his final year as a Colonel. 
Earle Combs (1920) – The most decorated of anyone selected to the team as he was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970.  The highlight of his Eastern experience came in 1920 when he batted .596 and hit at least one home run in all 12 games the Maroons played.  He later had a fabulous 12-year career with the New York Yankees where he finished with a .325 career batting average.  He batted leadoff and played centerfield for what is considered the best baseball team of all-time, the 1927 Murderer’s Row Yankees’ team.
Robert Moore (1985-87) – A three-time first team All-OVC selection, Moore posted career numbers of 54 doubles, 11 triples, a .386 batting average and 67 stolen bases. As a junior in 1987, he had 12 consecutive hits, one short of the NCAA record and was named OVC Player of the Year.  He was a 16^th round draft choice of the Kansas City Royals.
Sean Murray (1998-99) – A two-year All-OVC pick.  In his two seasons with the Colonels, he had career totals of 29 home runs, 109 runs batted in and a .377 batting average after hitting a team-leading .402 as a junior and making the All-OVC Tournament team. 
Ron Pinsenchaum (1964-67) – A three-time All-OVC player in the Eastern outfield, Pinsenchaum was inducted into the EKU Athletics Hall of Fame posthumously last October.  He was a member of two OVC championship teams and as a sophomore in 1965 reached base an amazing 68 times in 99 plate appearances.

Pitchers
Jeff Cruse (1984-87) – A two-year All-OVC pitcher who was also a member of three NCAA Tournament teams at Eastern, Cruse still holds Eastern’s career record for most victories with 30 against just six losses and recorded 208 strikeouts in 278 innings.  He also owns EKU’s career mark for complete games with 20 and collected a fantastic 10-1 record as a junior. The right-hander was signed by the Kansas City Royals following his senior year.
Steve Engel (1981-83) – A two-time all-conference pitcher for the Colonels, Engel finished fifth in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings with his 11.1 strikeouts average per game as a sophomore.  The third-highest major league draft choice in Colonel baseball history, the left-hander was drafted following his junior season in the fifth round by the Chicago Cubs, pitching for the National League team at Wrigley Field in 1985.
Don Feltner (1952-55) — Pitched four seasons for EKU and compiled a 21-3 record on the mound.  He was a member of Eastern’s 1954 OVC championship team and his career included four shutouts and a 1.92 earned run average.  The right-hander also threw one of six no-hitters in Colonel baseball history and was recently inducted into the EKU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Christian Friedrich (2006-08) – OVC Rookie of the Year in 2006 and OVC Pitcher of the Year in 2008 while being selected first team all-conference for three seasons.  The first team All-American posted gaudy national attention three-year career stats of a 1.84 ERA, 327 strikeouts, an opponents’ batting average of .174 and 20 victories.  A first-round draft choice of the Colorado Rockies, the southpaw was recently chosen as one of major league baseball’s top 50 prospects for the 2011 season.
Dave Quick (1960-63) – A two-time All-OVC pitcher and OVC Player of the Year in 1963 when he posted a 1.38 ERA.  A member of two OVC championship teams, one of the lefty’s top outings in 1963 was a 12-inning, 2-0 masterpiece over Morehead State where he struck out 19 batters.
Randy White (1986-89) – A two-time All-OVC player and the OVC Player of the Year in 1989 when he posted a 10-3 record with a 3.01 earned run average.  In his four years at Eastern, the right-hander won 27 games, lost only 11, posted a 3.59 ERA and was a member of three OVC championship squads.

Catchers
Blake Barthol (1992-95) – A four-year starter for the Colonels and received All-OVC recognition his junior and senior years.  Chosen in the 21^st round of the 1995 Major League Draft by the Colorado Rockies, he batted .330 his senior year with six home runs and 46 runs batted in.
Brad Brian (1982-86) – A three-year starter at catcher for the Colonels where he hit .356 with nine home runs and 42 runs batted in as a senior when he was named first-team all-conference.  A career .337 hitter at EKU, he was drafted following his senior year in the 30^th round by the Montreal Expos.
Roger Roberts (1969-72) — A two-time All-OVC performer and three-year starter at catcher who led the Colonels with 33 runs batted in in 1972.

Utility Players
Brett Bolger (2003-06) – Started four years for the Colonels and received all-conference notice three of those seasons. The pre-season OVC Player of the Year in 2006 by Collegiate Baseball magazine, he posted career totals at Eastern of 262 hits, 160 runs scored, 59 stolen bases and a batting average of .359, highlighted by his junior year when he led the conference in hitting with a .398 average.
Ron Pezzoni (1987-89) – A three-year all-conference performer for the Colonels and was one of the hitting stars for the 1989 NCAA Regional playoff team.  He posted three-year career numbers of a .398 batting average and 91 stolen bases, which still stand as the second highest number of steals in school history.

Coaches
Charles “Turkey” Hughes (1941-71) – Served as head coach of the Eastern baseball program for 31 years.  During that time span, he led EKU to 10 OVC championships and was voted OVC Coach of the Year in 1967.  Considered as one of the Founding Fathers of the Ohio Valley Conference who formed the league in 1948, he is a member of the EKU, the OVC and the Kentucky Athletic Halls of Fame and coached five different sports at Eastern in his 43-year tenure with the EKU Athletics Department.  The field the Colonels play on today is named in his honor.
Jim Ward (1980-2001) – Served as head coach at Eastern from 1980-2001 and won 628 games for the Colonels, five regular season OVC titles and sent four Eastern teams to the NCAA Tournament. A member of the OVC and EKU Halls of Fame, he was five-time OVC Coach of the Year, coached five OVC Players of the Year and 64 ALL-OVC players.  Including his 11 seasons at Stetson University, he finished his collegiate coaching career with 939 victories. 

From the Houston Astros media relations department … former Legends Jordan Lyles and J.D. Martinez are honored.

The Houston Astros Player Development Department announced their 2010 Minor League Players of the Year Tuesday, naming right-handed pitcher Jordan Lyles as Pitcher of the Year and outfielder J.D. Martinez as Player of the Year. The club also named Omar Lopez, manager of the Astros Gulf Coast League affiliate, as Player Development Man of the Year. All three will be recognized at a special pre-game ceremony at Minute Maid Park on Saturday, October 2, prior to the Astros 6:05 p.m. game against the Chicago Cubs.

“Jordan and J.D. have both moved through the system at a rapid pace and seem destined to reach the big leagues in the not-too-distant future. Not only are they talented players, but they’re solid-makeup, exceptionally dedicated kids,” said Astros General Manager Ed Wade. “Omar has impressed everyone with the work he’s done for us in player development. He’s had an impact everywhere he’s gone and is focused on making our kids better.”

Jordan Lyles

Right-handed pitcher Jordan Lyles was named the Astros 2010 Minor League Pitcher of the Year after posting a 7-12 record and a 3.57 ERA (63ER/158.2IP) in 27 games, 26 starts, between the Double A and Triple A levels. Lyles spent the majority of his season with Double A Corpus Christi, posting a 7-9 record and a 3.12 ERA (44ER/127IP) in 21 games, 20 starts. His success with Corpus Christi earned him mid-season and post-season Texas League All-Star honors, as well as a selection to the 2010 MLB Futures Game. Lyles was promoted to Triple A in early August but still managed to finish tied for fourth in the Texas League with 115 strikeouts and ranked fifth in ERA. At the time of his promotion, he became the first 19-year-old to pitch at the Triple A level in 2010. Lyles was selected by Houston in the supplemental first round, as the 38th overall selection, in the 2008 June draft.

                Jordan Lyles – Right-Handed Pitcher (combined 2A and 3A stats)

W   L   ERA   G   GS   CG   SHO   SV    IP      H   R   ER   HR   BB   SO

7   12   3.57   27   26   2       0     0  158.2   181   75   63   12   46   137

Outfielder J.D. Martinez earned Minor League Player of the Year after hitting a combined .341 (183×537) with 40 doubles, 18 homers and 89 RBI with Class A Lexington and Double A Corpus Christi. Before being promoted to Corpus Christi on July 16, Martinez posted a .362 (126×348) average with 15 homers and 64 RBI in 88 games for Lexington. His performance, in a little over half the season with Lexington, earned him the South Atlantic League’s Most Valuable Player Award and mid-season and post-season All-Star nominations. In his two years in the Astros system, Martinez has played at four different levels, hitting above .300 at each stop and placing his career minor league batting average at .343 (275×801). He was drafted by Houston in the 20th round of the June 2009 draft.

 

                J.D. Martinez – Outfielder (combined Class A and 2A stats)

AVG   AB     H      R     2B   3B   HR    RBI   SB

.341   537   183   107   40    4    18     89      5

Omar Lopez, who serves at the manager of the Astros Gulf Coast League affiliate, was named as the organization’s Player Development Man of the Year after completing his second full season at the helm of the GCL Astros. In addition to his managerial duties, Lopez, who is bilingual, is given the task of guiding the organization’s Spanish-speaking prospects through their first year of professional baseball in the United States. The 2010 season was his third as a manager in the Astros organization.

The University of Kentucky has signed nine recruits for the 2011 baseball season, while Eastern Kentucky has added three players during the fall recruiting period.

Signing with the Wildcats: LHP Corey Littrell (Louisville Trinity), RHP Blake Perry (Boyle County/Pendleton School at IMG Academy (Fla.)), IFs Dallen Reber (St. George, Utah), Paul McConkey (Knoxville) and Matt Reida (Russiaville, Ind.), OFs Lucas Witt (Lexington Christian) and Gavin Patton (South Charleston, W.Va./Pendleton School (Fla.)), and RHP/IFs Trevor Gott (Tates Creek) and J.T. Riddle (Western Hills).

Joining the Colonels: 1B/3B Mitchell Durbin (Fairfield, Ohio), 3b/RHP Bryan Solomon (Jackson, N.J.) and C Sean Hagen (Reading, Pa.).

This is UK’s third recruiting class with Gary Henderson as head coach. His first class — last season’s freshmen — was ranked by Baseball America as fourth-best in the nation. His second class — this season’s freshmen — were sixth in the nation, according to Collegiate Baseball.

“We are really excited about our 2010 class,” Henderson said. “The last two years, we have had top-ranked classes and this group of student-athletes is every bit as good. One of the best things about this class is that we have a solid group of Kentucky kids who come to UK. We are extremely excited that we could keep these Kentucky guys home for their college careers.”

Thanks to media relations wizards Brent Ingram of UK and Steve Fohl of EKU for the scoops.

UK recruits

LHP Corey Littrell: Regarded by many as the top prospect in the state. …  141 strikeouts and 39 walks in 111 innings, going 13-2 with one save and an 0.72 ERA last season. … Also batted .375 with two homers and 18 RBI, leading Trinity to a state-semi championship. … Two-time academic all-state pick has made Trinity’s honor roll every quarter. … His father played in Dodgers and Expos organizations; grandfather played in Cubs and Athletics organizations. … Says Henderson: Corey has an advanced ability to pitch for his age. He can already command his fastball and he has a very good changeup that he can throw for a strike. We expect him to pitch early and often in his UK career. He is a serious competitor that we have a chance to build a staff around. He will need to make the same adjustments that they all do but I expect him to compete for innings immediately.”

RHP Blake Perry: At 6-5, 180, he looks the part of No. 2 prospect in the state. … Went 4-0 with two saves, hitting .317, for Boyle County’s region runner-up team in 2008. … Transferred to Pendleton and was chosen to play in Southwest Florida Fall Showcase. … Played summer ball for Danville’s Morse Mustangs, coached by former Wildcat Paul Morse, going 5-0 with two saves, an 0.95 ERA and 63 strikeouts over 44 innings. … His father played for Kansas State and was drafted by the Yankees. … Says Henderson: “Blake has good body control and feel to pitch for a large-framed pitcher. He shows solid command of three pitches and falls into the category of very projectable. He wants to be an outstanding pitcher and I anticipate him being a great worker. He has tremendous potential and we are excited to watch him develop.”

IF Dallen Reber: 6-0, 215-pounder has led Dixie High School to three consecutive second-place finishes in the State Tournament. … First-team all-state as a junior, batting .407 with 29 runs, 33 hits, four doubles, seven homers and 30 RBI. .. Drew 13 walks to five strikeouts. … Played 3B mostly and some at SS. … Says Henderson: “Dallen brings a winner’s personality and a lot of athleticism. He is an absolute winner with very good baseball skills. He is the type of kid that other kids like to be around. He has a combination of strength, speed and skills that we are very excited to bring to our program.”

 IF Paul McConkey: Left-handed hitting 5-11, 175-pounder batted .482 with eight homers for Halls High School last season. … Has school records for doubles in a season and double plays turned in a career. … His father played baseball for Tennessee and his sister played softball at Austin Peay. … Says Henderson: “Paul has a very good feel to hit and he can play all three infield spots. He also plays the game with a lot of confidence and poise. That is hard to find in a 17-year-old. He is an extremely good competitor who is serious about being a great baseball player. His attitude and makeup are strong. He will bring an approach that will make those around him better.”

IF Matt Reida: A 5-11, 175-pound, left-handed hitter has been compared with current UK all-SEC IF Chris Bisson. … Teamed with current Wildcat LHP Taylor Rogers to lead the Midland Redskins to this year’s Connie Mack World Series championship at Farmington, N.M. … Hit .429 with three HR, 17 RBI and 10 SB. … National Honor Society member. … Brother of West Virginia assistant coach Tad Reida, who played for Wichita State and Indiana. A sister, Tiffany, played basketball for Indiana State. … Says Henderson: ”Matt is a tremendous competitor. He brings a seriousness and a level of competitiveness that will put him in the center of our club immediately. Matt brings very good baseball skills, great feel for the game and a winner’s presence. He will eventually be a leader, an oustanding leadoff hitter and a middle-infield presence for our club.” 

OF Lucas Witt: Two-time all-state in baseball and football (6-2, 185 QB). … Hit .377 with eight doubles, four homers, 20 RBI and 13 SB last season, leading LCA to an All-A state title. … Has LCA in the state football semifinals and has school career records for completions, attempts, touchdown passes, passing yards, quarterback rushing yards, passer rating and quarterback starts. … Says Henderson: “Lucas is an outstanding athlete and an even better young man. He has had a lot of success in both baseball and football at the high school level. He brings with him the knowledge of what it takes to be successful. He is a great competitor, knows how to work and he will make those around him better. We are very excited to see how he develops once he devotes himself to baseball full-time.”

OF Gavin Patton: 6-1, 205-pounder hit .490, a school-record 14 homers, 54 RBI and 22 SB in 2008 for George Washington High. … Moved to the Pendleton School last season, batting .418 with eight doubles, three HR, 39 RBI and 10 SB. … An uncle, Lorin Grow, played six years in Reds organization. … Says Henderson: “Gavin already looks like an SEC outfielder. He’s big, strong and moves well for his size. He brings a combination of speed and power that is hard to come by. We are very excited about him becoming a Wildcat. He plays extremely hard, competes at a high level and will bring an energy to our club that fans and teammates will enjoy.”

RHP/IF Trevor Gott: 6-0, 190-pound, second-team all-stater led Tates Creek in batting (.382) and ERA (1.12). … Says Henderson: “Trevor is a good athlete and has tremendous arm strength. He had a lot of success in his baseball career at a young age and we have watched him for a long time. His body is beginning to get some strength, which is going to help him tremendously on the mound.”

RHP/IF J.T. Riddle: 6-3,175-pound left-handed hitter went 3-3 with a 1.64 ERA and 67 strikeouts over 47 innings last season. … Batted .478 with six doubles, two homers and 11 RBI. … Has 16 SB over three seasons. … Has school single-season records for hits (47), average (.478) and ERA (1.64). … Says Henderson: “J.T. is a gifted athlete that is talented enough to be a two-way player in the SEC. He is like most kids we get in that he needs to develop more strength. J.T. has a good swing, moves well defensively and is clearly a talented pitcher. He has had a lot of success in everything he has done in high school. We are glad to have him with us and are eager to see how he develops.”

EKU recruits

1B/3B Mitchell Durbin: 6-2, 200-pound, left-handed hitter and team MVP. … Hit .377 with three HR, 23 RBI, 24 runs, 13 doubles and .662 SP in 2008. … Two-time all-academic team member. … Led Team Ohio in last summer’s Midwest Baseball Classic, hitting .402 with 102 hits, 29 doubles, 12 HR, 69 runs and .752 SP. His high school coach, Larry Price, is father of former EKU player Robby Price. … Says EKU Coach Jason Stein: “Following graduation and the draft of 2010, we will probably have two immediate needs and, as a left-handed bat with power and a corner infielder, Mitch fills both of them.”

3B/RHP Bryan Solomon: 6-4, 225-pound team captain led Jackson Memorial High last season with seven HR, 31 RBI and an .800 SP, while batting .440 with a .517 OBP. … A two-time pre-season All-American. … Says Stein: “Bryan is a complete third baseman. He can hit for average and power, and he is an outstanding defensive player with a great arm. Most impressively, he has a genuine desire to excel at this level and he possesses an excellent baseball attitude.”

 C Sean Hagen: 6-1, 190-pounder hit .469 with six HR, 11 doubles and 29 RBI for Muhlenberg High last season. … A two-time pre-season All-American. … Has a 3.75 GPA and has been voted class president the last two years. … Says Stein: “Sean will fill an immediate need at catcher following the graduation of 2010. He is a complete catcher who can catch, throw and block. But he is also a very offensive-minded player as well.”

University of Kentucky shortstop Chris Wade, an 11th-round pick in last month’s Major League Baseball draft, announced Monday that he has signed with the Florida Marlins.

Wade, out of Lexington Christian Academy, is the third Wildcat in the 2009 draft group to sign. LHP Chris Rusin, a fourth-round selection, signed with the Chicago Cubs. RHP Clint Tilford, a 31st-round pick, signed with the Colorado Rockies.

CHRIS WADE

The 6-foot, 160-pounder is the first UK shortstop to earn first- or second-team all-SEC recognition since Dickie Parsons in 1961, and one of only four such Wildcat shortstops in the program’s 105-year history.

After redshirting his freshman year, Wade opened the 2008 season as the starting shortstop. He started all 63 games, batting .296 (67-for-226) with five homers and 51 RBI. He also led the SEC with 24 doubles and was named to the SEC’s all-freshman team.

Wade started 50 games last season, missing four because of a hamstring injury. He hit .313 (56-for-179) with six homers and 42 RBI. He also had 10 doubles, a triple and stole 14 bases in 17 attempts. He totaled 14 multi-hit games, nine multi-RBI games and finished the season on a 13-game hitting streak. He also had a 13-game streak as a freshman.

His career totals with the Wildcats include a .304 average (123-for-405), 11 homers, 93 RBI, 77 runs, 34 doubles and 20 stolen bases in 25 attempts. Perhaps more noteworthy is his defensive prowess. His career fielding percentage of .951 includes a .962 effort as a sophomore.

Wade’s season highlights include a 4-for-5, five-RBI game in his final home game, against Morehead State. He also belted a grand slam homer to give the Wildcats a walkoff victory and series sweep of Indiana State, and hit an 11th-inning homer to knock off New Orleans.

A tip of the cap to Brent Ingram of UK media relations for the details.

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Greenville Drive

When: Friday through Sunday (7:05 Friday and Saturday nights; 2:05 Sunday).

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Probable pitcher (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Jordan Lyles (2-5, 3.31) vs.RH Stephen Fife (0-0, 0.00); Saturday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (3-0, 0.64) vs. TBA; Sunday, RH Ross Seaton (6-4, 2.44) vs. RH Stolmy Pimentel (3-3, 2.09).

Anthony Rizzo

Drive to watch: 1B Anthony Rizzo (6-foot-3, 220 pounds, from Parkland, Fla.) leads Greenville in runs (29), RBI (26) and walks (21) through Thursday’s games. Over 48 games, the 19-year-old also is hitting .275 with six home runs. Selected by the Red Sox in the sixth round of the 2007 draft, he batted .373 and drove in 11 runs over 21 games with the Drive in April of 2008. He missed the rest of the season when he was diagnosed with limited stage classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma. With the cancer in remission, he is rated by Baseball America as the 22nd-best prospect in Boston’s system.

Patrick Urckfitz

Legend to watch: LHP Patrick Urckfitz (6-4, 190, from Penfield, N.Y.) earned team Pitcher of the Month honors in May, when he went 1-0 with four saves and a 0.71 ERA. Urckfitz gave up one earned run over 10 games in May and 12 2/3 innngs, with 13 strikeouts to one walk, while holding opposing teams to a .178 batting average. Overall, Urckfitz has a 2.82 ERA and also has four saves. A non-drafted free agent out of Monroe (N.Y.) Community College, Urckfitz signed with the Astros last year on June 29. He made 15 relief appearances for Greeneville, going 1-0 with three saves and a 1.40 ERA.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Also of note: Thursday, the Houston Astros Player Development Department named Players of the Month for May, as chosen by the field staffs of the Astros minor-league teams.

Brian Pellegrini

Brandon Barnes

From the Legends, LH Patrick Urckfitz (see above) is Pitcher of the Month (POM), 1B/OF Brian Pellegrini is Offensive Player of the Month (OPM) and OF Brandon Barnes is Defensive Player of the Month (DPM).

Pellegrini, demoted from Lancaster, hit .277 (13-for-47) with three homers and nine RBI over 14 games.

Barnes has one error in 98 chances and 53 games this season, fielding at a .990 clip.

Players of the month for Houston’s other minor-league clubs (former Legends underlined):

Triple-A Round Rock — RH Yorman Bazardo (POM, 4-0, 1.49); SS Tommy Manzella (OPM and DPM, .339, 11 w, 11 2b, 2 hr, 12 rbi and .977 fielding through 52 games this season).

Double-A Corpus Christi — LH Doug Arguello (POM, 1-2, 2.28); OF Drew Locke (OPM, .327, 7 2b, 5 hr, 31 rbi); CF Josh Flores (DPM, .990 fielding over 39 games).

High-A Lancaster — RH Jordan Powell (POM, 1-1, 1 save, 3.77 ERA); OF Jonathan Gaston (OPM, .365, 23 ebh, 9 hr, 25 rbi); C Jason Castro (DPM, .984 fielding, 34 assists over 41 games). 

Ross Seaton

The Farmstros Five for  (top performers) the Week of May 27- June 3:

RHP Ross Seaton (Legends); RHP Yorman Bazardo (Round Rock); OF Drew Locke (Corpus Christi); OF Jonathan Gaston (Lancaster); RHP Xavier Baso (Dominican Summer League Astros).

Fan extras as Reds host Cubs in weekend series

Food: Kroger $7 Meal Deal this homestand: hot dog, 16-ounce Coke, chips and Cheez-It crackers.

Give and receive: The Reds and Society of St. Vincent de Paul are sponsoring a food drive during the series. Fans donating a non-perishable food item in designated collection barrels will receive two tickets to the June 17 Reds-Braves game and also can enter a drawing to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Braves game.

Individual-game promotions

Friday (7:10 p.m.) — Pre-game concert in the Fan Zone by the Paul Otten Band; game-ball delivery by Miss Teen Ohio, Jessica Paige Byington of Indian Hill; pre-fireworks mini-concert by saxophonist Elan Trotman, who has played with Bronson Arroyo’s band; post-game fireworks with soundtrack.

Saturday (7:10 p.m.) — Pre-game concert in the Fan Zone by the Goshen Brothers; team baseball card set to first 30,000 fans; “Sam” the Bald Eagle trading cards to first 20,000 fans; “Sam” the Bald Eagle flight from the riverboat to the pitcher’s mound during the national anthem.

Sunday (1:10 p.m.) – Joey Votto matted photo to first 30,000 fans (500 random winners receive a signed version); Reds Heads Kids Club members accompany a Reds starter on the field for lineup introduction; Aaron’s Aces — Aaron Harang hosts free ticket program for families with a parent who is serving in the military.

The Houston Astros announced Saturday that the club has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with SS Tommy Manzella.

Manzella is the fifth player with past ties to the Lexington Legends — South Atlantic League affiliate of the Astros — to come to terms in the last three days. He joins OF Brian Bogusevic, RHP Chris Sampson, IF Drew Sutton and C J.R. Towles.

Tommy Manzella

Manzella, 25, agreed to a deal with a corresponding Major League value of $400,000. He hit .259 (117-for-452) while splitting last season between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Round Rock. He was named a Texas League All-Star and earned Defensive Player of the Month awards with both the Hooks (April) and Express (August). A third-round draft pick out of Tulane in 2005, he was a non-roster invitee to big-league training camp last year, going 6-for-19 (.316) in 11 games with the Astros.

* Astros pitchers and catchers had their first spring training workout Saturday at the Osceola County Stadium complex in Kissimmee, Fla. Of 35 players due Saturday, only RHP Jose Capellan did not show, due to a travel delay. All 27 pitchers in camp threw a 15-minute bullpen session.

The first full-squad workout is scheduled for Tuesday. Grapefruit League play begins Feb. 25, against the Washington Nationals at Kissimmee. Houston’s first road game in Florida will be Feb. 26, at Orlando, against the Atlanta Braves.

The Astros will finish pre-season work with a pair of exhibitions at Houston, April 3, vs. the Cleveland Indians. Houston opens the regular season at home, April 6 against the Chicago Cubs.

* Cincinnati Reds pitchers and catchers also reported Saturday, at the City of Sarasota (Fla.) Sports Complex Of 37 players due, only C Humberto Cota was absent. He is en route from Mexico. Position players are due Tuesday.

* Thanks to Sally Gunter of the Astros and Rob Butcher of the Reds for providing information for this entry.

Had a chance to talk with Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman when the Cincinnati Reds Caravan visited Lexington on Saturday.

Always delightful, Brennaman usually is optimistic at Caravan time.

Here’s some of what he had to say about the 2009 Reds.

Brennaman

“I’m optimistic. I know this time last year I was, and I was dead wrong about the team. Everybody seemed to be as one last year that they were going to be better. Now, fast-forward to a year later, I’m still optimistic, and a lot of the people become naysayers. It’s going to be interesting.

“I think they improved themselves behind the plate in Ramon Hernandez. I think they improved themselves in center field with Willy Taveras. They picked up a situational left-hander in Arthur Rhodes, who will help the bullpen.

“I think you have to look at this division before making some type of prediction. If the Cubs have improved themselves — and I’m not so sure they have — (and) if they are able now to go out and get (pitcher) Jake Peavy before the season begins, they will separate themselves even more from the rest of the division. But if you assume they’ve helped themselves. The only other team in this division who I think has (improved) has been the Reds. I don’t think Milwaukee has, Houston has, St. Louis has or Pittsburgh.

“It’s a different team from what we’ve been watching for the last however-many years because it’s a team that’s going to rely pretty much on pitching, defense and speed, and not feature the big home-run bats that they’ve been noted for all these (recent) years. They go into Great American Ball Park, and the park was built to take advantage of the power of Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. And it didn’t work out. So they’re going to strike off in a different direction, and I agree with that 100 percent.”

Read more from Marty in Sunday’s Herald-Leader.