Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

South Atlantic League baseball

Kannapolis Intimidators
at Lexington Legends

What: Three-game series

When: Monday through Wednesday (7:05 Monday and Tuesday nights, 10:05 Wednesday morning)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), Chicago White Sox (Intimidators)

UPDATED Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Bryan Brickhouse (1-3, 2.41) vs. RH Jake Cose (2-3, 2.14);  Tuesday, RH Miguel Almonte (1-4, 3.52) vs. LH Jefferson Olacio (1-4, 7.13); Wednesday, RH Christian Binford (2-2, 3.21) vs. RH Myles Jaye (4-1, 2.20).

Zach Isler

Intimidator to watch: RHP Zach Isler (6-foot-5, 230 pounds, age 22, from Union) is 2-1 with three saves and a 2.21 ERA over 10 relief appearances spanning 20 1/3 innings. He has recorded 21 strikeouts to five walks, while holding left-handed batters to a .179 average and has not given up an earned run in his four home appearances. Out of Covington Catholic High School and the University of Cincinnati, Isler was an eighth-round draft pick last June. Assigned to Great Falls of the Pioneer League last season, he went 1-0 with a 4.50 over 18 games, including one start. He struck out 33 and walked 12 over 44 innings.

Christian Binford

Legend to watch: Wednesday starter Christian Binford (6-6, 217, 20, from Boynton Beach, Fla.) was selected in the 30th round of the 2011 draft out of Mercersburg (Pa.) Academy. He fired a no-hitter in his first high school start as a freshman in 2008, then underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2009. As a senior, he compiled a 0.64 ERA in 55 innings, then bypassed a chance to play collegiate ball for Virginia by signing for $575,000. Assigned to Burlington of the Appalachian League last season, Binford went 2-3 with a 2.03 over eight starts and 40 innings, striking out 31 while walking four. With the Legends, his 2-2, 3.21 marks come over six starts and 33 2/3 innings, with 34 strikeouts and nine walks. Coming into the season, Baseball America rated him the No. 26 prospect in the Royals system.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Rome Braves

What: Five-game series

When: Friday through Monday (5 p.m. doubleheader Friday, 7:05 p.m. Saturday, 1:35 p.m. Sunday, 12:05 p.m. Monday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Atlanta Braves

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, LH David Rollins (1-2, 3.12) vs. LH Alex Wood (4-3, 2.03) and TBA vs. RH Navery Moore (7-7, 4.28) ; Saturday, RH Chris Devenski (7-7, 4.28) vs. RH Greg Ross (7-8, 4.39); Sunday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (14-3, 2.91) vs. LH Fabian Williamson (2-4, 4.38); Monday, LH Luis Cruz (9-8, 4.05) vs. LH David Starn (1-2, 5.85).

William Beckwith

Brave to watch: 1B William Beckwith (6-foot-1, 235 pounds, age 22, bats left, throws right, from Crawford, Miss.) leads Rome in homers (14) and RBI (74), and is tied for the lead in doubles (25). Not counting teammates who have played 12 games or less, he also leads Rome in batting average (.292), on-base percentage (.362), slugging (.477) and OPS (.839). Over 101 games, Beckwith has scored 49 runs, stolen 16 bases and has 173 total bases. Selected by Atlanta in the 21st round of the 2010 draft out of George C. Wallace Community College in Alabama, he hit .243 with two homers and 18 RBI over 21 games with the Gulf Coast League Braves in 2010. Last year, with Danville of the Appalachian League, he improved to .282-11-45. This season, Beckwith is batting .250 when the bases are empty, .337 with runners on base and .389 with runners in scoring position.

Chris Devenski

Legend to watch: Saturday starter Chris Devenski (6-3, 195, 21, bats/throws right, from Long Beach, Calif.) came to the Houston organization from the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 3 to complete the Brett Meyers trade. Devenski went 6-5 with a 4.23 ERA for Kannapolis before being moved to Lexington. With the Legends, he is 1-2, 4.43 over four starts and 20 1/3 innings. The White Sox selected him in the 25th round of the 2011 draft out of Cal State Fullerton. Assigned last year to the Great Falls Voyagers of the Pioneer League, Devenski had no decisions and a save in seven relief outings, striking out nine and walking one over eight innings. Over 82 innings with the Intimidators and Legends this season, he has totaled 76 strikeouts and 34 walks.

Noteworthy: Katya Cengal, author of Bluegrass Baseball: A Year in the Minor League Life, will be signing books between games Friday. Cengel followed Kentucky’s four minor-league teams — the Legends, Louisville Bats, Bowling Green Hot Rods and Florence Freedom — through the 2010 season.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Kannapolis Intimidators

What: Four-game series

When: Tuesday through Friday (7:05 Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights, 12:05 p.m. Wednesday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

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

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (9-2, 2.74) vs. RH Erik Johnson (1-1, 2.54); Wednesday, LH Luis Cruz (5-5, 3.75) vs. RH Chris Devenski (5-3, 4.19); Thursday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (2-3, 5.43) vs. LH Scott Snodgress (3-3, 3.80); Friday, RH Jonas Dufek (5-2, 5.67) vs. RH Myles Jaye 3-6, 5.70).

Chris Curley

Intimidator to watch: 3B Chris Curley (6-foot-1, 210 pounds, age 25, from Fort Mitchell, Ky., bats/throws R/R) joined the team over the weekend, signed from the independent Florence Freedom. The former Campbellsville University standout went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI and two strikeouts Sunday against Greensboro. Originally signed by the Braves three years ago, Curley played for the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League in 2009, then for Danville, the SAL’s Rome Braves and Carolina League’s Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 2010.  Most of his experience came with Rome, where he hit .214 with three homers, 23 RBI and 23 runs over 61 games. With Florence this season, Curley hit .356 with 10 homers, 44 RBI, 35 runs, 12 doubles, two triples and seven stolen bases in 42 games.

Ruben Sosa

Legend to watch: 2B Ruben Sosa (5-7, 160, age 21, from Lawrence, Mass., bats/throws S/R) is 4-for-9 (.444) with two RBI and a run since moving from the Greeneville Astros of the Appy League to the Legends on June 30. Selected by the Astros in the 23rd round of the 2011 draft out of Oklahoma City University, the native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, played 39 games for Greeneville and 11 for the Legends. For the 50 games combined, hit batted .239 with 20 RBI, 31 runs, nine doubles, a triple and 14 stolen bases.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

(Updates Power rotation)

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at West Virginia Power

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights, 2:05 p.m. Sunday)

Where: Appalachian Power Park (Charleston, W.Va.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Pittsburgh Pirates

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, LH Luis Cruz (5-3, 3.49) vs. LH Zack Dodson (1-5, 6.12); Friday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (1-1, 4.38) vs. RH Robby Rowland (2-1, 3.12); Saturday, RH Jonas Dufek (4-1, 4.87) vs. RH Ryan Hafner (0-4, 6.34); Sunday, RH Nick Tropeano (5-4, 2.99) vs. RH Zack Von Rosenberg (0-1, 4.73). 

Murilo Gouvea

Legend to watch: RHP Murilo Gouvea (6-foot-2, 210 pounds, from Sao Paulo, Brazil) has become a force in the bullpen.  In addition to his 2-3 record, one save and 2.66 ERA, Gouvea leads the team with eight holds. All of his 26 appearances have come in relief, spanning 40 2/3 innings. He has notched 48 strikeouts to 11 walks, holding opponents to a .211 batting average. Although he has made 13 appearances each home and away, all of his decisions have come at home, where he has a 3.92 ERA. On the road, his ERA is 1.35. Gouvea has improved each month, posting a 4.11 ERA in April, 2.25 in May and 0.96 so far in June. Originally signed as free agent Nov. 17, 2006,  by the White Sox, he pitched for the Dominican Summer League White Sox in 2007, Bristol of the Appalachian League in 2008, Bristol, the SAL’s Kannapolis Intimidators and Greeneville Astros in 2009, the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League in 2010, and Tri-City and Lexington in 2011. Combined, he went 10-16 with three saves and a 5.09 ERA, striking out 292 and walking 116 over 252 2/3 innings. With the Legends last year, Gouvea was 1-3 with a 3.98 ERA in 30 relief appearances spanning 74 2/3 innings, with 83 strikeouts.

Jose Osuna

Power to watch: 1B Jose Osuna (6-2, 213, from Trujillo, Venezuela), batting .267, ranks fourth on the team in homers (4), RBI (29) and total bases (97). He also is tied for second in doubles (20) and is third in hits (65) and runs (34). Signed by the Pirates as an undrafted free agent for $275,000 in 2009, Osuna, 19, is rated by Baseball America as the 30th-best prospect in the Pittsburgh system. He hit .251 with 10 homers and 43 RBI in 64 games with the Venezuelan Summer League Pirates in 2010. Last year, he hit .331 with four homers and 32 RBI over 48 games with the Gulf Coast League Pirates, and went 2-for-8 (.250) in two games with the NYPL’s State College Spikes. Osuna, who bats and throws right-handed, is hitting .204 versus left-handed pitchers this season, .286 against righties.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

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 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 (2-2, 2.23) vs. LH Blair Walters (1-2, 3.38); Friday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (0-1, 10.57) vs. LH Scott Snodgress (1-1, 4.29); Saturday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (4-1, 1.62) vs. RH Kevin Vance (2-1, 4.02); Sunday, LH Luis Cruz (3-1, 2.95) vs. RH Myles Jaye (1-1, 4.02).

Mike Foltynewicz

Legend to watch: Saturday starter Mike Foltynewicz (6-foot-4, 209 pounds, from Minooka, Ill.) is off to a great start. He leads the Legends with eight starts and 44 1/3 innings, has the best ERA (1.62) among the starters and shares the team lead in victories. At 4-1, he has struck out 39 and walked 18, holding opponents to a .235 average. His only loss came in the season opener, when he gave up six runs (two earned) in 2 2/3 innings. In seven starts since, he has given up no more than one earned run in six games. Over three starts this month, he is 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA. Selected by the Astros in the first round (19th overall) of the 2010 draft, Foltynewicz jumped from high school to the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League and went 0-3, with a 4.03 ERA over 12 starts. Last year, with the Legends, he worked 134 innings over 26 starts, finishing 5-11 with a 4.97 ERA, 88 strikeouts and 51 walks.

Rangel Ravelo

Intimidator to watch: 3B Rangel Ravelo (6-2, 210, from Hialeah, Fla.) is batting .307 with a homer, 19 RBI and 18 runs through 35 appearances. Among his 42 hits are nine doubles and two triples. He also has not been caught in three stolen-base attempts. Ravelo is batting .313 against right-handers, .289 versus left-handers. Selected out of high school by the White Sox in the sixth round of the 2010 draft, he broke into pro ball with Bristol of the Appalachian League. He hit .254 over 48 games. Last year, playing 20 games for Bristol and 43 for the Intimidators, Ravelo hit .338 with 34 RBI and 21 runs.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at Asheville Tourists

What: Four-game series

When: Saturday through Tuesday (6:05 p.m. Saturday; 2:05 Sunday; 7:05 Monday and Tuesday)

Where: McCormick Field (Asheville, N.C.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Colorado Rockies

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, RH Nick Tropeano (1-2, 2.36) vs. RH Chris Jensen (2-0, 3.76); Sunday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (0-0, 0.00) vs. RH Daniel Winkler (2-2, 6.75); Monday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (4-1, 1.62) vs. RH Ben Alsup (4-0, 3.98); Tuesday, LH Luis Cruz (1-1, 4.15) vs. RH Alex Gillingham (2-2, 6.08).

Matt Duffy

Legend to watch: 3B Matt Duffy (6-foot-3, 227 pounds, from Milton, Mass.) is batting .315, leads the team in total bases (53) and is tied for the lead in homers (4). Through 27 games, Duffy is 34-for-108, with seven doubles, 14 RBI, 14 runs and a stolen base. Selected by the Astros in the 20th round of last year’s draft, out of the University of Tennessee, Duffy earned New York-Penn League all-star honors with the Tri-City ValleyCats. For 63 games, he batted .298, with two homers, 37 RBI, 36 runs, 20 doubles and a triple. Duffy, who bats and throws righty, is hitting .333 against right-handers this season, .267 versus left-handers.

Harold Riggins

Tourist to watch: 1B Harold Riggins (6-2, 240, from Normal, Ill.) leads Asheville with 26 RBI and 51 total bases, and is tied for the lead in homers with five. Batting .311, he is among the top three on the team in OPS (.974), slugging (.567), hits (28), runs (19) and doubles (8). A seventh-round draft pick of the Rockies last June, out of North Carolina State, he was MVP of the 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, batting .562 with two doubles, a triple, two homers and five RBI in four games. Last year, as a junior, he batted .314, with 11 doubles and 35 RBI. Then, with the Casper Ghosts of the Pioneer League, Riggins hit .279, with eight homers and 35 RBI over 67 games. He was originally selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 35th round of the 2008 draft but did not sign.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

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

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs.
Kannapolis Intimidators

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights; 1:35 Sunday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

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

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Tanner Bushue (0-1, 27.00) vs. RH Daniel Webb (0-1, 15.00); Friday, RH Jonas Dufek (0-0, 9.00) vs. LH Scott Snodgress (0-0, 13,50); Saturday, RH Nicholas Tropeano (0-0, 1.80) vs. RH Kevin Vance (0-0, 2.25); Sunday, LH Kyle Hallock (0-0, 54.00) vs. LH Brandon Parrent (0-0, 6.23).

Daniel Webb

Intimidator to watch: Thursday night starter Daniel Webb (6-foot-3, 210 pounds, from Paducah) was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 18th round of the 2010 draft. Out of Heath High School, he had plans to attend Kentucky until John Cohen left to coach Mississippi State. Webb wound up at Northwest Florida State College, then spent the last two seasons in the Blue Jays system. The White Sox acquired him during the off-season. In 2010, Webb split time between the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League and Lansing of the Midwest League, going a combined 1-7 with a 4.74 ERA over 15 starts and 68 1/3 innings. He struck out 43 and walked 32. Last year, he played one game for the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays and 18 games for Lansing. With the Lugnuts, Webb went 4-5 with a 5.59 ERA, with 51 strikeouts and 24 walks over 18 games (12 starts) and 66 innings. In one appearance this season, against Hickory, Webb gave up seven runs, five earned, on eight hits over three innings. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.

Zach Johnson

Legend to watch: 1B/DH Zach Johnson (5-11, 200, from San Ramon, Calif.) is 10-for 25 (.400) through six games, with two homers, 11 RBI, a pair of doubles and two runs scored. A 15th-round draft pick of the Astros last June, out of Oklahoma State University, Johnson spent last season with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the NYPL. He played 72 games, batting .262 with five homers, 40 RBI, 12 doubles, a triple and 31 runs scored. In Wednesday’s 3-0 win at Hagerstown, Johnson led the Legends with a single, double and two RBI. The Oakland Athletics drafted Johnson in the 48th round in 2010, but were unable to come to terms. Johnson bats and throws right-handed. His father, not to be mistaken for the PGA Tour’s Zach Johnson, is a former professional golfer who went on to create a golf domain known as protourgroup.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

                             South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. Kannapolis Intimidators

What: Four-game series

When: Monday through Thursday (7:05 each night)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

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

Alaniz

Cruz

Bushue

Quevedo

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Ruben Alaniz (5-9, 4.80) vs. RH Dexter Carter (3-5, 6.51); Tuesday, LH Luis Cruz (3-2, 4.27) vs. RH Phil Negus (2-0, 2.52); Wednesday, RH Carlos Quevedo (6-4, 4.05) vs. RH Matt Heidenreich (9-6, 4.25); Thursday, RH Tanner Bushue (6-2, 3.49) vs. LH Spencer Arroyo (7-7, 3.70).

Trayce Thompson

Intimidator to watch: All-star CF Trayce Thompson (6-foot-3, 195 pounds, from Ladera Ranch, Calif.) leads Kannapolis in homers (17), runs (72) and walks (48) — as well as strikeouts (126) through Saturday’s games. Batting .232, he also has 62 RBI, 25 doubles, a pair of triples and five stolen bases. Selected by the White Sox in the second round of the 2009 draft, out of Santa Margarita High School (Calif.), and signed for $625,000, Thompson is the son of former No. 2 overall NBA draft pick Mychal Thompson. Trayce played 32 games in his pro-debut year – 25 with Bristol of the Appalachian League and seven with the Great Falls Voyagers of the Pioneer League, combining for a .198 average, 10 RBI and 10 runs. With Kannapolis last year, Thompson batted .229 with eight homers, 31 RBI and 28 runs over 58 games (a pitch shattered his right thumb in late May, knocking him out for three months). Coming into this season, Baseball America rated him the No. 9 prospect in the White Sox system. This season, the right-handed batter and thrower has been at his best when face lefties and playing at home. He is batting .315 vs. left-handers, .206 against righties; .254 at home, .209 on the road.

Delino DeShields Jr.

Legend to watch: 2B Delino DeShields Jr. (5-9, 203, from Ocala, Fla.) has raised his average from .192 on June 24 to .235 through Saturday. He took an 11-game hitting streak into Sunday’s game and had hits in 14 of his last 15 games. For July, DeShields is 31-for-93 (.333) with two doubles, 14 RBI, 13 runs, nine walks and 10 stolen bases. Overall, to go with his .235 average, DeShields has six homers, 41 RBI, 50 runs and 25 stolen bases. No. 2 in Baseball America’s pre-season rankings of Houston prospects, he was selected by Houston in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2010 draft and signed for an Astros draft-record $2.125 million out of Woodward Academy (Fla.). His father, Delino Sr., also was a first-round pick (12th overall in 1987) and stole 463 bases over 13 seasons in the big leagues. Delino Jr. debuted last season with two games in the Gulf Coast League and 16 with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League, combining to hit .289 with eight RBI, 11 runs, six doubles, a triple and five stolen bases in six attempts. Baseball America also rates him as Houston’s fastest runner, best athlete and best pure hitter in the 2010 class. He also was recruited for football by Georgia and Ole Miss.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

                                        South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. Kannapolis Intimidators

What: Four-game series

When: Monday through Thursday (7:05 Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights, 10:05 a.m. Wednesday)

Where: Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium (Kannapolis, N.C.)

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

Quevedo

Minaya

Bushue

Foltynewicz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Carlos Quevedo (3-0, 3.86) vs. RH Matthew Heidenreich (1-1, 6.65); Tuesday, RH Juan Minaya (0-2, 7.15) LH Spencer Arroyo (1-1, 4.23); Wednesday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (0-5, 5.51) RH Jacob Petricka (2-1, 2.73); Thursday, RH Tanner Bushue (5-0, 3.11) RH Paul Burnside (3-0, 2.70).

Emilio King

Legend to watch: OF Emilio King (6-foot-1, 180 pounds, from Samana, Dominican Republic) moved up from extended spring training to join the Legends on Saturday. In his first two games, King is 5-for-9 (.556), with two homers, a double, six RBI and three runs scored. He’s listed as a right fielder but, thus far with the Legends, has played center and left. Signed by the Astros as a 16-year-old in 2006, King played parts of two seasons in the Dominican Summer League. He arrived in the U.S. for the 2009 season, hitting .254 with a homer and 20 RBI over 42 games in the Gulf Coast League. Last year, with Greeneville of the Appalachian League, King hit .210 with a homer and 10 RBI in 63 games.

Drew Lee

Intimidator to watch: 2B Drew Lee (5-11, 185, from Mount Sterling), out of Montgomery County High School and Morehead State University, is 17-for-43 (.395) with three homers, 11 RBI and 10 runs scored in 13 games since joining the team. That includes five games in Lexington, when he went 11-for-19 with three homers, three doubles, eight RBI and seven runs. A switch hitter, he was drafted by the White Sox in the 12th round of last year’s draft. Playing for Bristol last summer, he earned Appalachian League post-season all-star honors by batting .282 with five homers and 39 RBI.

Note: Legends LHP Gabriel Garcia was placed on the seven-day disabled list Saturday due to tendinitis in his left elbow.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300