Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

A variety of current and former professional baseball players will come together Feb. 4-5 for the International Youth Baseball Coaches Association Summit at Transylvania University.

That will be preceded by the Cincinnati Reds Cararvan, Jan. 26-29. The Reds’ annual visit to Lexington is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 29, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Lexington Center (more details below).

Leading off this blog, though, is the clinic at Transy. The program, intended for coaches, is marketed as a “30-day guide to developing a dominate baseball player.”

Feb. 4 speakers are: Willie Blair, on common delivery flaws and fixes; Keith Madison, on mental domination on the mound; Robbie Ross, on developing nasty pitches; Jeff Parrett, on pitcher: No. 1 defender; Keith Vorhoff, on catching: throwing more people out; and Aaron Sciascia, on building a bulletproof arm.

Feb. 5 speakers: Andy Green, on hitting: it’s not one size fits all; Collin Cowgill, on hitting: approach, vision, preparation; Brian Green, on infield: molding Gold Glovers; Jim Hinerman, on where do leaders come from?; Brad Bohannon, on recruiting: what college coaches look for; Josh Anderson, on base-stealing automation; and Miles Noland, on building explosive power for baseball.

Pre-registration costs are $25 a day or $40 for two days. Prices at the door are $35 and $60. For pre-registration only, two coaches can be signed up for the price of one. For more information, contact Miles Noland at (859) 221-7715 or email iybaseballca@gmail.com.

Blair is a 12-year Major League veteran, now a minor-league pitching coach for the Padres.

Madison, who reached Triple-A as a player, coached the University of Kentucky 1979 through 2003.

Ross, a 2008 second-round draft pick out of Lexington Christian Academy, is the Texas Rangers’ minor-league pitcher of the year.

Parrett, a 10-year veteran of the big leagues, is now head coach at Woodford County High School.

Vorhoff, University of Kentucky catching coach, has had three catchers drafted in five years.

Sciascia is UK’s Shoulder Center of Kentucky coordinator.

Andy Green played four years in the big leagues and is a minor-league hitting coach for the Diamondbacks.

Cowgill, recently traded to the Oakland Athletics, made his Major League debut in 2011 and was named player of the year in the Pacific Coast League.

Brian Green is UK’s offensive and infield coach.

Hinerman is the former long-time coach at Georgetown College.

Bohannon is UK’s recruiting coordinator.

Anderson, who played three years in the majors, set base-stealing records at Eastern Kentucky University and with the Lexington Legends.

Noland is an assistant coach at Transylvania.

The Reds are coming! The Reds are coming!

The Reds Caravan will again consist of three separate tours moving simultaneously through Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.

Lexington is the final stop on the Southern Tour.

Scheduled to appear at Southern Tour stops are: all-star second baseman Brandon Phillips; Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman; assistant general manager Bob Miller; broadcaster and former pitcher Chris Welsh; Reds Hall of Famer Lee May; minor-league catcher Tucker Barnhart, and team mascot Gapper.

Southern Tour stops:

Jan. 26 – Huntington (W.Va.) Mall, 3:30-6 p.m.; Charleston (W.Va.) Town Center, 7-9 p.m.

Jan. 28 — Great American Ball Park “select-a-seat” event, Cincinnati, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Greenwood Mall (Bowling Green), 3:30-5:30 CST.

Jan. 29 — The Shops at Lexington Center, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

The Northern Tour cast includes broadcaster Thom Brennaman, catcher Devin Mesoraco, president of baseball operations and general manager Walt Jocketty, chief operating officer Phil Castellini, Reds Hall of Famer Tom Browning, minor-league outfielder Ryan LaMarre and mascot Mr. Redlegs.

The Western Tour has broadcaster Jim Kelch, broadcaster and former pitcher Jeff Brantley, Manager Dusty Baker, infielder Todd Frazier, Reds minor league player of the year Billy Hamilton, vice president of baseball operations Dick Williams and mascot Rosie Red.

Northern Tour stops will be: Athens, Ohio; Parkersburg, W.Va., Columbus, Ohio; Lima, Ohio; and Dayton, Ohio.

Western Tour stops will be: Hamilton, Ohio; Muncie, Ind.; Indianapolis; Bloomington, Ind.; and Louisville. The latter, at Louisville Slugger Field, is set for Jan. 29, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Visit reds.com/caravan for more details.

A tip of the hat to Adam Revelette, general manager of the Lexington Hustlers, for the following information.

The Hustlers are set to begin their second season in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate (Baseball) League on Tuesday.

The Hustlers, who will play home games primarily at Lexington Catholic High School, will be in the GLSCL South Division, with the Cincinnati Steam, Hamilton Joes, Southern Ohio Copperheads and Xenia Scouts. The GLSCL  North is made up of the Grand Lake Mariners, Lake Erie Monarchs, Licking County Settlers, Lima Locos and Stark County Terriers.

The league all-star game is scheduled July 13 at Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds.

The GLSCL prides itself on providing collegiate student-athletes an opportunity to compete against nationally elite players. As a non-profit organization, it was the first league to be sanctioned by the NCAA and receive funding from Major League Baseball. Now in its 24th season, the GLSCL has had more than 70 players who went on to reach the major leagues.

The Hustlers will begin their 46-game schedule Tuesday with an exhibition against the Kentucky Baseball Club, set for 4 p.m., at Transylvania University. A full schedule and season-tickets sales are available via the team website: www.lexingtonhustlers.com

In their inaugural season, the Hustlers featured 24 players from Kentucky. This year, the team has 22 Kentuckians.

The roster includes three pitchers from Eastern Kentucky University (Chase Greene, Matt Harris and Brent Cobb); Georgetown pitcher Jason McGinnis; Kentucky pitcher Sam Kidd and multi-positional J.T. Riddle; Louisville catcher Kyle Gibson; Morehead State’s Noah Smallwood (pitcher), Eric Bainer (catcher) and Bud Morton (infielder); Northern Kentucky outfielder Taylor Russell; St. Catharine pitcher Josh Jillson; and Western Kentucky outfielder Tanner Smith.

Adam Revelette

“We are very excited about our second year of operations with the Hustler,” Revelette said. “We have a fantastic group of players and are looking forward to providing them with a great experience this summer. Our goal this year is to improve everything, great and small, and I’m certain we’re on our way in doing that. Our current focus is establishing host families for our out-of-town players. Since our roster will be changing all summer long, it’s important that we have the luxury to add players from outside the Central Kentucky area if necessary.”

Ways to support the team include sponsorships, contributions, purchase of merchandise and/or tickets, and board membership.

For more information, see the team website: www.lexingtonhustlers.com

For information on becoming a host family, contact: lexingtonhustlers@gmail.com 

The Cincinnati Reds have announced a schedule of activities for opening weekend, March 31-April 3. Thanks to the Reds for providing the following …

Opening Day – Thursday, March 31, 2011 – Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 2:10 p.m. (Gates open at 11:40 a.m.)

• 92^nd Findlay Market Opening Day Parade Grand Marshal: Hall of Famer Joe Morgan will serve as the Grand Marshal of the Findlay Market Parade, which begins at 11 a.m. Morgan will also serve as the Honorary Captain of the Opening Day game.

• Ceremonial First Pitch: Retired Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

• National Anthem: Grammy nominee and R&B vocalist Brian McKnight will sing the National Anthem in three-part harmony with his sons Brian Jr. & Niko. McKnight has released 11 albums (seven of them platinum) and is best known for his 1999 single Back At One that reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

• Sparky: A special tribute to Reds manager Sparky Anderson is planned for pre-game ceremonies.

• MVP: Joey Votto will be recognized during pre-game ceremonies for his 2010 National League MVP crown.

• Flyover: F-18 Hornets assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 131 at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach will perform a flyover during the National Anthem.

• America The Beautiful: 338th US Army Band will perform America the Beautiful during pre-game ceremonies. 

• God Bless America: Technical Sergeant Felita Rowe of the Air Force Band of Flight will perform God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch.

• Take Me Out to the Ballgame: Jive Records recording artists Cage the Elephant will sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

• Pre-game Concerts: My Sister Sarah and Pete Wagner Dixieland Band will perform pre-game concerts in the Fan Zone.

• Gates Open: Gates to Great American Ball Park will open at 11:40 p.m. (Reds batting practice ends at 12:20 p.m.)

• Rally Towels: All fans will receive a free rally towel, presented by Duke Energy, Kroger, Cincinnati Bell and Scotts.

Opening Night – Saturday, April 2, 2011 – Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 7:10 p.m. (Gates open at 5:10 p.m.)

• Players in the Fan Zone: Pre-game meet and greet with current Reds players, Cirque du Soleil “OVO” performers, Reds House DJ “DJ Sab” and more in the Fan Zone from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• First Pitch: Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

• Fleece Blanket: The first 20,000 fans will receive a Reds Fleece Blanket, presented by Chiquita.

• Gold Gloves: 2010 NL Rawlings Gold Glove winners Bronson Arroyo, Brandon Phillips and Scott Rolen will be recognized during pre-game ceremonies.

• Rusty Griswolds: 80’s cover band The Rusty Griswolds will perform from a stage on the right-field porch during inning breaks and after the game.

• Game Ball Delivery: The Budweiser Clydesdales will deliver the official game ball.

• Skydiving Team: Team Fastrax Skydiving Team will perform during pre-game ceremonies.

• Fireworks: The Rusty Griswolds will play live during the post-game fireworks show featuring Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks.  

Sunday, April 3, 2011 – Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 1:10 p.m. (Gates open at 11:40 a.m.)

• Bark in the Park: More than 500 owners and their dogs will be at the ballpark for the first Bark in the Park for 2011. A limited number of “dog tickets” are still available at reds.com/dogday.  

Sunday, April 3, 2011 – Reds Un-Cut: Live at the Aronoff delivered by DHL, 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.)

Join the entire 2011 Cincinnati Reds roster, along with coaches and broadcasters, for a casual evening of fun and entertainment at the Aronoff Center for the Arts in downtown Cincinnati. The program will feature player interviews, game show elements and other surprises in a theater-style show. Tickets start at $25 and include a game ticket to the April 2 Opening Night game. Purchase tickets at reds.com/uncut.  

Budweiser Clydesdales

The world-famous, eight-horse Budweiser Clydesdale hitch will make several appearances Opening Weekend, including:

• Thursday, March 31: Findlay Market Opening Day Parade

• Friday, April 1: Fountain Square Appearance at Noon

• Saturday, April 2: Stables open to the public 2 to 5 p.m.; Parade around ballpark at 6 p.m.; Game ball delivery.

• Sunday, April 3: Stables open to the public 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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. 

Dates for the 2011 Reds Caravan will run Jan. 27-30, including a stop in Lexington on Jan. 30.

The Caravan — the Cincinnati Reds’ annual off-season goodwill tour — is scheduled to make 15 stops in four states over four days. The 2,600-mile-plus circuit will be split among three separate tours traveling simultaneously through Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia.

All stops are open to the public at no charge. Caravan participants will field questions and, time permitting, sign autographs. At each stop, the Reds will raffle off two tickets to the March 31 Opening Day game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Jay Bruce

Lexington is the final stop on what is billed as the Southern Tour. The Lexington visit is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 30, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at The Shops at Lexington Center.

Southern Tour participants include outfielder Jay Bruce (Saturday and Sunday only); Yasmani Grandal, 2010 first-round draft pick; Tom Browning, Reds Hall of Fame pitcher; Jim Kelch, broadcaster; Walt Jocketty, president of baseball operations and general manager; Phil Castellini, chief operating officer; and mascot Mr. Redlegs.

Before coming to Lexington, the Southern Tour will visit: Charleston (W.Va.) Town Center, 3:30-5:15 p.m., Jan. 27; Fannin Motors, Ashland, 7-9 p.m., Jan. 27; Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Jan. 29; and Greenwood Mall, Bowling Green, 3:30-5:30 CST, Jan. 29.

Western Tour participants include all-star second baseman Brandon Phillips; Devin Mesoraco, Reds Minor League Player of the Year; Marty Brennaman, Hall of Fame broadcaster; Bob Miller, vice president and assistant general manager; and mascot Gapper. Also, pitcher Matt Maloney will be on hand in Louisville.

The full Western Tour: Louisville Slugger Field, 6-8:30 p.m., Jan. 27; College Mall, Bloomington, Ind., 5-7:30 p.m., Jan. 28; Castleton Square Mall, Indianapolis, 10 a.m.-noon, Jan. 29; Stoops Automotive, Muncie, Ind., 6:30-9 p.m., Jan. 29; and Parrish Auditorium, Miami University-Hamilton, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Jan. 30.

The Northern Tour cast includes Manager Dusty Baker; pitchers Travis Wood (Thursday and Friday) and Homer Bailey (Saturday and Sunday); Jeff Brantley, broadcaster; Todd Frazier, minor leaguer; and mascot Rosie Red.

The Northern Tour: The Market on State, Athens, Ohio, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Jan. 27; Grand Central Mall, Parkersburg, W.Va., 4:30-7 p.m., Jan. 28; National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (limited seating), 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Jan. 29; Lima (Ohio) Mall, 3-5 p.m., Jan. 29; and Polaris Fashion Place, Columbus, Ohio, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Jan. 30.

See reds.com/caravan for updates, maps and photos.

Three players with Kentucky ties have been named to the United States roster for the 12th annual All-Star Futures Game, to be played July 11 at Anaheim, Calif.

Ben Revere

Lexington Catholic graduate Ben Revere, a Minnesota Twins prospect with the New Britain Rock Cats of the Eastern League (Class Double-A) is among five outfielders on the roster.

Jordan Lyles

Christian Friedrich

The 10-man pitching staff includes Double-A right-handers Christian Friedrich and Jordan Lyles. Friedrich, out of Eastern Kentucky University, is a Colorado Rockies prospect who is with the Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League. Lyles, who played for the Lexington Legends last season, is with the Texas League’s Corpus Christi Hooks.

Yonder Alonso

Phillippe Valiquette

The World roster includes a pair of Louisville Bats, Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds: Cuban-born infielder Yonder Alonso and Canadian-native left-handed pitcher Phillippe Valiquette.

No Lexington Legends were named, but the South Atlantic League will be represented by a pair of players. Hagerstown Suns outfielder Eury Perez, a Dominican, is on the World roster. Lakewood BlueClaws right-hander Jarred Cosart is on the U.S. pitching staff.

The Futures Game, held in conjunction with the Major League All-Star Game, is a showcase event for top minor-league prospects. The July 11 game is part of “All-Star Sunday” and is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. EDT. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and MLB.TV. The Major League All-Star Game will be played at Angel Stadium on Tuesday, July 13.

The first 11 editions of the Futures Game has produced 62 Major League all-stars, including Bowling Green native Corey Hart and former Legends slugger Hunter Pence. There are 201 Futures Game graduates currently on big-league rosters, including Hart, Pence, University of Kentucky product Joe Blanton and former Legends John Buck and Fernando Nieve.

Players from Morehead State, Louisville, Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky and Kentucky have been selected as pre-season All-Americans. 

And we haven’t even gotten to the Lexington Legends yet. But read on.

The Redlegs are coming! The Redlegs are coming!

The Reds Winter Caravan is scheduled for 14 stops in four states over four days, Jan. 28-31. Three separate caravans will tour simultaneously. Stops open to the public are free, and at each stop two tickets for the Reds 2010 opener (April 5 vs. St. Louis) will be raffled.

Two of the caravans will visit Kentucky. The Southern tour includes Lexington and the Western stops begin with Louisville.

Caravan representatives will take questions from fans and, as long as time permits, sign autographs. A member of the 1990 World Series championship team will be at each stop.

Lineups for the three caravans follow. 

Adam Rosales

NORTHERN — 2008 Gold Glove winner Brandon Phillips; 2009 Southern League all-star and Reds Minor League Player of the Month for June, shortstop Zack Cozart; Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman; broadcaster and former Reds pitcher Chris Welsh; Vice President and Assistant General Manager Bob Miller; former Reds outfielder Glenn Braggs; and mascot Gapper.

Scheduled caravan stops (Jan. 28-31):

SOUTHERN — Thursday, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Charleston (W.Va.) Towne Center, and 5:30-8:30 p.m., Huntington (W.Va.) Mall. Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati); Sunday, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Fayette Mall (Lexington).

WESTERN — Thursday, 5:30-8 p.m., Louisville Slugger Museum (Louisville). Friday, 1:30-3 p.m., College Mall (Bloomington, Ind.), and 5:30-7:30 p.m., Castleton Square Mall (Indianapolis). Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Stoops Automotive (Muncie, Ind.), and 3-5:30 p.m., National Museum of the United States Air Force (Dayton, Ohio). Sunday, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Millett Hall (Oxford, Ohio).

NORTHERN — Thursday, 5:30-8 p.m., Grand Central Mall (Marietta, Ohio/Parkersburg, W.Va.). Friday, 6:30-8:30 p.m., The Market on State (Athens, Ohio); Saturday, 5-7:30 p.m., Lima (Ohio) Mall; Sunday, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Polaris Fashion Place (Columbus, Ohio).

Guys who go Ping! at the plate

Ping!Baseball.com has tabbed Morehead State SS Drew Lee  and Louisvillle DH (and 3B) Phil Wunderlich as pre-season second-team All-Americans. Eastern Kentucky 3B Jayson Langfels, Kentucky 2B Chris Bisson and Western Kentucky C Matt Rice are on the third team.

Lee, a senior out of Montgomery County, set the Morehead record for hits (86), batting .413, with 17 homers and 67 RBI last season. He led the Ohio Valley Conference with 159 total bases. Lee is a third-team pick on the Pre-season Louisville Slugger team.

The Eagles open their season Feb. 19 with a four-game series at Mercer.

Wunderlich, a junior from Downers Grove, Ill., led U of L with a .367 batting average last season. He hit 18 doubles, 18 homers and 78 RBI for the Big East champions. He also is a third-team pre-season pick by Louisville Slugger and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).

The Cardinals open their season Feb. 19, the start of a three-game home series against Bowling Green.

Langfels won the OVC batting title last season with a .441 average. The Lafayette High School grad also led the country in run production, averaging 1.67 RBI per game, and was one of two sophomores named first-team all-OVC. The Lexington native’s 72 RBI for the season ranks third all-time at EKU. He hit six triples, giving him a two-year total of 14, already an EKU career record. He led EKU in homers last season with 12, including a pair of walk-off blasts.

The Colonels open play Feb. 26 with a three-game series at Western Carolina.

Bisson, a junior from Canada (Orleans, Ontario), led UK last season in batting (.360), runs (49), hits (80), triples (3), RBI (52), total bases (101), walks (20) and assists (133). He also was 13-for-15 in stolen-base attempts, with a .414 on-base percentage and .455 slugging percentage. Last summer, he led the Cape Cod League in stolen bases with 36 over 42 games.

Bisson also is an All-Canadian pre-season pick by the Canadian Baseball Network.

The Wildcats begin play Feb. 19 in the Caravelle Resort Invitational at Myrtle Beach, S.C. First up will be Virginia Tech, followed by games against West Virginia and Coastal Carolina.

Rice, a junior from Johnson City, Tenn., helped Western Kentucky to the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title in 2009, hitting .390 with 10 homers and 72 RBI. He had a 31-game hitting streak.

Rice also is an NCBWA pre-season first-team pick.

The Hilltoppers open play Feb. 19 with a three-game home series against Kent State.

Answering a call to the bullpen

In case you missed it, the Lexington Legends will have a new pitching coach in 2010.

Travis Driskill, who filled the role last season, had been ticketed to return. The Houston Astros promoted Driskill to Class AA Corpus Christi after Stan Boroski, who had been with the Hooks, was hired last month by the Tampa Bay Rays for their major league staff.

The new man for the Legends is not new to the game.

 

Rick Aponte (uh-PAHN-tay) is a veteran of more than 30 years in the Astros organization and served as bullpen coach for the Washington Nationals during the 2007 and ’08 seasons.

Last year, he returned to the Houston organization as pitching coach of the Gulf Coast League Astros.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Aponte was a pitcher in the Astros organization, debuting in 1976. He reached the AAA level with Charleston (W.Va.) in 1977 and with Tucson in 1980 and ’81.

Aponte began coaching in the Astros system later in 1981. He managed Houston’s team in the Dominican Summer League from 1993 through 1999.

 

*Speaking of Legends, Astros RHP Chris Sampson who avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a deal worth $815,000 plus bonuses. Sampson, 31, was 4-2 in 49 relief appearances in 2009 with a 5.02 ERA (31ER/55.1IP) with three saves, 21 walks and 33 strikeouts. … OF Jordan Parraz came to terms with the Kansas City Royals on a one-year deal. … Former Legends C Lou Santangelo has been invited to Houston’s big-league spring training camp as a non-roster player. Astros pitchers and catchers begin workouts at Kissimmee, Fla., on Feb. 20. Position players join workouts Feb. 24. … The Astros begin play in the Grapefruit League on March 4, facing the Nationals.

 

Notes on a cold, rainy night.

University of Kentucky senior SS Molly Johnson is among 31 athletes who have accepted invitations to the 2010 USA Softball Women’s Team Selection Camp, to be held Jan. 4-8 at Chula Vista, Calif.

Senior shortstop Molly Johnson has established herself as a UK great.

A 17-member team, plus alternates, will be selected from the camp to represent USA Softball in 2010.

Johnson, who came to UK from Tucson, Ariz., but now calls Lexington home, helped Team USA win the Japan Cup last summer. Johnson went 3-for-5 over four games and led the team in runs scored (6).

Johnson, a UK team captain, has started all 162 games of her career, has twice had 10-game hitting streaks and has totaled 74 extra-base hits.

She is all over the UK career leaders lists, including: batting (.395) and slugging (.648), first in each; doubles (45), second; home runs (22), third; runs scored (113) and total bases (320), fourth in each; RBI (110), stolen bases (46) and defensive assists (379), fifth in each; hits (195), sixth; and triples (7), seventh.

Other players scheduled to attend the selection camp: Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.); Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.); Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.); Chelsea Bramlett (Cordova, Tenn.); Courtney Bures (Haymarket, Va.); Katie Burkhart (San Luis Obispo, Calif.); Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif.); Ashley Charters (Beaverton, Ore.); Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.); Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.); Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.); Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.); Alissa Haber (Newark, Calif.); Ashley Hansen (Chandler, Ariz.); Ashley Holcombe (Fayetteville, Ga.); Megan Langenfeld (Bakersfield, Calif.); Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.); Brittany Lastrapes (Laguna Niguel, Calif); Jenae Leles (Fair Oaks, Calif.); Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.); Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.); Stacey Nelson (Los Alamitos, Calif.); Cat Osterman (Houston); Amber Patton (Forsyth, Ill.); Brittany Rogers (Dacula, Ga.); Melissa Roth (Long Beach, Calif.); Taylor Schlopy (West Hills, Calif.); Angela Tincher (Eagle Rock, Mo.); Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.); and Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo.)

Legends, Reds, Astros and Wildcats — oh, my!

Individuals with ties to the Lexington Legends, Cincinnati Reds and University of Kentucky will play starring roles Jan. 21 at the 25th annual Houston Baseball Dinner, presented by the Houston Athletic Committee, Minute Maid, the Houston chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and the Houston Astros.

LHP Wandy Rodriguez, who went by the alias Eny Cabreja when he pitched for Lexington (2002), will be honored as the Astros Pitcher of the Year.

Washington Nationals 1B Adam Dunn, who began his big-league career with the Reds, is the Greater Houston Major League Player of the Year. A Houston native, Dunn resides in Montgomery, Texas.

Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton will serve as master of ceremonies. Hamilton’s 59 years in broadcasting include a brief tenure with University of Kentucky basketball.

Others to be honored include CF Michael Bourn (Astros MVP), RHP Brian Moehler (Darryl Kile Award, reflecting decency and character), RHP Jeff Fulchino (Astros Rookie of the Year), 1B Lance Berkman (Allen Russell Distinguished Achievement Award) and long-time official scorer Ivy McLemore (Fred Hartman Award for Long and Meritorious Service to Baseball).

Charley Taylor

* Best wishes to Charley Taylor, the pitching coach in each of the Legends’ first eight seasons. A cancerous bladder caused him to miss last season and, soon after the season ended, another tumor was found. He has since undergone successful surgery in Houston and has been recovering at the home of Rod and Lynne Humphries — parents of former Legends slugger Justin Humphries. Taylor is now back at MD Anderson Hospital undergoing chemotherapy.

* Astros RHP Chris Sampson, also a former Legend, is co-owner of LoneStar Baseball Academy, which opened Nov. 16 in Baytown, Texas. Sampson’s co-owner is former Milwaukee Brewers prospect Kade Johnson. They hosted a clinic for 50 youths from the Baytown YMCA last weekend, assisted by Astros/former Legends catcher J.R. Towles, Washington Nationals pitcher Garrett Mock and others.

* Astros/Legends connections playing winter ball include: 3B Jhon Florentino, LHP Fernando Abad, RHP Sammy Gervacio, and LHP Polin Trinidad in the Dominican League; SS Wladimir Sutil, C Pedro Gonzales and LHP Doug Arguello in the Venezuelan League; and OF Brian Bogusevic, 2B Edwin Maysonet and 3B Chris Johnson in the Puerto Rican League. … In the Arizona Fall League: RHP Evan Englebrook finished with no decisions and a 7.71 ERA over 11 games and 12 2/3 innings, with 12 strikeouts and four walks; and RHP Daniel Meszaros wound up with one save over 12 games, working 11 2/3 innings. He struck out 15 and walked three.

* Former Legends now on the Astros 40-man roster: Abad, Bogusevic, Englebrook, Gervacio, Johnson, Maysonet, Rodriguez, Sampson, Sutil, Towles, Trinidad and SS Tommy Manzella, OF Hunter Pence and RHPs Bud Norris, Felipe Paulino and Henry Villar.

See Barenaked Ladies at the Winter Olympics

The lineup that will entertain during 12 nights of Victory Ceremonies at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games include Canadian acts Barenaked Ladies, Nelly Furtado, Loverboy and Hedley.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) made the announcement Tuesday. The Victory Ceremonies, paying tribute to Games medalists each night, are scheduled Feb. 14-26 inside BC Place www.vancouver2010.com.

Grammy Award-winner Nelly Furtado will be first up, Feb. 14, when medals will be presented for speedskating and freestyle moguls.

The list of performers, host province and medal presentations follow.

Sunday, Feb. 14 — Nelly Furtado www.nellyfurtado.com, British Columbia Night. Medal presentations in short-track speedskating (men’s 1,500 meters), ladies’ freestyle moguls and speedskating (men’s 5,000 meters and ladies’ 3,000).

Monday, Feb. 15 — TBA, Quebec Night. Medals: Men’s freestyle skiing moguls.

Tuesday, Feb. 16 — Barenaked Ladies www.barenakedladies.com, Nova Scotia Night. Medals: Men’s and ladies’ snowboard cross, and men’s 500-meter speedskating.

Wednesday, Feb. 17 — Paul Brandt www.paulbrandt.com, Alberta Night. Medals: Ladies’ 500-meter speedskating.

Thursday, Feb. 18 — Hedley www.hedleyonline.com, Prince Edward Island Night. Medals: Ladies’ 500-meter short-track speedskating, men’s snowboard halfpipe, men’s and ladies’ 1,000-meter speedskating.

Friday, Feb. 19 — Theory of a Deadman www.theoryofadeadman.com, Northwest Territories’ Night. Medals: Ladies’ snowboard halfpipe.

Saturday, Feb. 20 — Stereophonics www.stereophonics.com, Yukon Night. No medal presentation.

Sunday, Feb. 21 — Trooper & Loverboy www.loverboyband.com, www.trooper.com, Nunavut Night. Medals: Ladies 1,500 meters and men’s 1,000 short-track speedskating, men’s 1,500 speedskating and men’s freestyle ski cross.

Tuesday, Feb. 23 — Billy Talent www.billytalent.com, Saskatchewan Night. Medals: Ladies’ freestyle ski cross and men’s 10,000-meter speedskating.

Wednesday, Feb. 24 — INXS www.inxs.com, Ontario Night. Medals: Ladies’ 5,000-meter speedskating.

Thursday, Feb. 25 — Burton Cummings www.officialburtoncummings.com, Manitoba Night. Medals: Short-track speedskating (ladies’ 3,000-meter relay) and ladies’ freestyle skiing aerials.

Friday, Feb. 26 — Great Big Sea www.greatbigsea.com, Newfoundland and Labrador Night. Medals: Men’s freestyle skiing aerials and ladies’ snowboarding parallel giant slalom.

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.”

Charley Taylor lifted spirits in the Lexington Legends clubhouse by making his first appearance of the season Friday.

Charley Taylor

Travis Driskill

Taylor, who has started all nine of the Legends seasons as pitching coach (he finished one season at Triple-A New Orleans), is recovering from surgery to remove his prostate and cancerous bladder. Travis Driskill, pitching coach for the rookie-league Greeneville (Tenn.) Astros, has filled in admirably in Taylor’s absence. Taylor had hoped to return to coaching this season but Friday, for the first time, said that might not be realistic.

With the Appalachian League prepared to open play June 23, the parent-club Houston Astros have taken steps to fill the void if Taylor is unable to return this season.

Driskill will remain with the Legends.

Rick Aponte

Aponte pitched six seasons (1975-80) in the Astros system, reaching the Triple-A Charleston Charlies and Tuscon Toros.

Bailey, Moore earn Pitcher of the Week honors

Homer Bailey

Cincinnati Reds prospect Homer Bailey, now with the Louisville Bats, has been named the International League’s pitcher of the week.

Tampa Bay Rays prospect Matthew Moore, with the Bowling Green Hot Rods, has earned the same title in the South Atlantic League.

Bailey made two starts last week, winning at Pawtucket and at home against Lehigh Valley. He worked 14 2/3 innings and did not allow an earned run as he improved to 6-4 overall, with a 2.52 ERA. He scattered 11 hits over those two games, striking out 14 and walking two.

Matthew Moore

Moore also pitched twice last week, getting a no-decision against Rome and a win at Asheville. In all, he worked 11 innings, did not give up an earned run, with four hits, 18 strikeouts and three walks. Moore, 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA overall, worked seven no-hit innings at Asheville, where he fanned 12 and walked two.