Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

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
at Rome Braves

What: Four-game series

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

Where: State Mutual Stadium, Rome, Ga.

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

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (5-4, 5.25) vs. LH Fabian Williamson (1-3, 3.82); Friday, RH Jonas Dufek (6-2, 5.05) vs. LH David Starn (1-1, 5.64); Saturday, LH David Rollins (1-1, 3.65) vs. RH Greg Ross (5-8, 4.66); Sunday, RH Chris Devenski (7-6, 4.52) vs. LH Alex Wood (3-2, 1.38).

Zach Johnson

Legend to watch: 1B Zach Johnson (5-foot-11, 200 pounds, bats/throws right/right, age 24, from San Ramon, Calif.) leads the SAL with 104 RBI, a franchise record. He broke the Legends record of 98 RBI, set by Jake Goebbert in 2010. Johnson shares the team lead in home runs, 15, with Mike Kvasnicka. In addition, Johnson is batting .246 with 57 runs, 62 walks, 193 total bases, a .338 on-base percentage, .423 slugging and .762 OPS. Selected by the Astros in the 15th round of the 2011 draft, out of Oklahoma State University, he played for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League last year. Over 72 games, Johnson batted .262 with five homers, 40 RBI and 31 runs. A mid-season all-star for the Legends, he is hitting .255 versus right-handers, .222 against lefties.

William Beckwith

Brave to watch: 1B William Beckwith (6-1, 235, B/T L/R, turns 22 Sunday, from Crawford, Miss.) leads Rome with 13 homers, 65 RBI and 96 hits. Batting .296 with a .363 on-base percentage, .485 slugging and .847 OPS, he is high on the team rankings with 44 runs, 22 doubles, 157 total bases and 14 stolen bases. Selected by Atlanta in the 21st round of the 2010 draft, out of George C. Wallace (Ala.) Community College, Beckwith played 21 games with the Gulf Coast League Braves that year, batting .243 with two homers, 18 RBI and eight runs. He played for Danville (Va.) last year, batting .282 with 11 homers, 45 RBI and 41 runs. He has been consistent throughout this season, reaching a high point in July when he batted .324 with six homers and 29 RBI over 28 games.

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

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Rome Braves

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights, 1:35 p.m. Sunday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

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

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Jonas Dufek (1-1, 5.56) vs. RH Ryan Weber (1-1, 6.30); Friday, RH Nick Tropeano (3-3, 3.05) vs. RH Navery Moore (3-1, 3.28); Saturday, LH Evan Grills (1-0, 3.80) vs. RH Greg Ross (0-3, 5.93); Sunday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (6-1, 2.27) vs. RH Ernesto Silva (0-4, 6.47). 

Kyle Kubitza

Brave to watch: 3B Kyle Kubitza (6-foot-3, 190 pounds, from Arlington, Texas) leads Rome in runs (32), triples (4), homers (7), RBI (23), walks (31) and total bases (79), while batting .247. Selected by Atlanta in the third round of the 2011 draft, out of Texas State, Kubitza is the highest-drafted position player in Bocats history and third-highest overall. He set school a record for walks (125) and ranked second in homers (27). He signed for $261,000 and  is rated by Baseball America as the 17th-best prospect in the Braves’ system. Last summer, with Danville of the Appalachian League, Kubitza batted .321 with a homer, 34 RBI and 36 runs over 44 games. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.

Jason Chowning

Legend to watch: RHP Jason Chowning (6-2, 178, from Louisville) leads Lexington with nine saves and an 0.75 ERA. He has made 17 appearances, all in relief, spanning 24 innings. With a 1-2 record, he has held opponents to a .133 batting average, while striking out 36 and walking eight. Out of Eastern High School, Chowning briefly attended the University of Kentucky before moving to Texarkana Community College. The Astros selected him in the 28th round of the 2010 draft, out of the University of Oklahoma. That summer, pitching for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League, Chowning went 2-2 with a 3.22 ERA. Last year, with the Legends, he finished 4-4, with two saves and a 2.45 ERA.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

                            South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Rome Braves

What: Four-game series 

When: Wednesday through Saturday (10:05 Wednesday morning, then 7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights) 

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark 

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867 

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

Alaniz

Bushue

Minaya

Quevedo

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Wednesday, RH Ruben Alaniz (2-3, 5.01) vs. LH Carlos Perez (3-4, 4.59); Thursday, RH Tanner Bushue (5-1, 3.72) vs. RH David Filak (2-3, 6.82); Friday, RH Carlos Quevedo (4-1, 5.24) vs. RH Caleb Brewer (1-2, 3.08); Saturday, RH Juan Minaya (1-3, 6.08) vs. RH Ryan Weber (0-0, 2.08).

Matt Lipka

Brave to watch: 2B/SS Matt Lipka (6-foot-1, 188 pounds, from Frisco, Texas) is rated by Baseball America as the sixth-best prospect in the Atlanta system. A supplemental first-round draft pick last June out of McKinney High School in Texas, Lipka is batting .264, with 12 RBI, 27 runs and 11 stolen bases over 43 games. After an 0-for-5 game on May 14, he has hits in nine consecutive games, going 15-for-39 (.385), with eight RBI and nine runs. Last season, Lipka played 48 games with the Gulf Coast League Braves and four with the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League, hitting a combined .288 with a homer, 25 RBI, 34 runs and 24 stolen bases. He also earned all-star honors in the GCL. In high school, he was a two-time all-state 4A wide receiver in football, with Dodgers first-round draft pick Zach Lee at quarterback. Lipka turned down a baseball scholarship to Alabama and signed with the Braves for $800,000.

Kike Hernandez

Legend to watch: 2B/LF Enrique “Kike” Hernandez (5-11, 170, from Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) has hits in his last four games, going 7-for-16 (.437). Overall, he is 14-for-55 (.255) over 16 games, with two RBI, seven runs, five walks and five strikeouts. However, he missed nearly a month (April 16 until May 14) due to injury. Since returning, he is 9-for-33 (.273). Hernandez, who bats and throws right, is hitting .313 against left-handers and .231 versus righties. A 2009 sixth-round draft pick ou of the American Military Academy school in Puerto Rico, Hernandez went 61-for-207 (.295) over 53 games with the Gulf Coast League Astros that summer, with a homer, three triples, 12 doubles, 27 RBI, 35 runs and eight stolen bases. Last year, with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League, he was the team’s Offensive Player of the Month for August. Overall, he hit .280 with three homers, 33 RBI, 31 runs and three stolen bases over 60 games.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Rome Braves

What: Four-game series

Where: State Mutual Stadium (Rome, Ga.)

When: Tuesday through Friday (7 Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights; 1 Wednesday afternoon)

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

Tanner Bushue

Juan Minaya

Jose Cisnero

Luis Cruz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Tanner Bushue (4-5, 4.95) vs. RH Cory Rasmus (6-5, 3.16); Wednesday, RH Juan Minaya (4-8, 5.35) vs. LH Brett DeVall (5-6, 4.23); Thursday, RH Jose Cisnero (4-5, 4.14) vs. RH Caleb Brewer (3-1, 4.30); Friday, LH Luis Cruz (4-2, 3.04) vs. LH Chris Masters (1-5, 3.27).

Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg

Brave to watch: 1B/DH Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg (6-foot-2, 235 pounds, from Pretoria, South Africa) was a 16th round draft pick last year out of Nova Southeastern in Florida, the same alma mater as Legends recent callup J.D. Martinez. He went 2-for-7 in two games with the Gulf Coast League Braves this season and is 32-for-109 (.294) with 10 RBI and 14 runs over 29 games with Rome. Spanjer-Furstenburg came into this season ranked by Baseball America as the 29th-best prospect in the Atlanta Braves’ system. At Coral Glades (Fla.) High School, he also played football. Last season, Spanjer-Furstenburg was Player of the Year and battinig champion in the Appalachian League, hitting .359 with eight homers 53 RBI and 36 runs over 62 games for Danville. He was on his native South Africa’s provisional roster for the World Baseball Classic.

Juan Minaya

Legend to watch: Wednesday starter Juan Minaya (6-4, 192, from Maimon, Dominican Republic) lost his first seven decisions of the season but is 4-1 over his last seven starts. Over 17 starts this season, Minaya has 62 strikeouts, 47 walks and 17 hit batsmen, but has surrendered only three home runs. Over his last seven starts, he has struck out 29 and beaned six, with an ERA of 4.06. Throw out his one bad showing during that stretch — six runs and three walks over two-third of an inning — and Minaya’s recent ERA drops to 2.37. However, that one bad start came against Rome. By month this season, Minaya’s ERA has dropped from 6.75 in April to 5.93 in May, 5.40 in June and 2.51 thus far in July. Signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in September of 2008, Minaya made 12 starts for the Gulf Coast League Astros in 2009. Over 52 2/3 innings, he was 3-3 with a 4.27 ERA, issuing 18 walks while striking out 30.  

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Rome Braves

What: Five-game series

Where: Applebee’s Park

When: Thursday through Monday (7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights, 2:05 p.m. Sunday, 12:05 p.m. Monday)

Tickets: Call  (859) 422-7867 

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

Tanner Bushue

Juan Minaya

Jose Cisnero

Brad Dydalewicz

Robby Donovan

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Tanner Bushue (3-3, 3.63) vs. RH Robinson Lopez (3-3, 2.88); Friday, RH Juan Minaya (2-7, 5.20) vs. LH Brett DeVall (3-5, 4.13); Saturday, RH Jose Cisnero (3-4, 4.45) vs. RH Caleb Brewer (2-0, 0.56); Sunday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (0-1, 11.57) vs. LH Chris Masters (1-3, 1.93); Monday, RH Robby Donovan (7-4, 2.61) vs. RH Cory Rasmus (4-4, 2.78).

Christian Bethancourt

Brave to watch: C Christian Bethancourt (6-foot-2, 175 pounds, from Panama) is batting .340 with nine RBI over 15 games this month. On the heels of a .200 average in May, he has raised his season statistics to .245 with two homers, 18 RBI and 10 doubles over 50 games. On the road, Bethancourt is batting .304. Now 18, he starred for Panama in the 2004 Little League World Series. Signed by the Atlanta Braves as a free agent on March 12, 2008, he was named the 30th-best prospect in the Atlanta system after hitting .267 with 17 RBI over 34 games with the Dominican Summer League Braves in 2008. He split last season between the Gulf Coast League Braves and Danville of the Appalachian League, batting a combined .277 with four homers and 27 RBI over 46 games. He came into this season rated by Baseball America as the sixth-best prospect in the Braves system.

Miguel Arrendell

Legend to watch: IF Miguel Arrendell (6-0, 165, from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic) is producing in June with a .324 batting average, two homers, eight RBI and seven runs over 12 games. Overall, he is batting .270 with two homers, 15 RBI, 17 runs and 11 stolen bases over 41 games, while being used as a second baseman, third baseman, shortstop and designated hitter. Signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in July, 2006, he hails from the same hometown as Manager Rodney Linares. In 2008, Arrendell was MVP of the Dominican Summer League, hitting .284 with 14 RBI, 37 runs and 20 SB over 57 games. He drew nearly twice as many walks as strikeouts (57-30). Last year, he hit .235 with three HR, 14 RBI, 24 runs and four SB for Greeneville. His .394 on-base percentage ranked No. 5 among Astros minor leaguers.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

                              Lexington Legends
   vs. Rome Braves

What: Four-game series

When: Saturday through Tuesday (7:05 each night, except Sunday at 2:05 p.m.)

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, RH Robert Bono (7-4, 2.16) vs. RH Paul Clemens (4-3, 5.25); Sunday, RH Ross Seaton (6-7, 2.73) vs. RH Randall Delgado (1-7, 5.66); Monday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (6-7, 3.61) vs. LH Dimaster Delgado (1-2, 3.62); Tuesday, RH Jordan Lyles (5-7, 3.15) vs. RH Zeke Spruill (7-4, 3.32).

Adam Milligan

Brave to watch: OF Adam Milligan (6-foot-3, 210 pounds, from Morristown, Tenn.) was promoted to Rome on Friday, up from Danville of the Appalachian League. Milligan hit .439 with two homers, five doubles, a triple and 10 RBI in nine games with Danville. Atlanta took him in the sixth round of the 2008 draft, the third time the Braves selected the left-handed-hitting power hitter (who throws right-handed). He backed out of a committment to Vanderbilt, signing for $350,000. Milligan roomed with the son of Braves scouting director Roy Clark while attending Walters State (Tenn.) Community College. He also was recruited for football, out of Hardin County High School, where he was a Tennessee all-stater three years in a row. He played plenty of positions — quarterback, running back, receiver, kick-returner and safety.

Brian Pellegrini

Legend to watch: 1B Brian Pellegrini (6-1, 240, from Willoughby, Ohio) has tormented SAL pitchers since joining the Legends on May 16. Pellegrini began the season with High-A Lancaster of the California League, batting .171 with seven homers and 15 RBI over 30 games. Over 40 games with the Legends (through Thursday), Pellegrini is hitting .366 with 12 homers and 35 RBI. His 12 homers tie him for fifth in the league. He does not have enough appearances to qualify for league leaders in most categories, but his .366 batting, .441 on-base and .697 slugging numbers, as well as a gaudy 1.138 OPS would otherwise rank first. He hit .437 (38-for-87) with nine homers and 26 RBI in June. Pellegrini also spent much of last season with the Legends, notching 21 homers and 69 RBI over 87 games. His 33 career homers are a club record. Selected by the Houston Astros in the 12th round of the 2007 draft, out of St. Bonaventure University, he was the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year in 2006.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300