Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods

What: Four-game series (Final series of the 2009 season)

When: Friday through Monday (7:05 Friday and Saturday nights; 5:05 Sunday; 1:05 Monday)

Where: Bowling Green Ballpark, Bowling Green, Ky.

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (8-13, 4.10) vs. RH Chris Andujar (10-4, 2.74); Saturday, RH Jordan Lyles (6-11, 3.31) vs. TBA; Sunday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (7-5, 3.87) vs. LH Frank De Los Santos (4-10, 3.79); Monday, RH Robert Bono (8-8, 3.41) vs. TBA.

Chris Andujar

Hot Rod to watch: All-star RHP Chris Andujar (6-foot, 182 pounds, from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic) gets the start Friday. Andujar’s 10 victories are tied for third-best in the league (through Tuesday) and his 2.74 ERA ranks fourth. Over 30 appearances, including 16 starts, Andujar has worked 115 innings, striking out 76 and walking 39. Signed by Tampa Bay as a free agent on April 25, 2006. With Hudson Valley of the New York-Penn League last year, Andujar went 3-4 with a 5.65 ERA. He averaged nearly a strikeout per inning, fanning 57 over 65 2/3 innings.

Brian Pellegrini

Legends to watch: 1B/LF/DH Brian Pellegrini (6-1, 240, from Willoughby, Ohio) smashed the franchise records for career homers (28, by Tommy Whiteman and Justin Humphries) earlier this season and needs just one more to take sole possession of the team’s single-season record. He goes into the series with 46 bombs as a Legend. His 25 this season lead the league and match the single-season record set by Beau Hearod and tied by Hunter Pence. Pellegrini played his first 30 games of the season for High-A Lancaster, hitting another seven homers. Through Wednesday, Pellegrini is hitting .290, with 68 RBI and 60 runs scored, over 98 games with the Legends. He was selected by the Houston Astros in the 12th round of the 2007 draft, out of St. Bonaventure University, where he was the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year in 2006. He played five games for Tri-City in 2007. Last year, in 87 games with the Legends, Pellegrini hit .226 with 21 homers 69 RBI and 50 runs scored. Despite his linebacker-type build, Pellegrini is surprisingly quick. He stole 13 bases last season and has nine this year. 

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Bud Norris

Henry Villar

Matt Nevarez

Also of note: Former Legend RHP Bud Norris, now with the Astros, has been named Pitcher of the Year in the Pacific Coast League, where he played for the Round Rock Express. Norris went 4-9, but led the PCL with a 2.63 ERA over 19 starts. Since being called up by the Astros, Norris is 3-3 with a 6.61 ERA over six starts. … Mike Tauser’s “Farmstros Five” for the week, all RHPs, includes Legends Henry Villar and Matt Nevarez. Corpus Christi’s Chia-jen Lo tops the list, joined by Jose Cisnero of Greeneville and Kirk Clark of Tri-City. For more on the Farmstros, see Tauser’s blog: http://farmstros.blogspot.com/

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Greenville Drive

What: Three-game series

When: Saturday through Monday (7:05 Saturday and Monday nights, 2:05 Sunday afternoon)

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: (859) 422-7867

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (8-12, 3.85) vs. RH Stolmy Pimental (9-7, 3.76); Sunday, RH Jordan Lyles (6-11, 3.23) vs. LH Fabian Williamson (10-4, 2.30); Monday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (7-5, 3.87) vs. RH Jeremy Kehrt (1-1, 3.51).

Will Middlebrooks

Drive to watch: 3B Will Middlebrooks (6-foot-3, 197 pounds, from Wake Village, Texas) took a 12-game hitting streak into Friday’s game against Kannapolis. Overall, Middlebrooks is batting .265 with seven homers and 54 RBI over 94 games. He has scored 49 runs and stolen five bases. Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the fifth round of the 2007 draft, he was 61-for-110 (.555) with five homers, 48 RBI and 22 steals in 38 games that year for Liberty-Eylau High School in Texarkana, Texas, and also went 13-0 pitching. With the Lowell Spinners last year, Middlebrooks hit .254 and led the team with 17 doubles. He also ranked second or third on the team in games (59), steals (10-for-10), hits (53) and extra-base hits (20). He led third basemen in the New York-Penn League with a fielding percentage of .927. Rated by Baseball America as having the “best infield arm” in the Red Sox system the last two years.

Russell Dixon

Legend to watch: RF Russell Dixon (6-2, 205, from Houston) has come alive at the plate, with hits in seven consecutive games until going 0-for-4 Thurday. Over those seven games, Dixon went 10-for-25 (.400), with six RBI and four runs scored. Included in that span were a two-hit game and a three-hit game — all five hits being doubles. Dixon struggled early in the season, hitting .134 over 30 games with the Legends. That earned him a demotion to extended spring training. He then moved to Tri-City of the New York-Penn League, where he hit .302 with a homer and 11 RBI over 38 games. In 12 games since rejoining the Legends, Dixon is hitting .244. Selected by the Houston Astros in the seventh round of the 2007 draft, out of Auburn University, Dixon hit .237 for the Legends last season, with three homers, 33 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 19 attempts.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Travis Driskill

Also of note: CF Jay Austin and LHP Michael Hacker have been activated from the disabled list. OF Steve Brown has been promoted to High-A Lancaster, while LHP Antonio Noguera moves to the inactive list. … The Astros have ticketed 10 Legends for Instructional League work, starting in mid-September: Austin, 2B Albert Cartwright, LHP Brad Dydalewicz, C Federico Hernandez, RHP Arcenio Leon, RHP Jordan Lyles, RHP Matt Nevarez, RHP Ross Seaton, RHP Henry Villar and SS Brandon Wikoff. Also scheduled to attend is LHP Patrick Urckfitz, who was recently promoted to High-A Lancaster. Instructors include Legends pitching coach Travis Driskill and two former Lexington staffers: Stubby Clapp (hitting coach) and Mike Smith (strength and conditioning coordinator). Pitching coach Charley Taylor, who missed this season due to bladder-cancer surgery, also plans to attend. … Mike Tauser’s most recent “Farmstros Five” players of the week is topped by Corpus Christi OF Drew Locke. The other four: Wikoff, Greeneville RHP Abraham Gonzalez and a pair of former Legends — Round Rock LHP Josh Muecke and Lancaster DH/OF/C Koby Clemens. For more details, see http://farmstros.blogspot.com/

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Greensboro Grasshoppers

What: Four-game series

When: Friday through Monday (7:05 Friday, Saturday and Monday nights; 4:05 p.m. Sunday)

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

Probable pitching matchups (Legends listed first): Friday RH Ross Seaton (8-9, 2.82) vs. LH Brad Hand (6-12, 5.35); Saturday, LH David Duncan (2-3, 4.39) vs. RH Kyle Kaminska (8-8, 3.96); Sunday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (7-12, 3.89) vs. RH Sandy Rosario (2-0, 2.41); Monday, RH Jordan Lyles (6-10, 3.15) vs. RH Graham Johnson (5-7, 5.02).

Ben Lasater

Grasshopper to watch: 1B Ben Lasater (6-foot-3, 195 pounds, from Las Vegas, Nev.) leads Greensboro in games (109), at-bats (417), RBI (65), hits (117) and total bases (191) through Wednesday. Batting .281, he shares the team lead in homers (15). He also has 29 doubles and has scored 60 runs. Selected by the Florida Marlins in the 29th round of the 2007 draft, out of the College of Charleston (S.C.), Lasater split last season between Jamestown and Greensboro. He earned mid-season all-star honors in the New York-Penn League, hitting .324 with nine homers and 41 RBI over 59 games with Jamestown. In 33 games with the Grasshoppers, he batted .229 with seven homers and 24 RBI.

Steve Brown

Legend to watch: LF/CF Steve Brown (6-0, 180, from Cartagena, Colombia) is 21-for-66 (.318) in August, with three homers and 16 RBI. Overall, in 81 games through Wednesday, Brown is hitting .254 with six homers, 42 RBI, 43 runs scored and eight stolen bases. He has not committed an error. Signed by the Houston Astros as a non-drafted free agent on Dec. 1, 2003, Brown’s minor-league career began with two seasons in the Venezuelan Summer League, followed by a season with Greeneville of the Appalachian League (2006), another with Tri-City of the New York-Penn League (2007) and the past two seasons with the Legends. Totals for his first five seasons include: .267 average, 19 homers, 128 RBI, 55 stolen bases.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends
vs. Kannapolis Intimidators

What: Four-game series

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

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

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (7-11, 3.90) vs. RH Nevin Griffith (2-4, 4.24); Tuesday, RH Jordan Lyles (6-10, 3.27) vs. LH Joey Serafin (1-1, 2.70); Wednesday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (7-5, 3.91) vs. RH Stephen Sauer (6-5, 3.27); Thursday, RH Robert Bono (8-8, 3.39) vs. LH Charlie Leesman (12-4, 2.97).

Jared Mitchell

Intimidator to watch: CF Jared Mitchell (6-foot, 195 pounds, from New Iberia, La.) was a first-round draft pick (23rd overall) of the Chicago White Sox in the June draft. In 24 games with the Intimidators (through Saturday), he is 24-for-78 (.308), with nine doubles, two triples, six RBI, eight runs scored, four stolen bases and a .443 on-base percentage. Mitchell hit .327, with 11 homers, 50 RBI, 64 runs and 35 stolen bases this year to help LSU win its sixth NCAA title. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series. Mitchell led the Tigers in steals, walks and on-base percentage. Baseball America tabbed him as Best Athlete and Fastest Runner among draft-eligible collegiate players. Mitchell also played on LSU’s national championship football team (2007). Over three seasons at wide receiver, he caught 24 passes for 274 yards.

Patrick Urckfitz

Legend to watch: LHP Patrick Urckfitz (6-3, 190 pounds, from Rochester, N.Y.) has developed into a dominant closer. Over 48 1/3 innings and 41 games, he is 4-0, with 13 saves and a 2.61 ERA. He has struck out 40 and walked 13. At the all-star break, he was 3-0, seven saves, 3.00 ERA. Since then, he is 1-0, six save, 1.96 ERA. Signed with the Houston Astros as non-drafted free agent out of Monroe (N.Y.) Community College on June 29, 2008. Worked 15 games in relief for Greeneville last year, going 1-0 with one save and a 1.40 ERA. Had 23 strikeouts and nine walks over 19 1/3 innings.   

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

South Atlantic League baseball

UPDATED ROTATION

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Greenville Drive

What: Four-game series

When: Tuesday through Friday (7 o’clock each night)

Where: Fluor Field at the West End (Greenville, S.C.)

Probable pitcher (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (7-10, 3.89) vs. RH Mike Lee (3-4, 4.15); Wednesday, RH Jordan Lyles (6-9, 3.42) vs. LH Fabian Williamson (7-2, 2.13); Thursday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (6-4, 3.12) vs. RH Stolmy Pimentel (9-6, 3.14); Friday, TBA vs. RH Brock Huntzinger (7-8, 4.17).

Ryan Lavarnway

Drive to watch: C Ryan Lavarnway (6-foot-4, 225 pounds, from Woodland Hills, Calif.) leads the team in doubles (27), homers (14), RBI (56) and total bases (153), and is tied for the lead in hits (80). Hitting .278 over 74 games (.299 since the all-star break), he also is slugging .531, has scored 43 runs and hit four sacrifice flies. Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the sixth round of the 2008 draft, out of Yale University, Lavarnway made his pro debut a year ago this week with the short-season A Lowell Spinners, for whom he hit .211 (15-for-71) with two homers, nine RBI and 10 runs over 22 games. At Yale, Lavarnway became the Ivy League career leader in homers, socking 33 over three seasons.

Jordan Lyles

Legend to watch: Wednesday starter Jordan Lyles (6-4, 185, from Hartsville, S.C.) gets another start in his home state coming off a sparkling effort Friday against the Charleston RiverDogs — six innings of three-hit, shutout ball in an 11-0 victory, with eight strikeouts to two walks. Lyles has set career bests across the board, including wins (6), ERA (3.42), games (20) and strikeouts (133). His 110 2/3 innings pitched are exactly double his 2008 total, and he has given up only 32 walks. Selected by the Houston Astros in the supplemental first round of the 2008 draft (38th overall), Lyles came into this season rated by Baseball America as the sixth-best prospect in the Houston syste, projected as the Astros’ 2012 No. 4 starter. Last year, in 13 starts with the Greeneville Astros and two starts for the Tri-City ValleyCats, Lyles was a combined 3-3 with a 4.23 ERA, 68 strikeouts and 17 walks.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Lakewood BlueClaws

What: Four-game series

When: Friday through Monday (7:05 each night except Sunday, 5:05 p.m.)

Where: FirstEnergy Ballpark (Lakewood, N.J.)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Ross Seaton (6-8, 2.57) vs. RH Jason Knapp (2-7, 4.01); Saturday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (7-8, 3.62) vs. RH Jesus Sanchez (5-5, 3.90); Sunday, RH Jordan Lyles (5-7, 2.92) vs. RH Heitor Correa (6-3, 3.56); Monday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (5-4, 3.47) vs. RH Trevor May (1-1, 3.34).

Travis d'Arnaud

BlueClaw to watch: C Travis d’Arnaud (6-foot-2, 195 pounds, from Lakewood, Calif.) leads Lakewood in RBI (49) and doubles (21), and shares the lead in homers (9). Hitting .236over 81 games, d’Arnaud ranks third on the club in runs scored (46) and walks (25). Rated by Baseball America as the seventh-best prospect in the Phillies organization when the season began, d’Arnaud was drafted out of Lakewood (Calif.) High School in 2007, a supplemental first-round pick and 37th overall. (His older brother Chase, a shortstop, was a 2008 fourth-round pick of the Pirates.) Travis made his pro debut with the Gulf Coast League Phillies in 2007, hitting .241 with four homers and 20 RBI over 41 games. Last year, he earned New York-Penn League all-star honors with the Williamsport Crosscutters, hitting .309 with four homers and 25 RBI over 48 games. He finished the season by playing 16 games with the BlueClaws, batting .297 with two homers and five RBI. What really attracted the Phillies, according to Baseball America, is d’Arnaud’s “premium catch-and-throw tools, such as soft hands, quick feet and plenty of arm strength.”

Brian Wabick

Legend to watch: RHP Brian Wabick (6-0, 180, from Des Plaines, Ill.) had one of his worst outings of the season (2.2 innings, 3 ER) Tuesday at Delmarva. As his record shows, though, most often he has been effective. He’s 5-0 with two holds and a 4.78 ERA over 24 games, including one spot start. Over 49 innings, he has 40 strikeouts to 14 walks. Over five July appearances, he is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA. Selected by the Houston Astros in the 34th round of the 2007 draft, out of Oakton Community College in suburban Chicago, Wabick spent 2007 with Greeneville of the Appalachian League, then split 2008 between Greeneville and Tri-City of the New York-Penn League. His combined totals for those two seasons included a 3-4 record, eight saves, 4.11 ERA, 39 games, 81 innings, 67 strikeouts and 23 walks.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Ashton Mowdy

The Lexington Legends, 9-5 winners over the Savannah Sand Gnats on a beautiful Thursday night at Applebee’s Park, lost one of their top relief pitchers after the game.

Kirkland Rivers

RH Ashton Mowdy has been promoted to High-A Lancaster of the California League. RH Kirkland Rivers comes off the temporary inactive list to fill Mowdy’s spot.

Kyle Miller

A day earlier, IF/DH Kyle Miller was sent down to rookie-league Greeneville. His spot was filled Thursday with the activation of RHP Kyle Godfrey, up from Tri-City.

Two players made their Legends season debuts Thursday — shortstop Chris Jackson and winning pitcher David Duncan. Jackson, down from Lancaster, traded places with Ronnie Ramirez. Duncan, up from Tri-City, took the roster spot that was empty due to RHP Jose Trinidad’s second stint on the disabled list. Trinidad (labrum) likely will miss the rest of the season.

David Duncan in his Lexington debut. (Photo courtesy of Legends)

Mowdy leaves Lexington with no decisions, three saves, six holds and a 1.72 ERA. He appeared in 26 games, all in relief, spanning 36 2/3 innings. He struck out 33, walked eight and held opponents to a .157 batting average.

Rivers last pitched June 15. He has no decisions over six relief outings and 7 1/3 innings, with a 2.45 ERA. He has struck out seven and walked five.

Miller played in 32 games for the Legends, batting .213 with two homers, 10 RBI and six runs scored.

Chris Jackson

David Duncan

Jackson went 2-for-4 with an RBI via a sacrifice fly Thursday night. He also committed a fielding error.

Duncan gave up five runs and nine hits over five innings but got the win. He walked three and struck out five.

For more information about Jackson and Duncan, as well as Ramirez and Trinidad, see earlier blog entries: ramirez-promoted and gnats-visit-legends.

Thanks to Mary Lay for Legends individual head photos.

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Augusta GreenJackets

What: Four-game series

When: Tuesday through Friday (7:05 each night)

Where: Lake Olmstead Stadium, Augusta, Ga.

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Ross Seaton (6-6, 2.57) vs. RH Eric Stolp (2-1, 2.61); Wednesday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (5-7, 3.74) vs. RH Kyle Nicholson (4-6, 3.72); Thursday, RH Jordan Lyles (4-7, 3.27) vs. LH Eric Surkamp (5-2, 3.59); Friday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (4-2, 2.64) vs. LH Art Ronick (5-4, 2.58).

Josh Mazzola

GreenJacket to watch: 1B Josh Mazzola (6-foot-2, 195 pounds, from San Diego) took a 12-game hitting streak (17-for-50, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 12 R) into Monday night’s game at Rome. Overall, he is hitting .284 over 65 games. He leads Augusta in homers (8), RBI (league-leading 54), hits (69) and total bases (113), and ranks second in runs (35), doubles (16), triples (3), slugging (.465) and OPS (.812). Mazzola is batting .336 at home, .226 on the road. After attending Grossmont College and Missouri State University, he signed a free-agent contract with the San Francisco Giants in 2008. Mazzola hit .324 with five homers and 35 RBI last year over 47 games with the Arizona League Giants.

Kyle Greenwalt

Legend to watch: RHP Kyle Greenwalt (6-0, 200, from Sellersville, Pa.) is gunning for a second consecutive win. At 5-7, 3.74, he will be making his 15th start of the season. Over 79 1/3 innings, he 44 strikeouts to 13 walks. Selected by the Houston Astros in the 20th round of the 2007 draft, out of Souderton Area High School, Greenwalt went 0-7 with a 7.53 ERA with Greeneville in 2007. He also spent most of 2008 with Greeneville, improving to 6-4 with a 3.14 ERA. He also appeared in two games for the Tri-City ValleyCats, going 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

What: 4-game series

When: REVISED after Thursday’s rainout: Friday through Sunday (5:05 p.m. doubleheader Friday, 7:05 Saturday night, 2:05 Sunday afternoon)

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, game one, RH Kyle Greenwalt (4-7, 3.87) vs. LH Frank De Los Santos (3-5, 4.08); Friday, game two, RH Jordan Lyles (4-6, 3.09) vs. RH Nick Barnese (1-1, 1.59); Saturday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (4-1, 2.59) vs. LH Matt Moore (3-3, 3.41); Sunday, RH Robert Bono (6-4, 2.27) vs. RH Shane Dyer (1-5, 4.65).

Anthony Scelfo

Hot Rod to watch: CF Anthony Scelfo (5-foot-10, 195 pounds, from New Orleans) leads Bowling Green in runs (33), walks (26) and stolen bases (7). Over 62 games, he’s batting .247 with two homers and 17 RBI. After batting .195 in May, he has improved to .289 this month. Selected by Tampa Bay in the eighth round of the 2008 draft, out of Tulane University, where he was on a football scholarship. He started in both sports his final academic year, 2007-08. He quarterbacked in all 12 football games, including eight starts over the last nine games, and finished with 1,396 yards and six touchdowns on 111-for-205 passing. He also was second on the team with 171 rushing yards and a score on 57 carries. The following spring, he hit .322 and led the Green Wave in homers (12), triples (7), runs (72), total bases (133), walks (54), slugging (.578) and on-base percentage (.453). Scelfo was named to the New York-Penn League all-star team in his first pro season, last year with Hudson Valley. He hit .281 with four homers and 24 RBI over 61 games, and led the league with eight triples.

Michael Diaz

Legend to watch: IF/DH Michael Diaz (5-10, 180, from Bridgeport, Conn.) has hits in nine of his last 10 games (12-for-35, .343). Overall, he’s hitting .264 with three homers, 10 RBI, eight runs and four stolen bases over 36 games. With runners in scoring position, he’s 11-for-26 (.423). Selected by the Houston Astros in the 30th round of the 2008 draft, out of Southern Connecticut State, he played 48 games for Tri-City in the New York-Penn League last summer. He went 50-for-177 (.282) with five homers, 22 RBI, 29 runs and six stolen bases. This season, he played one game with Double-A Corpus Christi (0-for-1) before being assigned to the Legends. Oddly, he is hitting .348 on the road and .169 at Applebee’s Park. The same was true with Tri-City, as he hit .351 on the road and .205 at home.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Also of interest: Blogger Mike Tauser has named his “Farmstros Five” for the week: Top performer LHP Luis Cruz of Greeneville; RHP Jordan Lyles of Lexington; OF T.J. Steele of Lancaster; and a pair of former Legends, LHP Polin Trinidad of Corpus Christi and RHP Bud Norris of Round Rock. You can find the blog at: http://farmstros.blogspot.com/

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Greenville Drive

What: Three-game series

When: Friday through Sunday (7 Friday and Saturday nights; 4 Sunday)

Where: Fluor Field at the West End (Greenville, S.C.)

Probable pitching matchups (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Robert Bono 6-3, 2.21) vs.  RH Brock Huntzinger (0-0, 0.00); Saturday RH Kyle Greenwalt (4-6, 3.38) vs. RH Hunter Strickland (3-4, 2.78); Sunday, RH Jordan Lyles (3-6, 3.34) vs. RH Stephen Fife (0-1, 0.60).

Tim Federowicz

Drive to watch: All-Star C Tim Federowicz (5-foot-10, 213 pounds, from Apex, N.C.) leads Greenville in batting (.338 over 53 games), slugging (.543), OPS (.926), hits (74), doubles (18), homers (9) and total bases (119). He’s second in RBI (32) and on-base percentage (.382), third in runs scored (30). Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the seventh rounds of the 2008 draft, out of the University of North Carolina, Federowicz spent last season with short season-A Lowell, where he hit .244 with a homer and 15 RBI, and tied for second on the team with 10 stolen bases in 13 tries. He threw out 16 of 49 attempted base-stealers. This season, he hit .246 (16-for-65) in April, .348 (32-for-92) in May and is .419 (26-for-62) thus far in June.

Kyle Miller

Legend to watch: IF/DH Kyle Miller (6-1, 200, from Jacksonville, Fla.) continues to recover from a miserable start. Miller was hitting .161 for the Legends when he was demoted to extended spring training on May 10. He returned 20 days later looking more like the player who hit seven homers in 32 games for the 2008 Legends. Since returning to the club, Miller is hitting .256 (10-for-39). Thursday night, he extended his hitting streak to five games. During the streak, Miller is hitting .353 (6-for-17), with a double in four of the five games. For the full season, Miller is hitting .214 with a homer and nine RBI (including one in each of his last three games). Selected by the Houston Astros in the 21st round of the 2007 draft, out of Central Florida Community College, Miller led the Greeneville Astros in 2007 and tied for eighth in the Appalachian League with seven homers. He split the 2008 season between Greeneville (.274, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 19 games) and Lexington (.234, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 32 games).

Radio: WLXG AM-1300