Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Four-game series

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

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Washington Nationals

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, RH Juri Perez (0-0, 0.76 with Tri-City ValleyCats) vs. RH Alex Meyer (6-4, 3.32); Sunday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (10-2, 2.59) RH Chris McKenzie (2-2, 7.54); Monday, LH Luis Cruz (6-5, 3.58) vs. LH Kylin Turnbull (4-4, 4.82); Tuesday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (2-3, 5.45) vs. RH Taylor Hill (9-4, 4.58).

Note: Yours truly will be on vacation until mid-August. Keep up with what I’m doing at the Summer Olympic Games by checking my tweets — @MarkMaloneyHL — and my personal website: www.monkeyalarm.com.

Brian Goodwin

Sun to watch: CF Brian Goodwin (6-foot-1, 195 pounds, age 21, bats left, throws right, from Rocky Mount, N.C.) is batting .313 with six homers 32 RBI and 42 runs scored over 54 games. He has more walks (40) than strikeouts (39), with 14 stolen bases and a .927 OPS. Rated by Baseball America as the fifth-best prospect in the Nationals system, he was selected in the supplemental first round of the 2011 draft (34th overall) and signed for $3 million, out of Miami Dade Junior College. He had a good 2010 freshman season for North Carolina, but then was suspended for 2011. He signed just ahead of the Aug. 15 deadline and did not play pro ball last year. He’s batting .352 versus right-handed pitchers and .253 against lefties. Batting .308 at the all-star break, he’s up to .321 in 21 games since.

Nolan Fontana

Legend to watch: SS Nolan Fontana (5-11, 192, age 21, bats left, throws right, from Winter Garden, Fla.) signed less than three weeks ago after being selected by the Astros in the second round (61st overall) of last month’s draft, out of the University of Florida. Over seven games, he’s 7-for-23 (.304) with three RBI, two doubles and five runs. He has drawn 13 walks, struck out five times and is 4-for-4 in stolen-base attempts. “Nolan is a player that we are very excited about,” General Manager Juff Luhnow said when the Astros signed him. “He was a proven performer from the college ranks and, for us, he represents everything that we’re going to be looking for in the future. He’s a player that excels defensively at a premium position and has proven his capabilities offensively as well. With Florida, Fontana hit .284 with 10 doubles, nine homers, 40 RBI, 59 runs and a .406 on-base percentage for 66 games. He helped the Gators reach the College World Series and was named to the All-Southeastern Conference Defensive Team three years in a row.

Radio: WLXG-!M 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at Hagerstown Suns

What: Five-game series

When: Wednesday through Sunday (5:05 p.m. Wednesday, 7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights, 1:05 p.m. Sunday)

Where: Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, Md.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Washington Nationals

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Wednesday, RH Carlos Quevedo (4-3, 4.24) vs. RH Alex Meyer (6-4, 3.40); Thursday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (9-2, 2.51) vs. RH Christopher McKenzie (2-2, 7.58); Friday, LH Luis Cruz (5-5, 3.71) vs. LH Kylin Turnbull (4-4, 4.88); Saturday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (2-3, 5.01) vs. RH Taylor Hill (8-4, 4.46); Sunday, RH Jonas Dufek (5-1, 5.33) vs. LH Bobby Hansen Jr. (2-0, 3.75).

Jose Fernandez

Legend to watch: SS Jose Fernandez (6-foot-1, 170 pounds, age 19, bats/throws R/R; from Loma de Cabrera, Dajabon, Dominican Republic) is 6-for-19 over his first seven games with the Legends. Included are three doubles and a homer. With five RBI and five runs scored, he has 12 total bases and a stolen base through Monday. Signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent on July 17, 2009, Fernandez spent each of the last two seasons with the Gulf Coast League Astros. In 2010, he batted .232, with seven doubles, six triples, a homer, 22 RBI, 16 runs and four steals for 48 games. Last year, over 43 games, he went .245 wit six doubles, three triples, 15 RBI and 21 runs, adding 11 stolen bases. He was the GCL Astros Offensive Player of the Month last August.

Caleb Ramsey

Sun to watch: SAL all-star OF Caleb Ramsey (6-2, 215, age 23, bats/throws L/R; from Houston) is batting .298 through Monday, with five homers, seven doubles, seven triples, 44 RBI, 48 runs and 11 stolen bases. Over his last 10 games, Ramsey is 13-for-38 (.342), with a pair of three-hit games. Selected by the Nationals in the 11th round of the 2011 draft, out of the University of Houston, Ramsey broke into pro ball last summer with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League. For 64 games, he batted .280 with a homer, 26 RBI 38 runs and 15 stolen bases. As a senior at Houston, he batted .318 and drove in 46 runs.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Hagerstown Suns

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), Washington Nationals

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Jonas Dufek (0-0, 5.14) vs. RH Nathan Karns (0-0, 1.35); Friday, RH Nick Tropeano (2-2, 1.87) vs. RH Alex Meyer (2-3, 4.28); Saturday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (0-1, 14.73) vs. RH Taylor Hill (3-2, 2.88); Sunday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (4-1, 1.60) vs. RH Wirkin Estevez (4-1, 6.69).

Alex Meyer

Sun to watch: Saturday starting pitcher Alex Meyer (6-foot-9, 220 pounds, from Greensburg, Ind.) returns to the city where he was a standout for the University of Kentucky. The second of Washington’s two first-round draft picks (23rd overall) last June, the hard-throwing right-hander led UK in starts (14), complete games (4), wins (7), ERA (2.94), innings (101) and strikeouts (SEC-best 110) last year, as well as batting average-against (.222). He twice earned Southeastern Conference pitcher of the week honors last season, and was named to the all-SEC second team. Over three seasons as a Wildcat, Meyer went 13-12 with a 4.72 ERA, one save and 253 strikeouts in 211 2/3 innings. He ranked fifth in strikeouts on UK’s career list, and eighth in hits-per-nine-innings (8.10). He opted for UK after being selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 20th round of the 2008 draft. Thus far with the Suns, Meyer is 2-3 with a 4.28 ERA over six starts and 27 1/3 innings. He has struck out 33 and walked 12, holding opponents to a .220 average. At Hagerstown, he is 2-0, 0.75; on the road, he’s 0-3, 7.04.

John Hinson

Legend to watch: IF John Hinson (6-1, 180, from Asheville, N.C.) is 12-for-31 (.387) in eight games since being promoted from extended spring training. He has two homers, five RBI and eight runs scored, with two doubles and three stolen bases. Hinson, who bats left-handed and throws righty, was selected by the Astros in the 13th round of last year’s draft, out of Clemson University. As a redshirt junior last year, he batted .331 for Clemson, with nine homers, 12 doubles, three triples, 41 RBI and 23 stolen bases. Assigned to the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League last summer, he batted .284, with two homers, nine doubles, a triple, 11 RBI and 18 runs over 43 games. In 162 bats, he struck out 26 times and drew 17 walks. He also stole seven bases in 12 attempts. He also was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 13th round of the 2010 draft.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Notes: Thursday is Thirsty Thursday (Pepsi and beer products for $1) and Bark in the Park Night. Fans are invited to bring their dogs. The admission price of $2 per dog will benefit the Paris Animal Welfare Society. Dogs are allowed only in the general admission areas (lawn and bleachers), so fans with dogs should not purchase tickets in the (reserved) seating bowl. … Friday is Faith and Family Night. The Afters, who had two No. 1 singles on the Billboard Christian radio charts last year, will perform a post-game concert.  … Reserved seats for Saturday’s Nurses Night game are sold out. Some bleacher and lawn tickets remain. Birdzerk, billed as America’s Ballpark Prankster, will entertain between innings. A fireworks show will follow the game. … Sunday, Mother’s Day, “pampering sessions” around the park, lunch and Mary Kay goodie bags are available as part of a $39 package for moms. More than $500 in door prizes will be awarded. A portion of Sunday’s ticket proceeds will benefit the Mary Kay Foundation for battered women and children. Sunday also is Kids Club Day, meaning kids can run the bases after the game.

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs.
Kannapolis Intimidators

What: Four-game series

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

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

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

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

Daniel Webb

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

Zach Johnson

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

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Three-game series

When: Monday through Wednesday (7:05 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 10:35 a.m. Wednesday)

Where: Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, Md.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends) and Washington Nationals

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Nicholas Tropeano (0-0, 0.00) vs. RH Christopher McKenzie (0-0, 0.00); Tuesday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (0-1, 6.75) vs. RH Wirkin Estevez (0-0, 13.50); Wednesday, RH Tanner Bushue (0-1, 27.00) vs. RH Brian Dupra (0-1, 8.10).

Jordan Scott

Legend to watch: LF Jordan Scott (6-foot-2, 180 pounds, from Greenville, S.C.) hit 8-for-13 (.615) in a season-opening four-game series at Greensboro. Scott, 20, bats left and throws right. He was selected by the Astros in the 14th round of the 2010 draft, out of Riverside High School in Greer, S.C. He made his pro debut that year with the Gulf Coast League Astros, hitting .301 with 10 RBI, 19 runs and six stolen bases over 42 games. Last year, he split time with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League (60 games), the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League (5 games) and the Legends (14 games). Overall, he hit .323 with a homer, 43 RBI, 51 runs and 12 stolen bases.

Matthew Skole

Sun to watch: 3B Matthew Skole (6-4, 230, from Woodstock, Ga.) went 6-for-14 (.429) in Hagerstown’s season-opening four-game series. Included were two doubles, as he drove in seven runs and scored one. Like Scott, he bats left and throws right. The Nationals selected him in the fifth round of last year’s draft, out of Georgia Tech, where he clubbed 47 homers over three seasons. He made his pro debut with the Auburn Doubledays of the NYPL. He played 72 games, batting .290 with five homers, 48 RBI, 43 runs and a pair of stolen bases.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Four-game series

When: Sunday through Wednesday (4:05 p.m. Sunday, then 7:05 each night)

Where: Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, Md.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Washington Nationals

Quevedo

Bushue

Cruz

Foltynewicz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Sunday, RH Carlos Quevedo (7-4, 3.93) vs. LH Ryan Demmin (2-2, 2.28); Monday, RH Tanner Bushue (6-4, 4.28) vs. LH Matt Swynenberg (5-1, 3.24); Tuesday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (5-9, 4.19) vs. LH Robbie Ray (2-2, 2.29); Wednesday, LH Luis Cruz (3-2, 4.18) vs. LH Paul Applebee (6-2, 3.52).

Mike Kvasnicka

Legend to watch: Switch-hitting all-star 3B Mike Kvasnicka (6-foot-2, 208 pounds, from Lakeville, Minn.) leads the Legends in games played (108 through Friday), at-bats (409), hits (113), doubles (26), triples (4) and total bases (156), and ranks second on the club in runs (49), RBI (51) and walks (38). In addition, he’s batting .276 with three homers, five stolen bases, a .724 OPS and a .908 fielding percentage. Kvasnicka has hits in seven of his last eight games, going 11-for-33 (.333). He’s been at his best when facing left-handers (.308 batting average), at home (.302) and with men-on-base-with-two-outs (.358). A first-round supplemental pick (33rd overall) in the 2010 draft, Kvasnicka followed in his father Jay‘s footsteps by playing at the University of Minnesota.  (Dad was an eighth-round pick of the Twins in 1988 and advanced to Triple-A ball.) Mike was a three-year starter for the Gophers, a two-time all-Big Ten outfielder and led the conference in doubles as a junior. Signed for $936,000, he reported to Tri-City last summer and hit .234 with five homers, 36 RBI and 31 runs over 68 games. Coming into this season, he was rated by Baseball America as the 14th-best prospect in the Astros system.

Jason Martinson

Sun to watch: SS Jason Martinson (6-1, 190, from Hurst, Texas) leads the Suns in stolen bases (23) and, through Friday, shares the team lead in homers (14) and games played (109). Overall, the right-handed batter/thrower is hitting .254 with 53 RBI and 52 runs scored. He has hit safely in five of his last six games, going 6-for-20 (.300) with a homer, four RBI and five runs. Selected by the Nationals in the fifth round of the 2010 draft, out of Texas State University, he came into this season rated by Baseball America as the No. 22 prospect in the Washington system. He broke into pro ball last year, batting .241 with two homers, 36 RBI, 38 runs and four stolen bases over 70 games with Vermont of the New York-Penn League.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

                                             South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Three-game series

When: Saturday through Monday (7:05 p.m. Saturday and Monday; 5:05 p.m. Sunday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Washington Nationals

Sogard

Quevedo

Cruz

Legends probable pitchers (Suns rotation unavailable at time of this blog entry): Saturday, LH Luis Cruz (1-1, 4.28); Sunday, RH Carlos Quevedo (6-4, 4.45); Monday LH Alex Sogard (1-3, 2.98).

David Freitas

Sun to watch: All-star C David Freitas (6-foot-2, 225 pounds, from Wilton, Calif.) is 12-for-36 (.333) over 10 games against the Legends this season, with a homer and a team-leading 13 RBI. He also has scored six times against Lexington, posting a .400 on-base percentage and .472 slugging. Overall, the right-handed batter/thrower is hitting .301 with nine homers, 22 doubles, 55 RBI, 41 runs, .413 on-base percentage and .472 slugging (through Thursday). Selected by the Nationals in the 15th round of the 2010 draft, out of the University of Hawaii, Freitas played last season with the Vermont Lake Monsters of the New York-Penn League, batting .307 over 62 games. He earned NYPL all-star honors, knocking four homers and 40 RBI while scoring 32 runs.

Jay Austin

Legend to watch: CF Jay Austin (5-11, 170, from Atlanta is 5-for-19 (.263) in six games (through Thursday) since rejoining the Legends. Austin played 74 games this season for the Lancaster JetHawks of the California League, batting .257 with three homers, 37 RBI, 47 runs and 17 stolen bases. Selected by the Astros in the second round of the 2008 draft, Austin turned down a scholarship to Southern Cal and signed for $715,000. He played 55 games for the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League in 2008, batting .198 with 14 RBI, 31 runs and 14 stolen bases. With the Legends in 2009, Austin hit .267 and stole 23 bases over 101 games, with 33 RBI and 49 runs. He moved up to Lancaster last year, earning all-star honors while batting .261 with 10 homers, 59 RBI, 83 runs and a league-leading 54 stolen bases. Coming into this season, Baseball America rated him the 19th-best prospect in the Houston system.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

                                 South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Three-game series

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

Where: Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, Md.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Washington Nationals

Alaniz

Foltynewicz

Sogard

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, LH Alex Sogard (1-3, 4.37) vs. LH Robbie Ray (2-1, 2.01); Saturday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (4-6, 4.32) vs. RH A.J. Cole (2-4, 2.92); Sunday, RH Ruben Alaniz (5-5, 4.61) vs. LH Matthew Grace (8-5, 4.91).

Jhonny Medrano

Legend to watch: 1B/3B/LF Jhonny Medrano (6-foot-1, 223 pounds, from Tucupita, Venezuela) took a five-game hitting streak into Friday’s game (7-for-21, .333). Overall, Medrano is batting a modest .201, with two homers, 14 RBI and 15 runs over 43 games. However, four of the 14 RBI have come during his five-game streak, lending promise of better things to come. Signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent Feb. 21, 2005, the right-handed (batting and throwing) Medrano played three years with the Venezuelan Summer League Astros, then missed the 2008 season due to injury. He came to North America in 2009, hitting .213 with a homer and 23 RBI over 47 games with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League. Last year, with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League, Medrano hit .295 with seven homers and 24 RBI. In addition to the three positions he has played for the Legends, he has previously been used at shortstop and in right field.

Blake Kelso

Sun to watch: All-star 3B/SS/2B Blake Kelso (5-10, 170, from Austin, Texas) leads the league in hits with 91 (through Wednesday) and is the second-most-difficult to strike out in the SAL (once every 10.25 at-bats). Seventh in the league with a .315 batting average, Kelso has two homers, 35 RBI, 44 runs and nine stolen bases. He has drawn 28 walks versus 32 strikeouts. He also has a pair of sacrifice flies and five sacrifice bunts, a .381 on-base percentage and .384 slugging. Selected by the Nationals in the 10th round of the 2010 draft out of the University of Houston, Kelso broke in with the Vermont Lake Monsters. He earned New York-Penn League all-star honors, batting .309 with a homer, 21 RBI, 29 runs and 10 stolen bases. Kelso started 181 consecutive games during his three-year collegiate career.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

     South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (6:35 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 1:05 p.m. Sunday)

Where: Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, Md.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Washington Nationals

Minaya

Foltynewicz

Dydalewicz

Bushue

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Juan Minaya (0-1, 7.64) vs. LH Bobby Hansen (2-1, 4.58); Friday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (0-4, 5.86) vs. RH Cameron Selik (3-0, 0.31); Saturday, RH Tanner Bushue (4-0, 3.13) vs. LH Matthew Grace (2-3, 5.04); Sunday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (0-3, 5.95) vs. RH Christopher McKenzie (2-3, 8.10).

Daniel Adamson

Legend to watch: CF Daniel Adamson (5-foot-11, 215 pounds, from Spring, Ala.) is 14-for-26 (.538) with eight RBI and five runs scored over his last eight games. Overall, Adamson is 30-for-85 (.353) in 25 games, with a homer, 13 RBI and 16 runs. He also has a .412 on-base percentage and .518 slugging percentage. Adamson is batting .440 against left-handers, .317 versus righties. A 20th round draft pick last year, he earned first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors for Jacksonville State, batting .349 with 13 homers and 53 RBI, playing error-free defense, to help the Gamecocks to the OVC Tournament title and an NCAA berth.  The Astros assigned him to the Tri-City ValleyCats last season, where he went 66-for-252 (.262) with nine homers, 11 doubles, four triples, 11 stolen bases, 35 RBI and 33 runs in 69 games.

Cameron Selik

Sun to watch: RHP Cameron Selik (6-2, 235, from San Diego) leads the league with a 0.31 ERA. Over five starts and 29 innings, Selik is 3-0, holding opponents to a .219 batting average. He has not been touched for a home run and has struck out 30 while walking only three. His first win of the season came April 13, when he threw five shutout innings against the Legends. He gave up four hits in that game, striking out five and walking two. Four of his five starts have come on the road. A 22nd round draft pick last year out of Kansas University, Selik made 15 relief appearances last seasons for the Vermont Lake Monsters of the New York-Penn League, going 1-0 with a 2.54 ERA.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Four-game series

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

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Washington Nationals

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday: RH Juan Minaya (0-0, 0.00) vs. RH Taylor Jordan (1-0, 9.00); Tuesday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (0-1, 9.00) vs. RH Cameron Selik (0-0, 0.00); Wednesday, RH Tanner Bushue (1-0, 6.00) vs. LH Matt Grace (1-0, 0.00); Thursday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (0-0, 1.80) vs. RH Chris McKenzie (1-0, 1.80).

Bryce Harper

Sun to watch: OF Bryce Harper (6-foot-3, 225 pounds, from Las Vegas) was the first overall pick in the first-year player draft last June. He went 4-for-15 with three RBI in Hagerstown’s season-opening series against Rome, which ended Sunday. Out of the College of Southern Nevada, he won the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s top amateur player. He was Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Year last year in a wood bat league, hitting .443 with 31 homers and 98 RBI, with a .987 slugging percentage, .526 on-base percentage and 20 stolen bases in 24 attempts over 66 games. Signed by the Nationals for $9.9 million, including a $6.25 million bonus. Rated by MLB.com as the No. 3 prospect overall and by Baseball America as the No. 1 prospect in the Nationals system. Labeled “Baseball’s Chosen One” in 2009, when he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated at age 16. He signed too late to play minor-league ball last summer, but got 35 at-bats in the Arizona Fall League and hit .343 with one homer. Baseball America says “Harper’s raw tools are freakish” and rates his power and arm at the top of the 20-80 scale, where 50 represents the major-league average. He has hit 500-foot home runs and has thrown 95 mph. Batting and defense are rated at 60 each, speed at 55. Says Baseball America: “The most hyped prospect in draft history, Harper has superstar potential, and it’s hard to find an evaluator who thinks he’ll fall short of that ceiling. … A realistic big-league ETA for Harper is 2013 — when he’ll be just 20.”

Mike Kvasnicka

Legend to watch: 3B Mike Kvasnicka (6-2, 208, from Lakeville, Minn.) went 4-for-5, drove in three runs, scored three runs and stole a base during Sunday’s 12-4 win over Charleston. That gives him a .471 average (8-for-17) through four games, with a double, triple, six RBI and five runs. A switch-hitter, Kvasnicka also can catch or play outfield. A supplemental first-round (33rd overall) draft pick of the Astros last June, he played collegiate ball for Minnesota. A two-time All-Big Ten outfielder, he led the conference in doubles as a junior. He signed for $936,000, then played for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League last summer. There he his .234 with five homers, 36 RBI and 31 runs over 68 games. He is rated by Baseball America as the No. 14 prospect in the Astros system. His father, Jay, also played collegiate ball at Minnesota and was an eighth-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins in 1988.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300