Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

The Lexington Legends, coming off Thursday’s doubleheader sweep of Bowling Green, are back at home tonight (Friday).

The Greenville Drive come into Fireworks Night at Applebee’s Park on a five-game winning streak.

Tonight’s starting lineups:

GREENVILLE – 15, David Mailman, lf; 18, Tim Federowicz, dh; 25, Anthony Rizzo, 1b; 33, Ryan Lavarnway, c; 17, Mitch Dening, cf; 11, Will Middlebrooks, 3b; 22, Ryan Dent, ss; 7, Zach Gentile, 2b; 21, David Marks, rf. Pitching — 14, RH Stephen Fife (0-0, 0.00).

LEXINGTON — 4, Michael Diaz, dh; 7, Eric Suttle, rf; 24, Steve Brown, lf; 45, Brian Pellegrini, 1b; 13, Ebert Rosario, 3b; 46, Federico Hernandez, c; 15, Brandon Barnes, cf; 11, Ronnie Ramirez, 2b; 40, Jorge De Leon, ss. Pitching — 20, RH Jordan Lyles (2-5, 3.31).

UMPIRES — Jay Pierce, plate; Matt Cumbee, field.

Charley Taylor is in the house

Charley Taylor, pitching coach for each of the Legends nine seasons, made his first appearance of the season Friday.

Travis Driskill has filled in admirably in Taylor’s absence, which came as a result of a cancerous bladder. Taylor had his bladder and prostate removed in April.

At the time of his surgery, Taylor said he hoped to be back on the job, perhaps as soon as mid-June. That timeline now looks unlikely, Taylor said. Although he looks good and has regained his appetite, he still has a way to go before he’ll be strong enough to rejoin the team.

In a class move, Driskill pulled the pitchers aside from pre-game drills so that Taylor could speak briefly with them. Having missed spring training, Taylor was meeting many of the players for the first time.

“K”iller P’s

Pitchers Jordan Lyles of the Legends and Stephen Fife of the Drive have dominated through two scoreless innings.

After giving up back-to-back singles to open the game, Lyles has retired six in a row, including four straight strikeouts.

Fife has tossed two perfect innings, striking out four (two in each inning) and getting a pair of groundouts.

Wounded warriors

Five Legends are on the disabled list. Two are close to being ready to return to action, two are out long-term and the other is awaiting results of a doctor’s re-check.

CF Jay Austin, who suffered a concussion a week ago when he collided with SS Jorge De Leon, should be back in two or three days, according to Manager Tom Lawless.

RHP Jose Trinidad (strained shoulder) has resumed throwing and is “close” to being ready, Lawless said.

1B Phil Disher (hip, labrum) will have surgery in Houston and will be on the shelf for an extended time.

SS Ricardo Bonfante (dislocated left shoulder) will be heading to the Astros’ training facility in Florida to begin rehabiltation. However, Lawless said Bonfante likely is done for the season.

2B Albert Cartwright (broken forearm) was to be examined Friday, but Lawless had not received a report before game time.

Middlebrooks goes deep for Greenville; Fife still perfect

Will Middlebrooks led off the top of the fifth inning with his first homer of the season, to near-dead center.

That not only snapped a scoreless tie, but it was the first hit for either team since David Mailman and Tim Federowicz led off the game with back-to-back singles.

Legends RHP Jordan Lyles retired the next 12 batters in order. After Middlebrooks’ homer, he set the next three batters down in order. Through five innings, Lyles has 10 strikeouts — two in each inning.

His counterpart, RH Stephen Fife, has been even better, tossing five perfect innings. He has struck out seven, including all three batters in the fifth inning. He also has retired four on grounders and eight on fly balls.

Legends tie with run in seventh

The Legends finally got untracked with a hit in the sixth inning and a run in the seventh.

Greenville starter Stephen Fife, who is coming back from shoulder soreness detected during spring training, was lifted after five perfect innings. He struck out seven.

Facing another right-hander, Mike Lee, Ronnie Ramirez broke up the perfect game with a one-out single in the sixth.

The Legends went one better in the seventh.

Steve Brown was credited with a one-out triple when he lined to left and left-fielder David Mailman had trouble making the pickup. Brian Pellegrini brought Brown in with the tying run, blooping a single to center.

That takes Legends starter Jordan Lyles off the hook. He gave up a run on three hits over six innings, striking out 11 and walking nobody.

Henry Villar is working for a second inning of relief in the eighth.

Tied 1-1 in ninth inning

Villar retires Greenville in order in the eighth. In the bottom of the inning, the Legends notch their fourth hit — Jorge De Leon’s two-out infield single — but get nothing. So we go to the ninth, tied at 1.

Legends try to win it in ninth

Tim Federowicz started the Greenville ninth with a drive to the left-field wall. Steve Brown played the carom perfectly to hold him to a long single.

Henry Villar struck out the next two batters. Manager Tom Lawless then summoned his left-handed closer, Patrick Urckfitz. He got Mitch Dening on a fly to Brown in left.

Villar finished with 2 2/3 innings of one-hit shutout relief. He walked one and struck out four.

Winning run stranded at third in bottom of ninth 

Eric Suttle led off the bottom of the ninth with a bloop double down the right-field line.

Drive right-hander Mike Lee got a comebacker from Steve Brown, looked Suttle back to second and threw to first for the first out. Suttle tagged up and went to third on Brian Pellegrini’s fly to deep right.

Lee escaped by getting Ebert Rosario to ground out to shortstop.

Martinez delivers winning hit in 10th

Patrick Urckfitz retired Greenville 1-2-3 in the 10th.

After knocking the ball out of the park, but just a bit foul down the right-field line, Federico Hernandez led off the bottomo the 10th with a single to short center. Brandon Barnes bunted Hernandez to second.

Manager Tom Lawless put speedy Marques Williams in to run for Hernandez.

Ronnie Ramirez singled to center. With Lawless waving him in all the way, Williams slid in just ahead of the throw from center fielder Mitch Dening, which was slightly up the third-base line. The final: Lexington 2, Greenville 1.

South Atlantic League Baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods

What: Three-game series

When: Tuesday through Thursday (7:05 Central each night)

Where: Bowling Green (Ky.) Ballpark

Tickets:   (270) 901-2121  

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Robert Bono (5-1, 1.98) vs. pitcher to be named; Wednesday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (2-5, 2.98) vs. LH Frank De Los Santos (3-3, 3.38); Thursday, RH Jordan Lyles (2-5, 3.31) vs. RH Joe Cruz (1-2, 2.08).

Hot Rod to watch: Thursday’s starter, RHP Joe Cruz (6-foot-4, 190 pounds, from Baldwin Park, Calif.), hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his seven starts, and he’s only allowed two runs once. Over 30 1/3 innings, he has 34 strikeouts to eight walks, holding opponents to a .280 average. Selected by Tampa Bay in the 30th round of the 2007 draft, out of East Los Angeles Junior College, Cruz appeared in 16 games over the last season-plus (three games in 2007) for Princeton of the Appalachian League, where he went 3-3 with a 2.71 ERA, 75 strikeouts and 17 walks. Baseball America rates him 23rd among Tampa Bay prospects, noting that he has “demonstrated a live arm with above-average control.” He comes armed with a 90-94 mph fastball, a curveball and changeup.

Legend to watch: 1B/OF Brian Pellegrini (6-1, 240, from Willoughby, Ohio) joined the Legends on May 16 after starting the season with High-A Lancaster. He was Lexington’s primary power hitter last season, when he hit 21 homers and drove in 69 runs over 87 games. He hit .226, with a .331 on-base percentage and .503 slugging. Selected by the Astros in the 12th round of the 2007 draft, out of St. Bonaventure University, he was Atlantic 10 player of the year and an all-star in 2006. At Lancaster this season, Pellegrini hit .171 with seven homers and 15 RBI over 30 games. In 15 games with the Legends, he is hitting .294 with four homers and 12 RBI. He also has drawn nine walks and struck out 14 times. Monday, his three-run homer in the first inning fueled a 5-0 victory over the Augusta GreenJackets.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Things are off to a fast start on a Monday night at Applebee’s Park.

The Charleston RiverDogs package three hits and a walk in the first inning. Abraham Almonte’s bases-loaded single to center gives the New York Yankees affiliate a 2-0 lead.

The Legends come back with two in the bottom of the inning.

Jay Austin leads off with a double to the right-field corner. One out later, Federico Hernandez rips an Andrew Brackman fastball for a home run off of the awning over the right-field deck.

Legends right-hander Robert Bono, who wasn’t missing his spots by much in the first inning, settles down to blank the RiverDogs in the second and third, although yielding three more singles.

The first of those hits, by Mike Lyon, nearly turned into a spectacular out. Shortstop Jorge De Leon made a diving stop of a hard-hit ball up the middle, but was unable to make a clean glove-to-hand transfer.

DeLeon and DH Michael Diaz are making their Legends debuts Monday. A third, second baseman Andy Simunic, is making his home debut.

More on the newcomers coming up. The Legends have just been retired, so the totals after three innings:

Charleston: 2 runs, 6 hits, 1 error. Lexington: 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors.

* The arrival of new players reflects the team health, rather than any player promotions.

Simunic was called from extended spring training when 2B Albert Cartwright suffered a broken forearm.

De Leon is filling in at short for Ricardo Bonfante, who has been placed on the DL due to a dislocated left shoulder.

Diaz trades places with infielder Kyle Miller, who has been sent to extended spring training.

* Meanwhile, both teams put up zeroes in the fourth inning.

Charleston shortstop Carmen Angelini, called out on strikes to end the top half of the inning, was ejected for arguing the call.

De Leon, a 6-foot, 168-pound 21-year-old from the Dominican Republic, signed with the Houston Astros in 2006. He spent two seasons in the Dominican Summer League and spent last season with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League. His three-year totals include a .216 average, six homers, 50 RBI and nine stolen bases.

Diaz (5-10, 180, age 22), from Monroe, Conn., was selected by the Astros in the 30th round of last June’s draft, out of Southern Connecticut State University. He broke in with Tri-City of the New York-Penn League last summer, hitting .282 with five homers and 22 RBI over 48 games. He also stole six bases.

* Back to the game … Still 2-2 through five innings.

To open the sixth, the Legends have turned to right-hander Ashton Mowdy. Bono went five innings, giving up two runs, eight hits and a walk, while striking out three.

Through five innings: Charleston 2 runs, 8 hits, 1 error; Lexington 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors.

* We’re through six innings now, and the Legends are hoping 6-foot-8, 240-pound right-hander Andrew Brackman is about at the end of his night’s work. Still tied, 2-2.

* Still 2-2 through seven. The Legends changed pitchers with two out and one on (via a walk) in the top of the seventh. Lefty Patrick Urckfitz took over from righty Ashton Mowdy, striking out Taylor Grote.

* Still 2-2, although the Legends threatened in the eighth. With runners on second and third, Brandon Barnes took a called third strike that he clearly thought was outside.

Going to the ninth, the Legends bring in right-hander Jose Trinidad.

* Trinidad retires the RiverDogs in order, getting a foul out to his catcher, Federico Hernandez, then striking out Mike Lyon and Ray Kruml.

In the bottom of the ninth, Charleston goes to right-hander Dan Kapala. Starter Andrew Brackman finishes with a season-long stint of eight innings, giving up two runs, seven hits and a walk, striking out nine.

Kapala gets Russell Dixon on a liner to center. Phil Disher picks up a golden sombrero with his fourth strikeout. Andy Simunic flies to right. So we go to extra innings, tied 2-2.

10th inning

Addison Maruszak leads off the top of the 10th with a base hit to right. Dan Brewer bunts him to second. Taylor Grote singles through the right side. Maruszak, running all the way, gets cut down at the plate as the throw from right fielder Russell Dixon arrives on the fly. Maruszak tries to bowl over catcher Federico Hernandez, who holds on to the ball. Grote takes second on the throw. Legends Manager Tom Lawless calls on his closer, Daniel Meszaros, to face Abraham Almonte. A called third strike over the outside corner makes Almonte the latest in a long list of batters to grumble to umpire Joey Amaral.

In the bottom of the 10th, Ebert Rosario and Jorge De Leon ground out. Jay Austin coaxes a full-count walk, but Michael Diaz strikes out.

11th inning

Charleston goes down in order as Corban Joseph strikes out and Neall French flies to right, where Russell Dixon breaks in late but makes a diving catch. Then, left-fielder Brandon Barnes saves the day. Mitch Abeita’s two-out fly ball rockets deep to the power alley in left-center, but Barnes races back to make an outstanding catch at the wall, just below the “K” board.

Federico Hernandez leads off the Legends’ 11th with a single to left. Brandon Barnes pops a foul bunt to catcher Mitch Abeita. Russell Dixon’s potential double-play grounder is bobbled by second baseman Corban Joseph. That gives Hernandez enough time to reach second, although Dixon is nabbed at first. Phil Disher, 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, works the count full but goes down swinging. On to the 12th, tied 2-2.

12th inning

Right-hander Brian Wabick becomes the sixth Legends pitcher of the game. Mike Lyon tries to bunt for a hit, but Wabick throws him out. Ray Kruml and Addison Maruszak go down swinging.

Right-hander Cory Arbiso comes in to pitch for Charleston. Andy Simunic and Ebert Rosario ground out. Jorge De Leon strikes out. Through 12 innings: Lexington 2, Charleston 2.

13th inning

Dan Brewer leads off with a single through the left side of the infield. Taylor Grote strikes out. With the hit-and-run on, Abraham Almonte swings and misses — and Brewer is thrown out at second base by Federico Hernandez. Almonte then takes a called third strike.

In the bottom of the 13th, Jay Austin bounces out to pitcher Cory Arbiso. Michael Diaz chops one just over the pitcher to reach on an infield single. Federico Hernandez singles to the left-field corner, moving Diaz to third. Hernandez takes second as left-fielder Taylor Grote bobbles the ball for his first error of the season. Charleston brings its infield in. Brandon Barnes grounds to third baseman Mike Lyon, whose throw to catcher Mitch Abeita is in plenty of time. Diaz comes in with a full body block, but Abeita holds on. Hernandez holds at second. Russell Dixon taps out to Arbiso. On to the 14th!

14th inning

Corban Joseph draws a leadoff walk. Neall French bunts him to second. But Mitch Abeita grounds to third and Mike Lyon strikes out.

Kody Hinze pinch-hits for Phil Disher, who finishes 0-for-5, all strikeouts. Hinze swings and … misses for a sixth strikeout in the slot. Andy Simunic singles sharply to left. He takes second on Ebert Rosario’s bouncer to third. Jorge De Leon singles to right. Simunic never slows and right-fielder Ray Kruml fails to make a clean pick up. Simunic scores standing up, with no play. Final: Legends 3, RiverDogs 2.

Charleston    200 000 000 000 00 — 2  12  2
Lexington     200 000 000 000 01 – 3  12  0
W: Wabick (1-0); L: Arbiso (1-3). HR: Lex, Hernandez 4. LOB: Chas.10, Lex. 10.
Leading hitters:  Hernandez, De Leon (Lexington), 3 hits each; Brewer, Grote, Almonte, Abeita (Charleston), and Simunic, Rosario (Lexington), 2 hits each. Att: 3,076.

Pitching summary

Charleston
Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Brackman	8.0	7	2	2	1	9	1	4.06
Kapala	3.0	1	0	0	1	3	0	2.78
Arbiso (L, 1-3)	2.2	4	1	1	0	2	0	3.18

PITCHERS

Robert Bono
Bats/throws:  R/R              Height/weight:  6-2, 175
Birthdate: 12-12-88         
Hometown: Waterford, Conn. 

Notes: Will open the season as No. 4 in the starting rotation, looking for his first professional victory.  Selected by the Astros in the 11^th round of the 2007 draft, out of Waterford High School. Went 0-4, 7.34 for Greeneville in 2007; 0-4, 4.68 for Tri-City last year. Walked 20 and struck out 18 at Greeneville. Corrected that at Tri-City, with 11 walks to 46 whiffs. He was Tri-City’s  Pitcher of the Month in July.

Brad Dydalewicz

B/T:  L/L                              Ht./wt.:  6-1, 180
D.O.B.:  3-24-90                  
Hometown:  Spicewood, Texas

Notes:  Opens the season at No. 3 in the starting rotation. An eighth-round draft pick out of Austin High School last June, Dydalewicz is listed by Baseball America as the 14^th-best prospect in the Astros system, armed with the “best changeup.” BBA notes that he signed for an above-slot $425,000 bonus and “throws a live fastball and plus curveball, with enough arm strength to suggest his heater will consistently sit in the low 90s as he advances. He was 90-94 mph in the spring, an encouraging sign considering he tore his ACL in 2007 while playing football.”  He worked 10 innings over four appearances with Greeneville last year, with no decisions, a 2.70 ERA, six strikeouts and three walks.

Kyle Greenwalt
B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-0, 200
D.O.B.:  9-29-88                  
Hometown: Sellersville, Pa. 

Notes:  Scheduled to start the Legends’ fifth game of the season, the April 13 home opener vs. Kannapolis. Selected by the Astros in the 20^th round of the June 2007  draft, out of Souderton (Pa.) Area High School. Made his pro debut with Greeneville,  going 0-7 with a 7.53 ERA, 28 strikeouts and 12 walks. Settled in nicely in 2008, earning team MVP honors at Greeneville by going 6-4, 3.14, 53 strikeouts and 14 walks over 13 starts. Also won his lone start for Tri-City. Has a 90-92 mph fastball with sink, slider and changeup. Ranked by Baseball America as 31^st-best prospect in the Houston system.

Arcenio Leon
B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-1, 162
D.O.B.:  9-22-86                  
Hometown: Maracaibo, Venezuela

Notes:  Signed as a non-drafted free agent Feb. 7, 2005. Went 3-6 over two seasons with the Venezuelan Summer League Astros, striking out 30 and walking 30. Spent the last two seasons with Greeneville, improving from 0-7, 4.67 in 2007 to 3-1, 3.33 in 2008. Also improved his strikeout-to-walk ratio from 43-27 to 42-19.

Jordan Lyles

B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-4, 185
D.O.B.: 10-19-90                 
Hometown:  Hartsville, S.C.

Notes: A first-round supplemental draft pick (38^th overall) last June, out of Hartsville (S.C.) High School, Lyles is scheduled to start Thursday’s season opener at West Virginia. Baseball America ranks him sixth among Astros minor-league prospects and projects him as Houston’s No. 4 starter in 2012. Signed for $930,000 on the night of his high school graduation. Baseball America on Lyles: “He shelved his cutter once in pro ball, and saw an immediate improvement in his fastball as it jumped from 86-88 mph in the spring to 90-96 all summer. He had good command of it even with the added velocity. His curveball has rotation and shape to it, and he has show a feel for a changeup.”  Went 3-3, 4.23 with 68 strikeouts and 17 walks over 15 games with Greeneville (13 games) and Tri-City last season.

Daniel Meszaros

B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-0, 170
D.O.B.: 9-6-85                     
Hometown: Boca Raton, Fla. 

Notes: Selected by the Astros in the 48^th round of the June 2008 draft, out of the College of Charleston. Made his pro debut last summer with Tri-City, finishing 1-3, with one save and a 4.44 ERA. He worked 26 1/3 innings over 12 relief appearances, striking out 46 and walking eight. Opens this season as a late-inning reliever. 

Ross Seaton
B/T: L/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-4, 190
D.O.B.: 9-18-89                   
Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas

Notes: A third-round supplemental draft pick last June, out of Second Baptist High School in Texas, where he was class valedictorian.  With a fastball touching 96 mph, he signed for $700,000 Baseball America ranks him as the Astros’ third-best prospect, armed with “best curveball” in the system.  Starts the season as Lexington’s No. 2 starter. Had no decisions and a 13.50 ERA at Greeneville last season, but that came over a total of four innings.  Baseball America: “He has a smooth and easy delivery that’s repeatable, allowing his fastball to sit consistently at 90-94 mph. His slider can be devastating to young hitters, and his changeup is a nice weapon.”

Jack Tilghman

B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-2, 205
D.O.B.: 5-19-87                    Hometown: Telford, Pa.

Notes: Signed to a minor-league contract last Aug. 5, Tilghman finished the 2008 season by making nine relief appearances for the Legends: 1-0, 2.70, five strikeouts, nine walks, 13 1/3 innings. Out of Walters State (Tenn.) Community College, he also worked 13 2/3 innings for the Rookie League Phillies in 2007, going 1-1 with a 2.63, six strikeouts and seven walks.

Jose Trinidad

B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 5-11, 150
D.O.B.: 7-13-87                   
Hometown: Sabana Grande de Palenque, D.R.

Notes: Signed as a non-drafted free agent, Feb. 22, 2006, Trinidad led all Astros minor-leaguers last season with a 2.73 ERA at Greeneville. He went 3-2 over 10 starts and 56 innings, striking out 40 and walking six. He spent 2006 and 2007 with the Dominican Summer League Astros, going a combined 6-6, with 69 strikeouts and 41 walks. 

Patrick Urckfitz

B/T: L/L                               Ht./wt.: 6-3, 190
D.O.B.: 7-21-88                   
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.

Notes: Signed as non-drafted free agent out of Monroe (N.Y.) Community College last June 29. Worked 15 games in relief for Greeneville, going 1-0 with one save and a 1.40 ERA. Had 23 strikeouts and nine walks over 19 1/3 innings. Starts this season as a late-inning reliever. 

Henry Villar

B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 5-11, 150
D.O.B.: 5-24-87                   
Hometown: Bonao, Dominican Republic

Notes: Signed as a non-drafted free agent, July 19, 2005. Made 13 relief appearances with Greeneville last season. Over 65 1/3 innings, he went 3-6 with a 4.41 ERA, 65 strikeouts and 12 walks. His 2006 and 2007 seasons were spent with the Dominican Summer League Astros, where he was a combined 5-5, with 101 strikeouts and 21 walks. 

Brian Wabick

B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-0, 180
D.O.B.: 8-3-87                     
Hometown: Des Plaines, Ill.

Notes: Selected by the Astros in the 34^th round of the June 2007 draft, out of Oakton (Ill.) Community College.  Pitched the last two seasons at Greeneville, going 1-3 over 28 games (one start), with six saves, 44 strikeouts and 22 walks. Also spent part of 2008 with Tri-City, where he was 2-1 with two saves and a 2.14 ERA over 11 relief outings. Over 21 innings with Tri-City, he struck out 23 and walked only one.

CATCHERS

Jonathan Fixler

B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.:  6-1, 205
D.O.B.: 6-13-86                   
Hometown: Park Ridge, Ill.

Notes: Among six players who spent all or part of last season with the Legends. Hit .248 with eight homers and 50 RBI over 80 games. Also played three games for 2A Corpus Christi, going 1-for-7 with an RBI. Selected by the Astros in the 19^th round of the June 2007 draft, out of Indiana University. Played seven games for Tri-City in 2007, with one double in 16 at-bats. 

Federico Hernandez

B/T: S/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-0, 170
D.O.B.: 2-9-88                     
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela

Notes: Hernandez is rated by Baseball America as 20^th among Astros prospects. Over three seasons – two with the Venezuelan Summer League Astros and last year with Greeneville – Hernandez hit .291 with six homers. Defense is what impresses Baseball America, though: “A cousin of Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez, he was regarded by Rookie-level Appalachian League managers as the top defensive catcher in the league last year. That’s an impressive feat, considering he did not take up the position until signing. He has a good arm and good accuracy, and he showed 1.95-second pop times consistently in instructional league. His receiving skills, feet, soft hands and ability to call a game also got hit marks. Hernandez also blocks balls well, with good range behind the plate, and always shows good hustle.”

INFIELDERS

Ricardo Bonfante

B/T: S/R                               Ht./wt.: 5-9, 140
D.O.B.: 10-21-88                 
Hometown: Cartegena, Colombia

Notes: Signed as a non-drafted free agent, July 2, 2005.  A shortstop, he hit .261 (36-for-138) with 12 RBI, 19 runs scored and 10 stolen bases over 43 games with Greeneville last season. Hit .308 versus left-handers and batted .361 for the month of June.  Played for the Venezuelan Summer League Astros in 2006 and 2007. 

Albert Cartwright

B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 5-10, 180
D.O.B.: 10-31-87                 
Hometown: Winter Haven, Fla.

Notes: A June 2007 36^th round draft pick, out of Polk (Fla.) Community College. Second baseman played 57 games over the last two seasons at Greeneville. Last year, over 39 games, hit .306 (37-for-121) with three homers, 17 RBI, 23 runs and 13 stolen bases (caught four times). Had a .410 on-base percentage over the last 39 games. Batted .373 against lefties and .333 at home. In August, hit .351 and had an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.019.

Phil Disher
B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-2, 215
D.O.B.: 6-17-85                    Hometown: Cary, N.C.

Notes: With Justin Smoak (11^th overall draft pick) at first base, Disher played catcher for the University of South Carolina. The Astros selected him in the 15^th round last June and moved him to first. He played 71 games for Tri-City, hitting .304 (85-for-280) with 13 homers, three triples and 20 doubles. He drove in 56 runs and scored 40, with a .381 on-base percentage and .536 slugging percentage. Baseball America, which pegs him as the 27^th best prospect in the Houston system, says the Astros also may want to look at Disher in left field.

Kody Hinze

B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-0, 225
D.O.B.: 7-29-87                    Hometown: Houston

Notes: Signed as a non-drafted free agent, Oct. 5, 2007, out of Angelina (Texas) College. First baseman made his pro debut last season with Greeneville, hitting .269 (53-for-197) with eight homers and 32 RBI over 55 games. Had 34 walks (second in the Appalachian League), 46 strikeouts.  His first game, against Kingsport, he drew four walks, scored three runs and drove in two. 

Kyle Miller

B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-1, 200
D.O.B.: 9-1-86                     
Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.

Notes: Selected by the Astros in the 21^st round of the June 2007 draft,  out of Central Florida Community College. Third baseman broke in with Greeneville in 2007 (.234, 7 HR, 23 RBI, team-leading 74 total bases and team second-best 22 runs), then split 2008 between Greeneville and Lexington. Played 32 games for the Legends, batting .234 (30-for-128) with seven homers and 24 RBI, but also with 50 strikeouts to only eight walks. 

Ronnie Ramirez
B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 5-11, 165
D.O.B.: 1-30-86                   
Hometown: Cartegena, Colombia

Notes: Middle infielder signed as a non-drafted free agent Jan. 13, 2003. Played three years in the Venezuelan Summer League, then came to the U.S. in 2006 with Greeneville (.314, all-star and team MVP over 57 games) and Lexington (2-for-10, three games).  Split last two seasons between Tri-City and the Legends. Minor-league career totals: 310-for-1,248 (.248), 10 HR, 135 RBI and 43 SB. 

Ebert Rosario
B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-3, 165
D.O.B.: 5-27-87                   
Hometown: La Romana, Dominican Republic

Notes: Third baseman was Greeneville’s Defensive Player of the Month last July. In his second season with Greeneville, hit .304 (51-for-168) with two homers and 18 RBI. In 2007, led Greeneville in average (.273), RBI (26), hits (60), total bases (86), games (59) and tied for the lead in doubles (14).  Signed as a non-drafted free agent Aug. 31, 2005, then spent one season in the Dominican Summer League. 

OUTFIELDERS 

Jay Austin
B/T: L/L                               Ht./wt.: 5-11, 170
D.O.B.: 8-10-90                    Hometown: Atlanta

Notes: Now 18, Austin cranked out 50 homers in high school and committed to Southern Cal, but a $750,000 bonus swayed him to sign with the Astros, who took him in the second round of last June’s draft. Broke in with Greeneville last summer, hitting .198 with 14 RBI and no homers. Baseball America, which rates him the 10^th-best prospect in the Astros system, notes that he was one of the youngest players in the league. BBA continued: “While Houston has a few toolsy outfielders in its system, none have the same all-around potential as Austin. A left-handed hitter and center fielder, he has the range to patrol the middle garden, the bat to handle leadoff and speed that could make him a major base-stealing threat.” BBA also designates Austin as “Best Athlete” and “Fastest Base-runner” among Astros prospects. 

Brandon Barnes

B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-2, 210
D.O.B.: 5-15-86                    Hometown: Orange, Calif.

Notes: A June 2005 draft pick out of Cyprus College, Barnes was the Legends’ Defensive Player of the Month last July. Over 87 games, he hit. 241 (75-for-311) with two homers, 19 RBI and seven stolen bases. Barnes began his pro career with two seasons at Greeneville, then moved up to Tri-City in 2007. There, he was the ValleyCats’ MVP and team leader in homers (10) and RBI (41). His 10 homers ranked second in the New York-Penn League. 

Steve Brown

B/T: R/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-0, 180
D.O.B.: 9-3-86                     
Hometown: San Andres Island, Colombia

Notes: Signed Dec. 1, 2003 as a non-drafted free agent, Brown was Legends Defensive Player of the Month last June. Over 102 games with Lexington, he hit .212 (72-for-340) with 10 homers, 31 RBI and 15 stolen bases. Began his pro career in the Venezuelan Summer League (2004, ’05), then a season at Greeneville and one at Tri-City. Five-season totals include a .267 average, 19 homers, 128 RBI and 55 stolen bases. 

Russell Dixon

B/T: L/R                               Ht./wt.: 6-2, 205
D.O.B.: 8-28-85                    Hometown: Houston

Notes: Selected by the Astros in the seventh round of the June 2007 draft, out of Auburn, Dixon hit .237 (96-for-405) for the Legends last season, adding three homers, 33 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 19 attempts. Hit .278 before the all-star break, .185 after that. Broke in with Tri-City in 2007, hitting .256 (57-for-223) with 40 RBI, five homers and four stolen bases. 

FIELD STAFF

Manager: Tom Lawless

Pitching coaches: Charley Taylor and Travis Driskill*

Hitting coach: Pete Rancont

Trainer: John Patton

Strength and conditioning: Dan Barmantje

* Driskill is interim pitching coach while Taylor is on medical leave.

 PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARY LAY

The top 10 in order (Legends underlined): Jason Castro, C; Bud Norris, RHP; Ross Seaton, RHP; Brian Bogusevic, OF; Chris Johnson, 3B; Jordan Lyles, RHP; Felipe Paulino, RHP; Drew Sutton, SS/2B; Collin DeLome, OF; Jay Austin, OF. Castro, Norris and Johnson have invitations to major-league spring training with the Astros. Castro is Houston’s top draft pick of 2008, out of Miami (Fla.).

Baseball America’s “Best Tools” designees in the Astros system include: Bogusevic (a converted pitcher), best hitter for average; Johnson, best power hitter and best infield arm; Sutton, best strike-zone discipline; and Norris, best fastball. Other ex-Legends on the Best Tools list are Sammy Gervacio, best slider; Polin Trinidad, best control; Tommy Manzella, best defensive infielder; and Josh Flores, best defensive outfielder.

* More ex-files – Houston signed RHP Paul Estrada; reclaimed 2B Jonny Ash from Milwaukee in the 3A Rule 5 draft; and sent OF Jordan Parraz to Kansas City as the “player to be named” in a deal that sent LHP Tyler Lumsden to the Astros.

* The Brewers signed former Clark County High School RHP Matt Ginter.

Cats not included in Baseball America pre-season Top 25

Kentucky cracked pre-season polls released by Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (23) and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (19), but not with Baseball America. Louisville checked in at No. 23 in the BBA rankings. Texas A&M is No. 1, followed by LSU, the first of five Southeastern Conference teams listed. The other four: Mississippi (6), Georgia (14), Alabama (21) and Arkansas (22).

The Reds are coming! The Reds are coming!

A reminder that the Cincinnati Reds Winter Caravan is scheduled to stop at Fayette Mall in Lexington on Saturday, 6-8:30 p.m.

Scheduled to make the trip are Gold Glove second baseman Brandon Phillips, No. 1 draft pick Devin Mesoraco and Reds Hall of Famer Lee May. Fans also will have the chance to meet Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman, TV analyst Chris Welsh, Chief Executive Officer Bob Castellini and Assistant General Manager Bob Miller, as well as team mascot Gapper.

Lexington is part of the Caravan’s “Southern Tour” stops. Simultaneous “Northern” and “Western” tours will feature others in the Reds family.

All the stops are free to the public, and two tickets to opening day (April 6 vs. New York Mets) will be raffled at each stop.

The full Southern Tour:

Thursday, Jan. 22 — 3:15-4:45 p.m., Charleston (W.Va.) Towne Center; 6:30-8:30 p.m., Huntington (W.Va.)/Ashland, Ky., Fannin Motors.

Friday, Jan. 23 — 7-8:30 p.m., Bowling Green, Ky., Greenwood Mall.

Saturday, Jan. 24 — 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Nashville, RiverGate Mall; 6-8:30 p.m., Lexington, Fayette Mall.

Sunday, Jan. 25 — 12:15-1:45 p.m., Maysville (Ky.) Conference Center.

The Northern Tour will stop at Vienna, W.Va.; Athens, Ohio; Lima, Ohio; and Columbus, Ohio. General Manager Walt Jocketty, broadcaster Thom Brennaman, Chief Operating Officer Phil Castellini, Reds Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Browning, Reds Minor League Player of the Year Chris Valaika, infielder Jeff Keppinger, pitcher Mike Lincoln, coach Billy Hatcher and mascot Mr. Redlegs will take part in all or parts of the Northern Tour.

The Western Tour includes one Kentucky site, Louisville Slugger Field, home of the Louisville Bats (Jan. 22, 4:30-7 p.m.). Also on the circuit are Indiana stops in Evansville, Bloomington, Indianapolis and Muncie, as well as the final leg at Dayton, Ohio. Western  participants include Manager Dusty Baker, broadcasters George Grande and Jeff Brantley, outfielder Chris Dickerson, utility player Jerry Hairston Jr., 2008 top draft pick Yonder Alonso and mascot Rosie Red. 

In addition to Lexington, CEO Bob Castellini will visit Louisville and Columbus.

More details are available online at: www.reds.com/caravan.