Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

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

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

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

Cruz

Quevedo

Foltynewicz

Sogard

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, LH Luis Cruz (2-2, 4.27) vs. RH Aaron Northcraft (3-6, 3.18); Friday, RH Carlos Quevedo (6-4, 4.28) vs. RH Caleb Brewer (5-8, 5.26); Saturday, LH Alex Sogard (1-4, 4.60) RH Gary Moran (4-1, 3.11); Sunday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (5-8, 4.43) vs. LH Carlos Perez (4-7, 5.02).

Edward Salcedo

Brave to watch: 3B/SS Edward Salcedo (6-foot-3, 195 pounds, from La Vega, Dominican Republic), leads the Braves in runs (64), hits (99), doubles (25), RBI (48) and totals bases (166), shares the team lead in triples (6), ranks second in walks (32) and stolen bases (14), and is third in homers (10) and slugging percentage (.451). Signed by Atlanta for $1.6 million, the most they’ve ever payed to a foreign amateur, in 2010, the right-handed batting and throwing teen — he’ll turn 20 on Saturday — played 23 games for the Dominican Summer League Braves and 54 games for Rome last year. He finished with combined totals of three homers, 27 RBI, 39 runs and 14 stolen bases, while batting .225. Coming into this season, Baseball America rated him as the 16th-best prospect in the Braves system. He is batting .269 through 96 games and has committed a team-high 33 errors.

Roberto Pena

Legend to watch: C Roberto Pena (6-0, 210, from Caguas, Puerto Rico) has raised his average 22 points this month, from .199 to .221. He is 13-for-44 (.295) in July. Overall, he three homers, 23 RBI and 21 runs over 58 games. He ranks third in the league in throwing out base-stealers, catching 22 of 56 (39.3 percent) runners. Pena, who bats and throws right-handed, was selected by the Astros in the seventh round of the 2010 draft. Baseball America rated him as the best defensive player in Houston’s 2010 draft class, noting that he “shows flashes of plus-plus arm strength and threw out 44 percent of basestealers in his pro debut. He’s also intelligent and bilingual, and he has a feel for game-calling.” His father, Bert, is a former major leaguer. Roberto played four games for the Legends last year, plus 23 with the Gulf Coast League Astros and 12 games with the Greeneville Astros. Overall last season, he hit .227 over 39 games and drove in 17 runs.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

                               South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. Rome Braves

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (Thursday through Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.)

Where: State Mutual Stadium (Rome, Ga.)

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

Luis Cruz

Quevedo

Foltynewicz

Sogard

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, LH Luis Cruz 0-0, 2.92) vs. LH Ronan Pacheco (2-4, 4.09); Friday, RH Carlos Quevedo (4-3, 4.97) vs. RH Caleb Brewer (4-3, 3.23); Saturday, LH Alex Sogard (1-2, 3.79) vs. RH Willie Kempf (0-1, 0.00); Sunday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (3-6, 4.61) vs. RH Aaron Northcutt (2-2, 2.36).

Carlos Quevedo

Legend to watch: Friday’s starting pitcher, Carlos Quevedo (6-foot-2, 239 pounds, from Valencia, Venezuela) has a gaudy 55 strikeouts to only four walks this season. He has held opponents to six earned runs over his three June starts. Overall, Quevedo is 4-3 with a 4.97 ERA. He has worked 67 innings over 12 games, including 11 starts. Signed as a non-drafted free agent July 3, 2006, Quevedo spent 2007 and 2008 with the Venezuelan Summer League Astros. He went 4-0 with a 2.32 ERA in his debut season, then earned league MVP honors by going 4-2 with a 1.98 ERA in 2008. In 2009, with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League, Quevedo was 2-7 with a 5.60. Last year, with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League, he was the team’s pitcher of the month in July and finished the season 7-3 with a 3.06 ERA. He made 15 starts for the ValleyCats, working 85 1/3 innings, with 55 strikeouts and eight walks.

Caleb Brewer

Brave to watch: Friday’s starting pitcher, Caleb Brewer (6-3, 205, from Hamilton, Ga.), ranks third in the league in innings pitched (78), 12th in WHIP (1.17) and 13th in ERA (3.23). Friday will mark his 13th start, which now leads the SAL. After the weekend series, Brewer is bound for the SAL All-Star Game, along with Braves DH Jakob Dalfonso. After going 0-1 with a 3.03 ERA in April, Brewer went 2-1 with 2.90 in May. This month, he is 2-1 and 4.15. Selected out of high school by the Braves in the 14th round of the 2007 draft, Brewer went 0-1 with a 4.68 that year with the Gulf Coast League Braves. He missed the 2008 season due to injury, then returned to the Gulf Coast League in 2009, going 3-3 with a 2.82 ERA and a team-leading 65 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .132 batting average. Last year, with Rome, Brewer finished 3-2 with a 4.65 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: Final four games of the 2010 season

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

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call    (859) 422-7867   

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

Juan Minaya

Jose Cisnero

Zach Grimmett

Luis Cruz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Juan Minaya (4-11, 5.04) vs. LH Steven Kent (1-0, 0.79); Saturday, RH Jose Cisnero (7-6, 3.83) vs. RH Arodys Vizcaino (9-3, 2.30); Sunday, RH Zach Grimmett (5-3, 4.61) vs. RH Aaron Northcraft (1-2, 6.17); Monday, LH Luis Cruz (7-5, 3.56) vs. LH Chris Masters (3-10, 4.26).

Todd Cunningham

Brave to watch: OF Todd Cunningham (6-foot-1, 205 pounds, from Jacksonville, Ala.) was selected by the Braves in the second round of last June’s draft, out of Jacksonville State University. Through 61 games, the swtitch-hitter is batting .265 with a homer, 19 RBI, 32 runs, nine doubles and seven stolen bases. Cunningham was a first-team all-Ohio Valley Conference pick last spring, when he hit .359 with 11 homers, 43 RBI, 17 doubles and four triples and led the Gamecocks to the OVC Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth. A pre-season first-team All-America selection by Baseball America, he led JSU with a .465 on-base percentage and scored 61 times. As a freshman in 2008, he was second-team all-OVC and OVC Freshman of the Year. Last summer, he won the Thurman Munson Batting Award by leading the Cape Cod League with a .378 average for the Falmouth Commodores. He also led the Cape Cod League with 59 hits and a .458 on-base percentage. At Jacksonville, Cunningham was used primarily as a shortstop and outfielder, but was projected in the draft as a third baseman. With Rome, though, he has been used in center field about three-quarters of the time, and right field on occasion.

Roberto Pena

Legend to watch: C Roberto Pena (6-0, 180 pounds, from Caguas, Puerto Rico) joins the Legends for the final weekend of the season. Selected by the Astros in the seventh round of last June’s draft, out of Eloisa Pascual High School, he takes the place of another 2010 draft-pick catcher, fifth-rounder Ben Heath, who has been promoted to the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks. Upon signing, Pena was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Astros. Over 23 games, he batted .256 with 11 RBI and five runs scored. He spent much of last month with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League, batting .191 with five RBI and four runs scored over 12 games.

J.R. Towles

Promotions: Friday: Fan Appreciation Night and Legends Hall of Fame Night, with post-game concert by GodCry. This year’s Hall of Fame inductee is J.R. Towles, a catcher for the Legends during the 2005 and ’06 seasons. Towles reached the major leagues in 2007 with the Astros. With the Legends, Towles hit .346 with five homers, 23 RBI and 11 stolen bases over 45 games in 2005. The next season, he batted .317 with 12 homers, 55 RBI and 13 stolen bases over 81 games. The latter season, he also won the Home Run Derby at the SAL All-Star Game. Towles was elected in an online vote of fans, who chose from a list of 12 nominees. Saturday: “Jersey Off Our Back” Night (silent auction of game-worn jersies to benefit St. Joseph Hospital nursing scholarship program), with entertainment by Myron Noodleman and a post-game fireworks show. Sunday: JIF Kids Club Sunday. Monday: Kids Eat Free Night and post-game fireworks.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

J.R. Towles has been elected to the Lexington Legends Hall of Fame. He will be on hand for his induction ceremony, which will take place before the 7:05 p.m. start of Friday’s game against the Rome Braves.

J.R. Towles

A catcher for the Legends during the 2005 and ’06 seasons, Towles reached the major leagues in 2007 with the Legends-parent club Houston Astros.

He hit .346 with five homers, 23 RBI and 11 stolen bases over 45 games with the Legends in 2005. The next season, he batted .317 with 12 homers, 55 RBI and 13 stolen bases over 81 games. The latter season, he also won the Home Run Derby at the South Atlantic League All-Star Game.

Towles was elected in an online vote of fans, who chose from a list of 12 nominees.

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