Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Baseball

South Atlantic
    League

Lexington Legends vs. Greensboro Grasshoppers

What: Four-game series

Where: Applebee’s Park

When: Friday through Monday (7:05 Friday, Saturday and Monday nights; 2:05 p.m. Sunday)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends); Florida Marlins

Tickets: Call  (859) 422-7867 

Robby Donovan

Tanner Bushue

Jose Cisnero

Juan Minaya

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Robby Donovan (4-3, 2.63) vs. RH Curtis Petersen (1-4, 6.75); Saturday, RH Juan Minaya (0-6, 6.00) vs. LH Chad James (0-3, 5.23); Sunday, RH Jose Cisnero (2-2, 4.97) vs. LH Edgar Olmos (2-1, 3.43); Monday, RH Tanner Bushue (3-2, 3.23) vs. RH Matthew Montgomery (3-5, 3.18).

Chris Wade at Applebee's Park.

Grasshopper to watch: SS Chris Wade (6-foot, 170 pounds, from Lexington) is hitting .254 since joining the team earlier this month. An 11th round draft pick last June, Wade played for Lexington Christian Academy and the University of Kentucky. Last summer, he hit .277 with 18 RBI, 24 runs and five stolen bases over 47 games with Jamestown of the New York-Penn League. He also went 1-for-5 in one game with the Gulf Coast League Marlins. Wade opened this season with High-A Jupiter of the Florida State League. He hit .164 with a homer, seven RBI and three runs over 19 games. Reassigned to Greensboro, he has a homer, six RBI and three stolen bases over 16 games.

Robby Donovan

Legend to watch: Robby Donovan (6-5, 230, from Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) comes into Friday’s start with a string of 17 scoreless innings. He has allowed two unearned runs over his last three starts (20 innings), all wins. Over four starts in May, he is 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA. Overall, he has pitched 48 innings over nine starts, with 24 strikeouts to 15 walks, while holding opponents to a .240 batting average. A 23rd round draft pick last year out of Stetson University, Donovan broke in with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the NYPL. He appeared in 19 games, including four starts, for Tri-City and finished 2-5 with four saves and a 3.74 ERA. He struck out 28 and walked 21.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. West Virginia Power

What: Four-game series

Where: Appalachian Power Park (Charleston, W.Va.)

When: Monday through Thursday (7:05 Monday and Thursday nights; 11:05 Tuesday and Wednesday mornings)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends); Pittsburgh Pirates

Juan Minaya

Jose Cisnero

David Duncan

Tanner Bushue

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Jose Minaya (0-5, 6.19) vs. LH Nathan Baker (2-3, 3.99); Tuesday, RH Jose Cisnero (2-2, 5.70) vs. RH Kyle McPherson (2-4, 4.32); Wednesday, RH Tanner Bushue (3-2, 2.88) vs. RH Jason Erickson (3-3, 2.96); Thursday, LH David Duncan (2-0, 1.80) vs. RH Victor Black (0-0, 9.64).

Victor Black

Power to watch: Thursday starter Victor Black (6-foot-4, 220 pounds, from Amarillo, Texas) has pitched all of 4 2/3 innings over two games with the Power, having started the season rehabbing a left oblique injury. He made his first appearance with West Virginia on May 16. A supplemental first-round draft pick (49th overall) last June, out of Dallas Baptist and signed for $717,000, he is rated by Baseball America as the 12th-best prospect in the Pirates system. According to Baseball America, “Black’s fastball sitas at 91-95 mph and resisters a tick higher when he reaches back for more. He throws his slider at 84 mph and it completely locks up hitters when he has command of it. His changeup is lacking, which leads some scouts to wonder if his hard stuff would better serve him as a late-inning reliever.” Black broke in last season with the State College Spikes of the New York-Penn League, going 1-2 with a save and a 3.45 ERA. He struck out 33, walked 15 and held opposing batters to a .213 average.

Brian Kemp

Legend to watch: OF Brian Kemp (5-9, 180, from East Rockaway, N.Y.) played two games this season before suffering an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for nearly a month. He returned to the lineup May 7. In 10 games since returning, Kemp has hit safely in seven games and reached safely in nine. Overall, he is batting .302 with four RBI over 12 games. Drafted by the Astros in the 19th round of last June’s draft, Kemp hit .379 with three homers, 35 RBI and as many walks as strikeouts (25) as a junior at St. John’s University. He also stole 16 bases in 20 attempts, spread over 52 starts. He hit .360 as a sophomore and .348 when he was a Louisville Slugger freshman All-American. He made his pro debut last summer with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the NYPL, hitting .259 with 11 RBI and 16 stolen bases over 66 games. He earned league all-star honors and was Tri-City’s Offensive Player of the Month in July.

Also of note: Legends C Jonathon Fixler has been promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi to fill in for J.R. Towles (broken hand). Jordan Comadena has been reassigned from High-A Lancaster to give the Legends a second catcher.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Coming up

South Atlantic League
           Baseball

Lexington Legends
                    vs. Greensboro Grasshoppers

What: Four-game series

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

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call   (859) 422-7867   or lexingtonlegends.com

Affiliations: Houston Astros (Legends), Florida Marlins

Juan Minaya

Jose Cisnero

Tanner Bushue

Brandt Walker

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Juan Minaya (0-4, 5.73) vs. LH Edgar Olmos (1-1, 5.14); Saturday, RH Jose Cisnero (1-1, 4.81) vs. RH Curtis Petersen (0-2, 6.00); Sunday, RH Brandt Walker (1-2, 8.14) vs. RH Matt Montgomery (2-3, 2.86); Monday, RH Tanner Bushue (2-1, 2.48) vs. RH Bryan Evans (4-0, 4.44).

Sandy Rosario

Grasshopper to watch: RHP Sandy Rosario (6-foot-1, 170 pounds, from Salcedo, Dominican Republic) has been lights out in the bullpen. In eight relief appearances spanning 19 innings, Rosario is 2-0 with one save, three holds and a 2.84 ERA. He has struck out 34 and walked only three. Signed by the Marlins as a non-drafted free agent July 2, 2004, Rosario split last season between Greensboro (seven games) and Jamestown (nine games) of the New York-Penn League, combining to go 7-4 with a 3.38 over 16 starts. He struck out 77 and walked 14 over 82 2/3 innings.

Jose Altuve

Legend to watch: 2B Jose Altuve (5-5, 148, from Maracay, Venezuela) is hitting .317 with a homer and 10 RBI over 24 games. He has scored 18 runs and stolen seven bases in 10 attempts. Altuve also has drawn seven walks, striking out 10times. He is 16-for-47 (.340) over his last 10 games, with seven multi-hit efforts. Signed as a non-drafted free agent Sept. 27, 2006, Altuve was an Appalachian League all-star and MVP of the Greeneville Astros last season. He batted .324 with three HR, 18 RBI and 21 SB over 45 games. He had more walks (26) than strikeouts (16), and 25 of his 58 hits were for extra bases. He also played 21 games with Tri-City of the New York-Penn League, batting .250 with seven RBI and seven SB. He led all Astros minor-leaguers with 28 SB.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

John Calipari

Promotions, etc.: Friday, Spongebob Squarepants and Patrick will entertain; post-game fireworks. … Saturday, bring your dog to Bark in the Park; entertainment by Jake the Diamond Dog; Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari will sign empty Maker’s Mark bottles (available for $35), 5-6:30 p.m., then throw out a ceremonial first pitch; Sunday is Kid’s Club Day and will feature the world’s largest Mother’s Day card; Monday, is Kid’s Eat Free Night.

Coming up

South Atlantic League baseball

Kannapolis Intimidators at Lexington Legends

What: Four-game series

When: Monday through Thursday (7:05 Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights; 10:05 Wednesday morning)

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call    (859) 422-7867   

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

Brandt Walker

Jose Cisnero

Robby Donovan

Tanner Bushue

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Brandt Walker (1-1, 8.27) vs. RH Cameron Bayne (1-3, 4.15) Tuesday, RH Jose Cisnero (1-0, 4.82) vs. RH Matt Hopps (0-1, 5.12); Wednesday, RH Tanner Bushue (1-1, 2.81) vs. RH Justin Collop (0-2, 6.75); Thursday, RH Robby Donovan (1-3, 3.91) vs. LH Joe Serafin (3-2, 2.64).

Trayce Thompson

Intimidator to watch: CF Trayce Thompson (6-foot-3, 195 pounds, from Ladera Ranch, Calif.) is hitting .278 with three homers, seven RBI and eight runs over 14 games with the Intimidators. A second-round draft pick of the White Sox last year, Thompson said no to UCLA and signed out of Santa Margarita High School for $625,000. He played seven games with Great Falls of the Pioneer League and 25 with Bristol of the Appalachian League last season, hitting a combined .198 with 10 RBI. Baseball America rates Thompson as the sixth-best prospect in the White Sox system. He is the son of Mychal Thompson, the No. 1 pick in the 1978 NBA draft.

Jake Goebbert

Legend to watch: LF Jake Goebbert (6-0, 200, from Hampshire, Ill.) leads the Legends with 12 doubles and ranks third or better in several other offensive categories, including: 29 hits, 16 RBI, 19 runs, 46 total bases, .465 slugging percentage and .804 OPS. The left-hander (batting and throwing) has yet to commit an error and has hits in each of his last three games and five of six contests. Drafted by the Astros in the 13th round (401st overall) of last year’s draft, out of Northwestern University, Goebbert broke a 31-year-old school record for the Wildcats when he belted a Big Ten-leading 22 doubles in 2008, his sophomore season. He also led the team homers (10), RBI (48), walks (28), slugging (.665) and on-base percentage (.458) that season, batting .353 over 49 games. As a junior, Goebbert hit .280 with four homers and 23 RBI over 30 games, while earning Academic All-Big Ten honors. Upon being signed by the Astros, Goebbert played 59 games with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League. With Tri-City, he hit .238 with 18 RBI.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Promotions, etc.: Monday is “Kids Eat Free Night” at Applebee’s Park. … Tuesday is Quarter Hot Dog Night and Kraft Singles Night. … Wednesday is Education Day, Ladies Day and Mascot Olympics Day. … The Kannapolis series concludes with Thirsty Thursday. … The eight-game homestand continues with four games against the Greensboro Grasshoppers, Friday through next Monday (May 10).

Coming up

South Atlantic League baseball

Greenville Drive at Lexington Legends

What: Four-game series

Where: Applebee’s Park

When: Friday through Monday (7:05 Friday, Saturday and Monday nights; 2:05 p.m. Sunday)

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867  

Jose Cisnero

Brandt Walker

Tanner Bushue

Juan Minaya

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Jose Cisnero (0-0, 1.93) vs. RH Roman Mendez (0-1, 21.60); Saturday, RH Brandt Walker (1-0, 1.80) vs. RH Ryan Pressly (0-0, 6.00); Sunday, RH Tanner Bushue (0-0, 4.15) vs. RH Yeiper Castillo (1-0, 2.53); Monday, RH Juan Minaya (0-1, 7.50) vs. LH Drake Britton (0-1, 2.00).

Derrik Gibson

Drive to watch: 2B Derrik Gibson (6-foot-1, 170 pounds, from Seaford, Del.), a 2008 second-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox, turned down a scholarship to North Carolina and turned pro. A  senior at Seaford (Del.) High School, he hit .636 with five HR and 29 RBI. He also pitched, winning 15 games over his junior and season seasons. Gibson broke in to pro ball with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, batting .309 with nine RBI and 15 runs over 27 games. Called up to the Lowell Spinners of the New York-Penn League, he hit .086 over 14 games. For the season, he finished 16-for-16 in stolen-base attempts (14 in the GCL, two in the NYPL). Last year, spending a full season with Lowell, Gibson batted .290, with 25 RBI and a league-leading 54 runs. He was named a league all-star, as well Red Sox minor-league baserunner of the year (28-for-33 steals). Baseball America rates him the 10th-best prospect in the Boston system and describes him as “a classic leadoff hitter” with “plus-plus speed and supreme control of the strike zone.” Gibson is off to a strong start in 2010, opening with a five-game hitting streak. Through Wednesday, he leads the Drive with a .348 average (8-for-23).  

Rene Garcia

Legend to watch: C Rene Garcia (6-1, 172, from Vega Alta, Puerto Rico) was selected by the Houston Astros in the 35th round of the June 2008 draft, when he was 18. He hit .295 for Greeneville of the Appalachian League in 2008, .202 for Tri-City of the NYPL last year. In his first four games as a Legend (through Wednesday), Garcia is second on the team with a .389 average (7-for-18). He also has three RBI and has scored five times. He shares backstop duties with veteran Jonathan Fixler.

Opening night – Friday: Poster Giveaway, Little Legend of 2010, ADI Fireworks. … Throwing ceremonial pre-game pitches will be J.J. Cannon and Charley Taylor. Cannon managed the Legends in 2001 and ‘02, guiding the initial club to the best record in the minors, winning 96 games and a South Atlantic League championship. Taylor, pitching coach in each of the Legends’ first eight seasons and a fellow Legends Hall of Famer, continues to recover from bladder cancer. … Legends players will be in “formal” attire, clad in specially designed “tuxedo” jerseys. … Team president and CEO Alan Stein has a pair of opening night guarantees. First, he guarantees that game-time temperature will be 60 degrees or warmer and, second, that the Legends will win. If the temperature is below 60, fans in attendance will receive a voucher for a ticket to a later Legends game. If the Legends lose, Stein will shave off his mustache for the first time in 40 years. … Friday is “Dollar Day,” featuring Pepsi, beer and hot dogs for $1 each.

Other series promotions —  Saturday: Magnet Giveaway (first 1,000 fans); Dave The Horn Guy. Sunday: Kids Club Day, presented by JIF; Monday: Kids Eat Free, presented by Member’s Heritage.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

After beginning the season with an eight-game road trip, the Lexington Legends will play their 2010 home opener Friday night at Applebee’s Park. The Legends will take on the Greenville Drive at 7:05 p.m.

Here’s a Who’s Who of the home team.

COACHING STAFF

Rick Aponte

Stubby Clapp

Rodney Linares

Rodney Linares, 32, becomes the eighth manager in the Legends’ 10th season, succeeding Tom Lawless. Linares, a Dominican native, spent the last three seasons as manager of the Greeneville Astros in the Appalachian League, going 74-127. He served as hitting coach for the Legends in 2005 and 2006. Before coming to Lexington, Linares spent six seasons with the Astros’ Dominican Republic operations, serving as a scout and hitting coach. Before joining the Astros coaching staff in 1999, he played three seasons of minor-league ball as an infielder in the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros organizations. His father, Julio, has been in the Astros organization since 1973 and is in his sixth season as special assistant to the general manager, for Dominican scouting and development. … Stubby Clapp, 37, returns to the Legends after spending one season on Linares’ staff at Greeneville. In 2008, his stay with the Legends was cut short so that he could play second base for Team Canada in the Beijing Summer Olympic Games. He also played for Canada in the 2004 Athens Olympics. From Windsor, Ontario, Clapp played for Texas Tech University. As a pro, he played from 1996 through 2004, reaching the big leagues in 2001 for 23 games with the St. Louis Cardinals. His No. 10 was retired in 2007 by the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. … Rick Aponte, 54, joins the staff after serving one season as pitching coach for the Gulf Coast League Astros. The previous two seasons, he was pitching coach for the Washington Nationals. Before going to Washington, he spent 32 years with in the Astros organization as a player, coach or scout, including 10 seasons as a minor-league pitching coach.  

Outfielders (Ht., wt., bats/throws, age, hometown, acquired)

Jake Goebbert

Grant Hogue

Jake Goebbert (6-0, 200, L/L, 22, Hampshire, Ill., 13th round June 2009 draft) hit .238 with 18 RBI over 59 games for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League last season. Played for Northwestern University. … Grant Hogue (6-1, 190, S/R, 23, Hattiesburg, Miss., 35th round June 2009 draft) is familiar to University of Kentucky fans. He patrolled center field for Mississippi State before turning pro. Hogue hit .284 with a homer, 14 RBI and 17 SB over 53 games with the Greeneville Astros last season. He was the team’s Defensive Player of the Month in July and August …

J.D. Martinez

Brian Kemp

Brian Kemp (5-9, 180, R/R, 21, East Rockaway, N.Y., 19th round June 2009 draft), out of St. John’s University, earned New York-Penn League all-star honors last year. In 66 games with Tri-City, he hit .259 with 11 RBI, 35 runs and 16 SB. He was Tri-City’s Offensive Player of the Month for July. … J.D. Martinez (6-3, 215, R/R, 22, Pembroke Pines, Fla., 20th round June 2009 draft) led the New York-Penn League in batting (.326) and OPS (.920 combined on-base and slugging percentages). Out of Nova Southeastern University, he earned NYPL all-star honors, with seven HR and 33 RBI over 53 games with Tri-City. He began the season at Greeneville, hitting .403 with five homers and 23 RBI in 19 games.

Infielders (Ht., wt., bats/throws, age, hometown, acquired)

Jose Altuve

Miguel Arrendell

Jose Altuve (5-5, 148, R/R, 19, Maracay, Venezuela, non-drafted free agent September 2006) was an Appalachian League all-star and MVP of the Greeneville Astros last season. He batted .324 with three HR, 18 RBI and 21 SB over 45 games. He had more walks (26) than strikeouts (16), and 25 of his 58 hits were for extra bases. He also played 21 games with Tri-City, batting .250 with seven RBI and seven SB. Overall, he led all Astros minor-leaguers with 28 SB. … Miguel Arrendell (6-0, 165, L/R, 22, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, non-drafted free agent July 2006) hails from his manager’s hometown. 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. …

Kody Hinze

Aaron Bray

Aaron Bray (6-0, 187, L/R, 22, Charlotte, N.C., 27th round June 2009 draft), out of N.C.-Charlotte, was Greeneville’s Offensive Player of the Month last August. Over 48 games with the team, he hit .278 with 20 RBI and 28 walks. … Kody Hinze (6-0, 225, R/R, 22, Houston, non-drafted free agent October 2007), out of Angelina College (Texas), split last season between the Gulf Coast League Astros and the Legends. In 32 GCL games, Hinze hit .262 with a homer and 14 RBI. In 27 games with the Legends, he .175 with four HR and 14 RBI. Including 2008 at Greeneville, Hinze’s career totals: .247, 13 HR, 60 RBI, 114 games. …

Jonathan Meyer

Andy Simunic

Jiovanni Mier

Jonathan Meyer (6-1, 195, S/R, 19, Simi Valley, Calif., supplemental third round June 2009 draft), in his first season beyond high school ball, hit .190 with three HR and 27 RBI over 62 games with Greene-ville. Yet, he led the Appalachian League with 36 walks. Baseball America likes his potential, rating him the 18th-best prospect in the Astros system. … Jiovanni Mier (6-2, 175, R/R, 19, Pomona, Calif., first round (21st overall) June 2009 draft) signed out of Bonita (Calif.) High School for a $1.358 million bonus. He played 51 games for Greeneville last season, batting .276 with seven HR, 32 RBI and 10 SB. While earning Appalachian League Player of the Year and all-star honors from Baseball America, he led the league in triples (6). Baseball America also tagged Mier as the second-best prospect in the Houston organization, best defensive player and best pro debut by a high school draft pick. … Andy Simunic (6-0, 170, R/R, 24, Collierville, Tenn., 17th round June 2008 draft) played 1B, 2B, 3B, LF and RF for the Legends last season. He hit .287 with six RBI and eight SB. He finished the year with Lancaster of the High-A California League, playing 21 games, hitting .286, with four RBI and two SB. His combined on-base percentage of .398 ranked fourth among Astros minor-leaguers. The former Tennessee Vol was team Defensive Player of the Month in July of the last two seasons — with Lexington in 2009 and Tri-City in 2008.

Catchers (Ht., wt., B/T, age, hometown, acquired) & Staff

Jonathan Fixler

Rene Garcia

John Patton

James Farrar

Jonathan Fixler (6-1, 205, R/R, 23, Park Ridge, Ill., 19th round June 2007 draft) divided last season among Lancaster, Corpus Christi and Round Rock. He played 80 games for the Legends in 2008, batting .248 with eight HR and 50 RBI. He was Lexington’s Defensive Player of the Month in April 2008. His three-year totals after leaving Indiana University: .223, 18 HR, 85 RBI, 147 games. … Rene Garcia (6-1, 172, R/R,20, Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, 35th round June 2008 draft) hit .295 for Greeneville in 2008 and .202 for Tri-City last year. Over 70 professional games, Garcia is batting .221 with two HR and 15 RBI. … James Farrar, 28, joins the Legends as strength and conditioning coach. From Templeton, Mass., and a graduate of Lasell (Mass.) College, he has worked five years as a personal trainer. This is his second season in the Astros organization, having been with Tri-City in 2009. … “General” John Patton returns for his third season as Legends trainer and his seventh year in the Astros organization. He served one season with former Astros affiliate Martinsville, then three seasons with Tri-City. Before joining the Astros, he spent one season as an intern in the Baltimore Orioles organization. A graduate of Manchester (Ind.) College, he works during the off-season for Orthopedics Northeast in Ft. Wayne, Ind.

Pitchers (Ht., wt., bats/throws, age, hometown, acquired)

Wander Alvino

Tanner Bushue

Jose Cisnero

Kirk Clark

Wander Alvino (5-11, 166, R/R, 23, Nizao, Dominican Republic, non-drafted free agent February 2006) spent two seasons with the Dominican Summer League Astros, then one each with Greeneville and Tri-City. Over those four seasons, he is 8-19 with a 4.37 ERA. He has 157 strikeouts to 70 walks over 204 innings. … Tanner Bushue (6-4, 180, R/R, 18, Kinmundy, Ill., second round June 2009 draft), out of South Central High School in Illinois, was named by Baseball America as the ninth-best prospect in the Gulf Coast League last season. In five starts for the GCL Astros, Bushue went 1-0 with a 2.42 ERA, with 19 strikeouts to five walks over 22 1/3 innings. Baseball America rates him the seventh-best prospect in the Astros system. … Jose Cisnero (6-3, 185, R/R, 21, Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic, non-drafted free agent December 2007) won back-to-back Pitcher of the Month honors (July-August) at Greeneville last season. Overall, he made starts, going 4-2 with a 3.56 ERA, 64 strikeouts and 30 walks over 55 2/3 innings. … Kirk Clark (6-2, 202, R/R, 21, Moline, Ill., free agent August 2009) made 10 relief appearances spanning 19 innings for Tri-City last season. He finished 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA, 24 strikeouts and three walks. …

Robert Donovan

Arcenio Leon

David Duncan

Robert Donovan (6-5, 195, R/R, 23 next week, Royal Palm Beach, Fla., 23rd round June 2009 draft), out of Stetson University, debuted with Tri-City last season. In 19 games, including four starts, Donovan was 2-5 with four saves, 3.74 ERA, 28 strikeouts and 21 walks over 33 2/3 innings. He was the team’s Pitcher of the Month in August. … David Duncan (6-9, 230, L/L, 23, New Richmond, Ohio, fifth round June 2008 draft), out of Georgia Tech, begins the season on the disabled list due to a sore arm. He split last season between Tri-City, Lexington and Lancaster, going a combined 4-14. With the Legends, Duncan was 4-4 with a 4.29 ERA, 52 strikeouts and nine walks over 56 2/3 innings. … Arcenio Leon (6-1, 162, R/R, 23, Maracaibo, Venezuela, non-drafted free agent February 2005) appeared in 41 games, including four starts, for the Legends in 2009. He finished 4-2 with a 5.86 ERA, 52 strikeouts and 49 walks spanning 70 2/3 innings. He spent the previous two seasons with Greeneville, which came after two years in the Venezuelan Summer League. His five-season totals: 10-16, 13 saves, 4.42 ERA, 167 K, 125 BB, 228 IP. Baseball America pegs him as the 19th-best prospect in the Astros system, noting “He sits at 93-95 mph with his fastball, topping out at 96. He mixes a slider than can be an electric pitch at 86-88 mph, a swing-and-miss offering with sharp, late break and depth.” …

Juan Minaya

Colton Pitkin

Daniel Sarisky

Juan Minaya (6-4, 185, R/R, 19, Maimon, Dominican Republic, non-drafted free agent September 2008) broke in last season with the GCL Astros, making 12 starts. Over 52 2/3 innings, he went 3-3 with a 4.27 ERA, while striking out 18 and walking 30. … Colton Pitkin (6-3, 210, R/L, 20, Baytown, Texas, 41st round June 2007 draft), selected out of Sterling High School in Texas, was Greeneville’s Pitcher of the Month in June and August of 2008. After two seasons with Greeneville, Pitkin moved up to Tri-City last year, compiling a 4-8 record with a 4.21 ERA. In 14 games, including 13 starts and one complete game, he worked 68 1/3 innings, striking out 49 and walking 32. … Daniel Sarisky (6-1, 175, R/R, 21, Duluth, Ga., 40th round June 2009 draft), out of Oglethorpe University, made 10 relief appearances for Greeneville and 10 for Tri-City last season. At Greeneville, he was 2-1 with a 4.73 ERA, 17 strikeouts and four walks over 13 1/3 innings. With Tri-City, he had no decisions, a 3.27 ERA, 24 strikeouts and nine walks over 22 innings. …

Michael Schurz

Jose Trinidad

Brandt Walker

Michael Schurz (6-2, 205, R/R, 23, Portsmouth, Va., 44th round June 2009 draft), out of the University of Iowa, sparkled in 23 relief outings last season. In 15 games with the GCL Astros, Schurz was 2-0 with six saves and a 2.25 ERA. He struck out 22 and walked six over 16 innings. Then, in eight outings for Tri-City, Schurz was 1-0 with a 0.66 ERA, 15 strikeouts and seven walks in 13 2/3 innings. … Jose Trinidad (5-11, 150, R/R, 22, Sabana Grande de Palenque, Dominican Republic, non-drafted free agent February 2006) led all Astros minor-leaguers in 2008 with a 2.73 ERA (17 earned runs in 56 innings). With the Legends last year, he was shut down after 13 relief stints and 21 innings due to injury. He was 0-3 with a save and a 4.71 ERA. His four-season minor-league totals, beginning with two years in the DSL: 9-11, 10 saves, 2.92 ERA, 134 strikeouts, 51 walks, 160 1/3 innings. … Brandt Walker (6-1, 165, R/R, 22, Austin, Texas, eighth round June 2009 draft), in his first season out of Stanford University, went 1-7 with a save and 7.92 ERA for Tri-City last season. He pitched in 16 games, including 11 starts, and totaled 50 innings, 39 strikeouts and 36 walks.

Coming up

South Atlantic League baseball

Lexington Legends at Kannapolis Intimidators

What: Four-game series

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

When: Monday through Thursday (7:05 Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights; 10:05 a.m. Wednesday)

Probable starters (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Brandt Walker (season debut) vs. RH Justin Collop (season debut); Tuesday, RH Tanner Bushue (0-0, 0.00) vs. RH Matt Hopps (0-0, 0.00); Wednesday, RH Juan Minaya (0.0, 2.70) vs. RH Joe Serafin (0-1, 6.00); Thursday, RH Robert Donovan (0-0, 1.80) vs. RH Terry Doyle (0-1, 1.50).

Intimidator to watch: 2B Daniel Wagner (6-feet, 185 pounds, from Kannapolis) is off to a solid start with his hometown team. A 16th-round pick of the Chicago White Sox in last June’s draft, Wagner is a left-handed hitter out of Belmont University. Through four games, he is 6-for-15 (.400), with two RBI and a stolen base. All of his hits have come in a pair of three-hit games. Last season, Wagner hit .258 over 56 games for Bristol of the Appalachian League, with a homer, 26 RBI and 12 stolen bases. He also hit .293 and homered over 11 games with Kannapolis.

Kirk Clark

Legend to watch: RHP Kirk Clark (6-2, 202, from Moline, Ill.) has come out of the bullpen in two of the team’s first four games. Over 2 2/3 innings he has given up three hits and two walks, but no runs. He has struck out four and was the winner in Saturday’s win over Charleston. Signed by the Houston Astros as a non-drafted free agent last August, Clark played for Creighton University. He made 10 relief appearances for Tri-City of the New York-Penn League last season, going 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA. Over 19 innings, he struck out 24 and walked three

Wander Alvino

Roster move: RHP Wander Alvino was added to the Legends roster Sunday, called up from extended spring training. He takes the place of LHP David Duncan, who moves to the disabled list, retroactive to Thursday, due to a sore arm. Alvino surrendered three runs over three innings in relief Sunday. Last season with Tri-City, Alvino was 4-7 with a 5.17 ERA over 13 starts.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

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. Asheville Tourists

What: Three-game series

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

Where: McCormick Field (Asheville, N.C.)

Robert Bono

Legends RHP Ross Seaton is set to start Wednesday. (Staff photo/Mark Cornelison)

David Duncan

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Robert Bono (8-8, 3.41) vs. RH Alan DeRatt (2-3, 4.91); Wednesday, RH Ross Seaton (8-10, 3.31) vs. RH Carlos Luna (0-0, 7.56); Thursday, LH David Duncan (4-3, 4.24) vs. RH Juan Nicasio (8-3, 2.41).

Tourist to watch: Switch-hitting CF Delta Cleary Jr. (6-foot-3, 180 pounds, from Jonesboro, Ark.) entered the season as the 11th-best prospect in the Rockies system, according to Baseball America. Through Sunday, he is hitting .258 with seven homers and 43 RBI over 100 games. He has stolen 31 bases in 42 attempts and scored 50 runs. He had three hits in each game, Saturday and Sunday, at Bowling Green. Rated by Baseball America as “best athlete” in the Rockies system, Cleary is a cousin of NBA pro Shawn Marion. Cleary, a guard, averaged 13 points a game to help his high school to the Arkansas Class 6A state title. He also quarterbacked the football team. Cleary then led his junior-college baseball team to the Division II national championship. Selected by Colorado in the 37th round of the 2008 draft, out of Louisiana State-Eunice JC, Cleary broke in to pro ball last year with Casper of the Pioneer League. There, he hit .276 with three homers, nine RBI and four stolen bases in 27 games.

Michael Hacker

Legend to watch: LHP Michael Hacker (5-9, 175, from Folsom, Calif.) struck out two Saturday in a scoreless inning of relief against the Hickory Crawdads. That was his first appearance since July 16 and bodes well after a horrendous season up to that point. His numbers: 0-1, 2.69 ERA, 20 strikeouts, 15 walks. Selected by the Houston Astros in the 25th round of the 2008 draft, out of Cosumnes River (Calif.) Junior College, Hacker played for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League last year. Over 23 appearances, all in relief, Hacker went 1-3 with five saves and a 2.73 ERA. He worked 26 1/3 innings, striking out 27 and walking 17. He held opposing batters to a .187 average and did not allow an earned run in his first 17 games. He was especially tough on the road, with an ERA of 1.08.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

MVP Jordan Pacheco

Derek Norris, top prospect

Also of note: Former Lafayette High School and University of Kentucky standout Michael Bertram is the Eastern League Player of the Week. Bertram, a third baseman for the Double-A Erie (Pa.) SeaWolves, went 9-for-26 (.346) with two doubles, two triples and two homers. He drove in 11 runs, scored eight times, walked three times and finished with an .808 slugging percentage for six games. … No Legends were on the annual list of SAL all-stars revealed Monday. The Charleston RiverDogs led the way with three selections: RHP David Phelps, 3B Corban Joseph and Melky Mesa (utility OF). West Virginia’s Rudy Owens was named Most Outstanding Pitcher, going 10-1 with a 1.70 ERA over 19 games before being promoted to Lynchburg of the Carolina League. Hagerstown Suns catcher Derek Norris, batting .288 with 122 hits and 23 homers in 121 games, was tabbed Most Outstanding Major League Prospect. Asheville catcher Jordan Pacheco, batting .325 with 139 hits and 13 homers through 111 games, was named MVP. Selections came from a vote of SAL field managers, general managers, sportswriters and broadcasters. Lakewood’s Dusty Wathan was selected as manager, Greenville’s Bob Kipper as coach. Other players picked: Asheville’s Scott Robinson (OF); Hagerstown’s Stephen Lombardozzi (2B); Augusta’s Josh Mazzola (1B); Bowling Green’s Tim Beckham (SS); Delmarva’s Ronnie Welty (OF); Hickory’s Erik Morrison (utility IF), and Lakewood’s Anthony Gose (OF).

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/