Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

South Atlantic League baseball

Lexington Legends
at West Virginia Power

What: Four-game series

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

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

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), Pittsburgh Pirates (Power)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, LH Colin Rodgers (3-1, 2.30) vs. RH Clay Holmes (1-3, 6.10); Friday, LH Daniel Stumpf (3-0, 1.19) vs. RH Tyler Glasnow (3-0, 1.80); Saturday, RH Aroni Nina (0-2, 4.74) vs. RH Jake Burnette (0-0, 49.1); Sunday, RH Bryan Brickhouse (1-3, 2.33) vs. LH Joely Rodriguez (2-2, 3.14).

Bryan Brickhouse

Legend to watch: Sunday starter Bryan Brickhouse (6-foot, 212 pounds, age 20,  from Charlotte, N.C.) is reigning SAL Pitcher of the Week (1 GS, 6.2i, 0r, 2h, 9k, 2w), having pitched Lexington to a 2-0 road victory over Lakewood. In one start this week, against Kannapolis, Brickhouse threw five innings of one-run, seven-hit ball. Overall, his 1-3, 2.33 mark comes over seven starts and 38 2/3 innings. He has 34 strikeouts to nine walks, holding opponents to a .231 average. His ERA is 3.18 at home, 1.66 on the road. A third-round draft choice in 2011, he went 7-2 with a 1.08 ERA and 129 strikeouts over 72 innings as a high school senior in The Woodlands, Texas. His teammates included Jameson Taillon, the second overall pick in the 2010 draft. Brickhouse passed on a chance to play collegiate ball for North Carolina and signed with the Royals for $1.5 million. His grandfather, Norman Brickhouse, was a catcher for North Carolina State. The Legends’ Brickhouse (no relation to Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Brickhouse) played one game for the Idaho Falls Chukars last season and 10 for the Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League, going a combined 3-3, 6.62, with 41 strikeouts and 26 walks. Coming into this season, Baseball America rated him the 17th best prospect in the Royals system.

Allie Stetson

Power to watch: 1B Allie Stetson (6-2, 238, 22, bats and throws right, from Olmstead Falls, Ohio) leads or shares the team lead in games (36), average (.316), hits (43), homers (8), total bases (76), slugging (.559) and OPS (.961) through Tuesday. Out of St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio, he also pitched and went 9-1 with a 1.29 ERA as a senior. He also struck out 134 in 60 innings. The Pirates selected him in the second round of the 2010 draft. He played last season with the Gulf Coast League Pirates, batting .213 with three homers, 19 RBI and 23 runs. He earned SAL Player of the Week honors in mid-April.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

South Atlantic League baseball

West Virginia Power
at Lexington Legends

What: Four-game series

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

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), Pittsburgh Pirates (Power)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday,RH Christian Binford (1-2, 3.71) vs. LH Orlando Castro (3-2, 1.36); Friday, LH Colin Rodgers (2-1, 2.84) vs. RH John Kuchno (1-1, 4.33); Saturday, LH Daniel Stumpf (3-0, 1.03) vs. TBA; Sunday, RH Aroni Nina (0-1, 5.03) vs. TBA.

Josh Bell

Power to watch: RF Josh Bell (6-foot-3, 213 pounds, age 20, bats both, throws right, from Irving, Texas) leads West Virginia in runs (25), doubles (12) and RBI (league-leading 32). Bell is batting .295 with five homers, a .343 on-base percentage and slugging .516. He’s batting .409 against left-handers, .270 versus righties. Over his last four games, Bell is 6-for-16 with eight runs. A 2011 second-round draft pick out of Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas, Bell hit .556 with 14 homers, 55 RBI and 57 runs as a senior. He received a $5 million signing bonus. He broke into pro ball with the Power last season, batting .274 with a homer, 11 RBI and six runs over 15 games.

Humberto Arteaga

Legend to watch: 2B/SS Humberto Arteaga (6-3, 183, 19, bats and throws right, from Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela) is 11-for-38 (.289) over his last nine games, raising his batting average 49 points to .177, with nine RBI and five runs. Signed as a non-drafted free agent in July 2010, Arteaga has been rated by Baseball America as the Royals’ best defensive infielder entering each of the last three seasons. He broke in with the Arizona League Royals in 2011, batting .254 with 28 RBI and 30 runs over 47 games. Last year, with Burlington of the Appalachian League, Arteaga hit .274 with two homers, 29 RBI and 40 runs over 58 games.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

(Updates Power rotation)

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at West Virginia Power

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights, 2:05 p.m. Sunday)

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

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

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, LH Luis Cruz (5-3, 3.49) vs. LH Zack Dodson (1-5, 6.12); Friday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (1-1, 4.38) vs. RH Robby Rowland (2-1, 3.12); Saturday, RH Jonas Dufek (4-1, 4.87) vs. RH Ryan Hafner (0-4, 6.34); Sunday, RH Nick Tropeano (5-4, 2.99) vs. RH Zack Von Rosenberg (0-1, 4.73). 

Murilo Gouvea

Legend to watch: RHP Murilo Gouvea (6-foot-2, 210 pounds, from Sao Paulo, Brazil) has become a force in the bullpen.  In addition to his 2-3 record, one save and 2.66 ERA, Gouvea leads the team with eight holds. All of his 26 appearances have come in relief, spanning 40 2/3 innings. He has notched 48 strikeouts to 11 walks, holding opponents to a .211 batting average. Although he has made 13 appearances each home and away, all of his decisions have come at home, where he has a 3.92 ERA. On the road, his ERA is 1.35. Gouvea has improved each month, posting a 4.11 ERA in April, 2.25 in May and 0.96 so far in June. Originally signed as free agent Nov. 17, 2006,  by the White Sox, he pitched for the Dominican Summer League White Sox in 2007, Bristol of the Appalachian League in 2008, Bristol, the SAL’s Kannapolis Intimidators and Greeneville Astros in 2009, the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League in 2010, and Tri-City and Lexington in 2011. Combined, he went 10-16 with three saves and a 5.09 ERA, striking out 292 and walking 116 over 252 2/3 innings. With the Legends last year, Gouvea was 1-3 with a 3.98 ERA in 30 relief appearances spanning 74 2/3 innings, with 83 strikeouts.

Jose Osuna

Power to watch: 1B Jose Osuna (6-2, 213, from Trujillo, Venezuela), batting .267, ranks fourth on the team in homers (4), RBI (29) and total bases (97). He also is tied for second in doubles (20) and is third in hits (65) and runs (34). Signed by the Pirates as an undrafted free agent for $275,000 in 2009, Osuna, 19, is rated by Baseball America as the 30th-best prospect in the Pittsburgh system. He hit .251 with 10 homers and 43 RBI in 64 games with the Venezuelan Summer League Pirates in 2010. Last year, he hit .331 with four homers and 32 RBI over 48 games with the Gulf Coast League Pirates, and went 2-for-8 (.250) in two games with the NYPL’s State College Spikes. Osuna, who bats and throws right-handed, is hitting .204 versus left-handed pitchers this season, .286 against righties.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. West Virginia Power

What: Three-game series

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

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

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

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Jonas Dufek (2-1, 5.30) vs. RH Zack Von Rosenberg (0-0, 0.00); Tuesday, RH Nick Tropeano (5-3, 2.82) vs. RH Nicholas Kingham (1-4, 5.51); Wednesday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (8-1, 2.07) vs. LH Zack Dodson (1-4, 5.61).

Willy Garcia

Power to watch: OF Willy Garcia (6-foot-3, 180 pounds, from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is batting .274 with eight homers and 41 RBI going into play Sunday. He went 3-for-5 Friday and again Saturday. In seven June games, Garcia is 10-for-28 (.357). He leads the Power in RBI, ranks second in homers and third in hits (59) and total bases (93). Garcia, who throws and bats righty, is at his best against left-handed pitchers, batting .341 (.257 vs. RHP). Signed by the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent, Garcia made his pro debut in 2010 with the Dominican Summer League Pirates, batting .250 with a homer and 22 RBI for 51 games. Last year, over 47 games with the Gulf Coast League Pirates and three games with the State College Spikes of the New York-Penn League, he batted .266 with five homers and 35 RBI.

Carlos Quevedo

Legend to watch: RHP Carlos Quevedo (6-2, 239, from Valencia, Venezuela) is one of seven Legends selected for the South Atlantic League All-Star Game. Going into play Sunday, Quevedo had made 19 appearances, including two starts, and worked 44 2/3 innings. At 4-1 overall, with three saves and a 2.82 ERA, Quevedo had piled up 49 strikeouts and walked only five, while holding opponents to a .222 batting average. Exclude his two starts and his numbers are even more impressive: 4-0, three saves, 0.96 ERA, .171 batting average. Signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in 2007, he spent the 2007-08 seasons with the Venezuelan Summer League Astros, combining to go 8-2, with 78 strikeouts and 26 walks over 122 2/3 innings. He moved to the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League in 2009 (2-7, 5.6), the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League in 2010 (7-3, 3.06) and to the Legends last year (8-6, 4.53). Starting in 26 of 27 appearances, he led the 2011 Legends in victories and innings pitched (151). He also had the lowest walks-per-nine-innings ration in the SAL, yielding 19 walks all year.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Promotions: Monday is “Kids Eat Free” night; children 12 and under get a food voucher. Tuesday is “35-cent hot dog” night; enough said. Wednesday is “free hot dog” night for kids 12 and under; fans must pick up a hot dog voucher at a Lexington Meijer location.

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. West Virginia Power

What: Three-game series

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

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

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

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Jonas Dufek (1-0, 4.96) vs. RH Ryan Hafner (0-3, 8.24); Tuesday, RH Nick Tropeano (2-3, 2.91) vs. TBA; Wednesday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (0-1, 8.49) vx. LH Zack Dodson (1-4, 6.17).

Alen Hanson

Power to watch: Switch-hitting 2B Alen Hanson (5-foot-11, 152 pounds, from La Romana, Dominican Republic) leads the Power in games played (42), at-bats (177), average (.339), hits (60), runs (40), doubles (16), triples (6), stolen bases (13), total bases (106) and OPS (.984), and shares the team lead in walks (14). He is second on the team in homers (6) and third in RBI (21). Signed by the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent July 14, 2009, Hanson hit .324 and had two homers, 28 RBI, 48 runs and 20 stolen bases for the 2010 Dominican Summer League Pirates. Last year, in 52 games with the Gulf Coast League Pirates, Hanson led the league in triples (7), was second in steals (24) and fourth in runs (42), while batting .263 with two homers and 35 RBI. He also played three games for State College of the New York-Penn League. This season, he’s batting .355 against left-handers, .336 versus righties; .376 at home, and .304 on the road.

Delino DeShields Jr.

Legend to watch: 2B Delino DeShields Jr. (5-9, 203, from Ocala, Fla.) leads the league in stolen bases, swiping 26 in 27 attempts. Batting .239 with two homers and 15 RBI, the 19-year-old right-hander leads the Legends with 30 runs and shares the team lead with 26 walks. His father, Delino Sr., played 13 seasons in the Major Leagues and stole 463 bases. Both father and son were first-round draft picks — Senior went 12th in the 1987 draft; the Astros selected Junior with the eighth pick of the 2010 draft, then signed him for a franchise-record $2.125 million. He played only 18 games in the summer of 2010, two for the Gulf Coast League Astros and 16 for Greeneville of the Appalachian League, batting .289 with eight RBI, 14 runs and five stolen bases. With the Legends last year, as the sixth-youngest player in the SAL, DeShields Jr. learned his new position (moving from center field) while batting .220, with nine homers, 48 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 41 attempts.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at West Virginia Power

What: Three-game series

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

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

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

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (4-1, 1.60) vs. RH Nicholas Kingham (1-2, 7.43); Tuesday, LH Luis Cruz (2-1, 3.47) vs. RH Matt Benedict (2-2, 2.89); Wednesday, RH Jonas Dufek (0-0, 5.06) vs. RH Ryan Hefner (0-2, 6.75).

Dayan Diaz

Legend to watch: RHP Dayan Diaz (5-foot-10, 188 pounds, from Cartagena, Colombia) has been a solid performer over 12 relief appearances. Diaz is 4-2, with four saves and an 0.81 ERA over 22 1/3 innings. He has struck out 25 and walked nine, while holding opponents to a .155 batting average. Signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent on Oct. 6, 2005, at age 16, Diaz spent the 2006 through 2008 seasons with the Venezuelan Summer League Astros. He moved to the Gulf Coast League Astros in 2010, then to the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League last year. With Tri-City, Diaz appeared in 19 games, including one start. He wound up with a 7-3 record, two saves and a 1.98 ERA. He also struck out 70 and walked 30, holding foes to a .158 batting average.

Gregory Polanco

Power to watch: RF Gregory Polanco (6-4, 170, from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) leads West Virginia in homers (7) and ranks second in runs (22), triples (2), RBI (21), total bases (66) and stolen bases (10). He also ranks third in hits (38), average (.304), slugging (.528) and OPS (.879), and is fourth in on-base percentage (.351). Signed by the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent on April 11, 2009, Polanco hit .267 that year for the Dominican Summer League Pirates, with 24 RBI and 34 runs in 64 games. In 2010, with the Gulf Coast League Pirates, he batted .202, with three homers, 23 RBI and 21 runs in 53 games. Last year, over 48 games with the GCL Pirates and three games with State College of the New York-Penn League, Polanco hit .229, with three homers, 35 RBI and 34 runs in 51 games. Polanco, who bats and throws left-handed, is 12-for-34 (.353) in the first nine games of May. He has hits in his last seven games.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

                                    South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Savannah
Sand Gnats

What: Four-game series

When: Saturday through Tuesday (6:05 p.m. Saturday, 2:05 p.m. Sunday, 7:05 p.m. Monday and Tuesday)

Where: Grayson Stadium (Savannah, Ga.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), New York Mets

Quevedo

Sogard

Alaniz

Foltynewicz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, RH Carlos Quevedo (6-4, 4.25) vs. RH Ryan Fraser (6-6, 3.26); Sunday, LH Alex Sogard (1-3, 4.39) vs. RH Michael Hebert (0-0, 9.00); Monday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (5-8, 4.29) vs. RH Gonzalez Germen (6-5, 3.61); Tuesday, RH Ruben Alaniz (5-8, 4.93) vs. LH Angel Cuan (8-1, 3.26).

Ben Heath

Legend to watch: C Ben Heath (6-foot-2, 220 pounds, from Martinsville, Va.), through Thursday, is 10-for-29 (.345) over his last nine games, raising his average from .156 to .230 over 21 games with the Legends. Included during that nine-game span are his first two homers with the team, half of his 12 RBI and five of his eight runs. Before joining the Legends, Heath played 40 games with the Lancaster JetHawks of the California League, batting .262 with five homers, 23 RBI and 23 runs. Selected by the Astros in the fifth round of the 2010 draft, out of Penn State University, Heath divided 61 games last season between the New York-Penn League’s Tri-City ValleyCats (37 games), Legends (20 games) and the Corpus Christi Hooks (four games) of the Texas League. Combined, he batted .276 with 10 homers, 38 RBI and 29 runs. The individual highlight came Aug. 13, when Heath belted three homers and drove in seven runs during a 10-8 loss to West Virginia. As a junior at Penn State, the right-handed batter and thrower led the team in batting (.369), doubles (16), homers (school-record 19), RBI (57), total bases (148), slugging (.747), on-base percentage (.451) and runs (53).

Aderlin Rodriguez

Sand Gnat to watch: 3B Aderlin Rodriguez (6-3, 210 pounds, from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) leads Savannah in games (93), at bats (363), hits (81), homers (12), RBI (60) and total bases (136) through Thursday. Batting .223, he’s also second on the team in runs (43), third in doubles (17) and fifth in slugging (.375). On the down side, he leads the team in errors (31), is second in strikeouts (78) and so lacks speed that he hasn’t even attempted a steal. Rated as the ninth-best prospect in the Mets system by Baseball America, which writes in part: “Rodriguez has more raw power than any player in the system and could mature into a 25-30 homer threat. His wrists are strong and quick, producing elite bat speed.” The righty signed as a free agent for $600,000 in 2008. He missed much of the 2009 season due to a wrist injury, batting .290 over 17 games. Last year, in 61 games with Kingsport of the Appalachian League, Rodriguez hit .312 with 13 homers, 48 RBI and 44 runs. He also went 6-for-30 (.200) over eight games with the Gnats.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

                                 South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. West Virginia Power

What: Three-game series

When: Monday through Wednesday (7:05 p.m. Monday, Tuesday; 12:05 p.m. Wednesday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

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

Sogard

Quevedo

Cruz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, LH Luis Cruz (1-0, 2.64) vs. RH Jameson Taillon (2-1, 2.96); Tuesday, RH Carlos Quevedo (5-4, 4.67) vs. RH Tyler Waldron (6-3, 4.26); Wednesday LH Alex Sogard (1-3, 4.38) vs. RH Zack Von Rosenberg.

Cole White

Power to watch: OF Cole White (6-foot-4, 205 pounds, from Midland, Texas) has only played 11 games for the Power (through Saturday), but already has two game-winning hits against the Legends. His home run on the first pitch of the 10th inning gave West Virginia a 2-1 walk-off win Monday. A night later, his double with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning drove in the final run in a 4-3 triumph. White is 13-for-42 (.310), with a homer, seven RBI and five runs since joining the Power. He began the season with the Bradenton Marauders of the High-A Florida State League. There, he went 13-for-63 (.206), with a homer, three RBI and eight runs. Selected by the Pirates in the 42nd round of the 2008 draft, out of the United States Military Academy, he spent the 2008 and 2010 seasons with the State College Spikes of the New York-Penn League, and did not play in 2009. His combined totals with State College included 63 games, four homers, 28 RBI, 26 runs and a .280 batting average.

Legend to watch: Monday’s starter, Luis Cruz (5-9, 190, from San Juan, Puerto Rico), began this season with the Lancaster JetHawks of the High-A California League. He struggled, going 0-1 with a 14.54 ERA over four starts and 13 innings. Opponents hit .407 against him and he had 10 strikeouts to six walks. Since being reassigned to Lexington, Cruz has settled down. Over seven games, including three starts, he has worked 30 2/3 innings, going 1-0 with a 2.64 ERA, 24 strikeouts and five walks. Legends opponents are batting .219 against Cruz. Selected by the Astros in the ninth round of the 2008 draft out of Academia Santa Monica (high school), the left-hander doesn’t turn 21 until September. He spent his first two pro seasons with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League, going a combined 2-5 over 19 games, including 17 starts, with a 5.40 ERA, 60 strikeouts and 29 walks. Last year, with the Legends, Cruz appeared in 20 games, including 16 starts, and finished 8-5 with a 3.61 ERA, 88 strikeouts and 26 walks over 99 2/3 innings.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

                                 South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. West Virginia Power

What: Four-game series

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

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

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

Foltynewicz

Alaniz

Quevedo

Cruz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (4-6, 4.54) vs. LH Zac Fuesser (2-2, 2.20); Tuesday, RH Ruben Alaniz (5-5, 4.55) vs. RH Colton Cain (5-5, 3.04); Wednesday, LH Luis Cruz (1-0, 2.19) vs. RH Tyler Waldron (6-3, 4.11); Thursday, RH Carlos Quevedo (5-4, 4.74) vs. RH Zack Von Rosenberg (3-5, 6.75).

David Martinez

Legend to watch: RHP David Martinez (6-foot-2, 215 pounds, from Cumana, Venezuela) has appeared in 19 games, including one start. Over 31 innings, he is 3-0 with a 4.06 ERA, 25 strikeouts and six walks. His four June outings have spanned 7 1/3 innings, during which time he is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA, while holding opponents to a .179 batting average. Signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent March 3, 2005, at age 17, Martinez spent four seasons with the Venezuelan Summer League Astros. He made his North American debut in 2009 with Greeneville of the Appalachian League, where he went 1-4 with a save and a 4.50 ERA. Last year, with Tri-City, he improved to 5-2 with a 3.02 ERA and finished on a high note by earning ValleyCats Pitcher of the Month honors in August. His overall minor-league totals coming into this season included 89 games, 26 starts, a 22-11 record, 3.44 ERA, 261 1/3 innings, 196 strikeouts and 63 walks.

Colton Cain

Power to watch: Tuesday starting pitcher Colton Cain (6-3, 225, from Waxahachie, Texas) leads the Power in starts (14) and innings pitched (74), and his 58 strikeouts are one less than team leader Von Rosenburg. Cain has made four starts in June, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA over 24 innings. Coming into the season, Baseball America rated Cain the 13th-best prospect in the Pirates system. Wrote BBA: “Signed to an eight-round record $1.15 million bonus in 2009, Cain had back surgery last winter and spent much of 2010 rehabilitating what the Pirates called a minor issue. He did get back on the field by the end of June, and management was impressed with his intense work ethic and delighted that his stuff bounced back to near-peak form.” With the Gulf Coast League Pirates (four starts) and State College Spikes (11 games, nine starts) last year, Cain went 1-2 with a 4.66 ERA over 48 innings. He struck out 47, walked 19 and held opponents to a .197 batting average (.163 vs. left-handers).  

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

                                          South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. West Virginia Power

What: Four-game series

When: Wednesday through Saturday (7:05 each night)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

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

Quevedo

Sogard

Alaniz

Foltynewicz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Wednesday, RH Carlos Quevedo (4-2, 5.62) vs. RH Zack Von Rosenberg (0-4, 7.53); Thursday, LH Alex Sogard (1-1, 3.42) vs. RH Tyler Waldron (4-2, 4.30); Friday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (2-6, 4.77) vs. RH Jameson Taillon (1-1, 3.10); Saturday, RH Ruben Alaniz (2-4, 6.20) vs. RH Brandon Cumpton (6-3, 4.53)

Brandon Cumpton

Power to watch: Saturday’s starting pitcher Brandon Cumpton (6-foot-2, 198 pounds, from Evans, Ga.) leads West Virginia in wins and innings pitched (through Monday). A ninth-round draft pick last year out of Georgia Tech, Cumpton is 6-3 with a 4.53 ERA over 10 games, including nine starts, and 51 2/3 innings. The right-hander has struck out 39 and walked 13, holding opponents to a .225 batting average. Cumpton, 22, got rocked for seven earned runs in each of his first three starts. In seven games since, he has yielded a total of five earned runs, never more than one in a game. In May, he went 6-0 with a 1.18 ERA. Cumpton broke into pro ball last summer with the State College Spikes of the New York-Penn League, going 0-1 with a 2.53 ERA, six strikeouts and five walks over four games and 10 2/3 innings. At Georgia Tech last year, he went 9-3 with a 5.50 ERA while making 15 starts.

Ben Orloff

Legend to watch: 2B/SS Ben Orloff (5-11, 171, from Simi Valley, Calif.) is hitting a solid .338 with six RBI and 14 runs over 23 games. He has drawn seven walks while striking out only three times and has stolen four bases. Orloff has a .420 on-base percentage and .416 slugging. He is batting .478 when facing left-handers. A 2009 ninth-round draft pick, he was a Lowe’s Senior CLASS All-Senior All-America first teamer (based on excellence in the classroom, character, community and competition) with Cal-Irvine. The all-American shortstop won the 2009 Brooks Wallace Award. Orloff was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2008 but opted to return to Irvine for his senior year and earn his degree in criminology. He led the Anteaters to a No. 1 ranking and their first Big West Conference championship. He finished as the school’s all-time leader in multiple categories, including hits (281) and runs (178), and stole the second-most bases (61) in school history. Orloff split time in 2009 between Greeneville (11 games) and Tri-City (28 games), hitting below .200 with both clubs. He turned things around last year at Tri-City, where he was an all-star and team MVP, winning both a team Defensive Player of the Month (July) and Offensive Player of the Month (August) award. He finished with a .307 average, 16 RBI and 52 runs scored over 63 games, with 23 stolen bases.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300