Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at Hagerstown Suns

What: Five-game series

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

Where: Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, Md.)

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

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

Jose Fernandez

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

Caleb Ramsey

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

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Asheville Tourists

What: Five-game series

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

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Colorado Rockies

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Carlos Quevedo (4-2, 3.88) vs. RH Alex Gillingham (3-5, 4.31); Saturday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (9-1, 2.18) vs. RH Chris Jensen (7-2, 4.54); Sunday, LH Luis Cruz (5-5, 3.71) vs. RH Daniel Winkler (8-5, 4.75); Monday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (1-3, 5.06) vs. RH Ben Alsup (8-3, 4.58); Tuesday, RH Jonas Dufek (5-1, 4.72) vs. RH Vianney Mayo (2-3, 5.29).

Jose Rivera

Tourist to watch: 2B Jose Rivera (5-foot-10, 170 pounds, bats/throws right, age 22, from Bayamon, Puerto Rico) comes into the series batting .305 with 22 RBI and 19 runs, with 36 hits in 36 games. That includes 10 doubles and a triple. Over his last 10 games, Rivera is 13-for-36 (.361) with a .928 OPS. He’s batting .432 versus left-handed pitchers and .247 against righties. Selected by the Rockies in the 23rd round of the 2009 draft, out of Universidad Interamericana, Rivera split the 2009 season between the Domincan Summer League Rockies and the Casper Ghosts of the Pioneer League, hitting a combined .188 with four RBI over 36 games. In 2010, playing 47 games for Casper, he hit .200 with 10 RBI. Last year, also with Casper, he improved to .228, hit his first homer as a pro, and drove in nine runs over 39 games.

Chan Jong Moon

Legend to watch: SS Chan Jong Moon (6-foot, 171 pounds, bats both, throws right, age 21, from Seoul, South Korea) is off to a solid start in the second half. In seven games since the all-star break, Moon is 8-for-26 (.308). Overall, for 31 games, he is batting .283 with two homers, 20 RBI and 17 runs, with a .381 on-base percentage. The first player in Legends history from Korea, Moon is batting .324 versus left-handed pitchers and .258 against righties. Signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent Aug. 9, 2009, he made his pro debut in 2010 with the Gulf Coast League Astros. Over 33 games, he batted .215 with six RBI and 15 runs. Last year, in 43 games with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League, Moon batted .207 with a homer, 12 RBI and 19 runs.

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. Savannah Sand Gnats

What: Five-game series

When: Thursday through Monday (5:05 Thursday and Sunday, 7:05 Friday and Saturday nights, 12:05 p.m. Monday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

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

Foltynewicz

Cruz

Quevedo

Martinez

Alaniz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (5-11, 4.88) vs. LH Angel Cuan (10-3, 3.71); Friday, LH Luis Cruz (4-4, 4.71) vs. RH Erik Goeddel (3-4, 3.22); Saturday, RH David Martinez (5-6, 3.94) vs. RH Yohan Almonte (7-8, 4.11); Sunday, RH Carlos Quevedo (8-6, 4.56) vs. RH Gonzalez Germen (7-7, 3.93); Monday, RH Ruben Alaniz (6-10, 4.64) vs. RH Taylor Whitenton (5-4, 2.51)

Hamilton Bennett

Sand Gnat to watch: LHP Hamilton Bennett (6-foot-1, 180 pounds, from Tega Cay, S.C.) has been lights out coming out of the bullpen. Over 32 games and 52 innings, Bennett is 2-0 with 13 saves, a 1.90 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and while holding opponents to a .167 batting average. He has struck out 54 and walked 15. In two games against the Legends, Bennett has struck out three over two innings, earning a save. Bennett also played one game for St. Lucie of the Florida State League, striking out one and getting the win in a three-inning relief effort. Selected by the Mets in the 29th round of the 2010 draft, out of Tennessee Wesleyan, he broke into pro ball last year with the Brooklyn Cyclones of the New York-Penn League. He worked 19 games and 28 1/3 innings, going 2-2 with a 3.49 ERA, 24 strikeouts and nine walks. At Tennessee Wesleyan, he became the 20th player in NAIA history to throw a perfect game, shutting down Virginia-Wise on May 1, 2010. 

Emilio King

Legend to watch: OF Emilio King (6-0, 208, from Samana, Dominican Republic) is reigning SAL Player of the Week. He is 19-for-26 (.528), with three homers, nine RBI and seven runs over his last nine games. Included were multi-hit games of 5, 4, 3 and a trio of two-hit games. In 24 August games, King hit. 337 with four homers, 12 RBI and 13 runs. Overall, he is batting .294 with nine homers, 39 RBI, 47 runs, 23 doubles and three stolen bases. He’s hitting .349 with runners on base. Signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent July 5, 2006, King spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons with the Dominican Summer League Astros, 2009 with the Gulf Coast League Astros and 2010 with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League. Totals for those first four seasons included a .214 average, 4 homers, 44 RBI, 70 runs, 25 doubles, 7 triples and 11 stolen bases over 159 games. King, who bats and throws right-handed, was Greeneville’s Offensive Player of the Month for July 2010.

Tommy Manzella

Notes: The Legends, in partnership with St. Catherine College men’s soccer team, will collect new and used shoes throughout the five-game series for the Edge Outreach Program. The program recycles the shoes and uses the money to buy water pumps and purification systems for developing countries. Collection boxes will be located near the ball park entrances. … Following Thursday’s game, fans are invited to stay and watch the Kentucky-Western Kentucky football game on screens located throughout the park, including the outfield video boards. … Friday is Fan Appreciation, Back to School and PTO night, with a Legends cap giveaway. NBA standout and former University of Kentucky standout Tayshaun Prince will be on hand on behalf of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Eat to Win program. Fireworks will follow the game. … Tommy Manzella, an SAL all-star shortstop in 2006, will be inducted into the Legends Hall of Fame before Saturday’s game. The ceremony is set for 6:45 p.m., with first pitch scheduled for 7:05. Manzella, who made it to the Major League in 2009 with the Astros, played 99 games for the Legends, batting .275 with 22 doubles, seven homers, 43 RBI and 16 stolen bases. He now plays for Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate in Reno, Nev., and will address the crowd via video. Basketball Hall of Famer Cliff Hagan will throw a ceremonial first pitch. The game jerseys worn by the Legends will be auctioned to benefit the St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation. … Neither the Legends nor the Sand Gnats have any players on the SAL post-season all-star team. However, Savannah has the manager of the year in Ryan Ellis and coach of the year in Glenn Abbott.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

                   South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. West Virginia Power

What: Five-game series

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

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

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

Foltynewicz

Cruz

Quevedo

Martinez

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (5-10, 4.69) vs. LH Zack Dodson (5-4, 2.50); Saturday, LH Luis Cruz (3-4, 4.67) vs. RH Zack Von Rosenberg (4-8, 5.76); Sunday, RH David Martinez (5-5, 3.59) vs. RH Jameson Taillon (2-3, 4.36); Monday, RH Carlos Quevedo (8-5, 4.17) vs. LH Eliecer Navarro (3-0, 2.54); Tuesday, LH Tommy Shirley (0-0, 13.50) vs. LH Porfirio Lopez (2-4, 3,18).

Thomas Shirley

Legend to watch: Tuesday starting pitcher Tommy Shirley (6-foot-5, 220 pounds, from North Huntington, Pa.) made his Legends debut Thursday night, giving up three runs on a hit and four walks. He also struck out two over two innings of work. Selected by the Astros in the ninth round of the 2010 draft, out of Xavier University, Shirley made five starts last season with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League. He worked 17 innings with no decisions and a 0.00 ERA, 13 strikeouts and a walk, while holding opponents to a .143 batting average. He did not pitch this season until Aug. 6, the first of two starts for the Gulf Coast League Astros. Over those two games, he again had no decisions and a 0.00 ERA, with four strikeouts and no walks over five innings, holding opponents to a .125 average. He then made two relief outings for Tri-City — no decisions, 0.00, six innings, nine strikeouts, one walk, .158 opponent average.

Dan Grovatt

Power to watch: All-star RF Dan Grovatt (6-1, 195, from Tabernacle, N.J.) leads West Virginia in games (121), runs (65), hits (126), RBI (59) and total bases (185). The lefty batter/thrower  is hitting .290 (through Wednesday), with eight homers, 27 doubles, four triples, 19 stolen bases and an .800 OPS. Grovatt has hits in 13 of his last 14 games, going 22-for-54 (.407). He’s batting .364 over 23 games in August, with three homers, 18 RBI and 15 runs. Selected by the Pirates in the 11th round of the 2010 draft, out of the University of Virginia, Grovatt appeared in three games last year for the Gulf Coast League Pirates, going 2-for-11 with two RBI.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

                      South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Asheville Tourists

What: Four-game series

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

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Colorado Rockies

Bushue

Quevedo

Cruz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, LH Luis Cruz (3-3, 4.50) vs. RH Nick Schnaitmann (4-1, 1.80); Tuesday, TBA vs. RH Peter Tago (3-4, 6.21); Wednesday, RH Carlos Quevedo (8-5, 3.99) vs. RH Josh Mueller (6-6, 5.15); Thursday, RH Tanner Bushue (6-6, 4.66) vs. RH Josh Slaats (7-2, 4.37).

Corey Dickerson

Tourist to watch: LF Corey Dickerson (6-foot-2, 210 pounds, from Brookhaven, Miss.) leads the league in homers (26) and extra-base hits (57), is second in slugging (.612) and fourth in total bases (213). He also has a five-game hitting streak, going 11-for-23 (.478), with three homers, nine RBI and seven runs. That streak has raised his season average from .271 to .284. Overall, he has driven in 72 runs and scored 69. Dickerson, who bats left-handed and throws righty, was selected by the Rockies in the eighth round of the 2010 draft, out of Meridian (Miss.) Community College. He earned Pioneer League all-star honors last year, batting .348 with 13 HR, 61 RBI and 54 runs over 69 games with the Casper Ghosts.

Ruben Sosa

Legend to watch: Switch-hitting LF/CF Ruben Sosa 5-7, 170, from Lawrence, Mass.) is 3-for-15 (.200), with a double, two RBI, two stolen bases and three runs since joining the Legends. All three hits have come against right-handers. Before coming to Lexington, Sosa played 39 games for the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League, batting .248, with six doubles, a triple, 17 RBI, 12 steals and 25 runs. The 20-year-old split time between second base and center field while in the Appalachian League. Selected in the 23rd round of the 2011 draft, out of Oklahoma City University, Sosa is a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He moved to the U.S. at age 12. Sosa batted .389 with five homers and 42 RBI last season, leading Oklahoma City in hits (78), triples (5) and steals (44). He led the Stars to the NAIA World Series, batting .375, with nine hits, three RBI and six runs over nine post-season games.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

                               South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Hickory Crawdads

What: Four-game series

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

Where: L.P. Frans Stadium (Hickory, N.C.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Texas Rangers

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, TBA vs. RH Luke Jackson (4-4, 5.28); Friday, RH Carlos Quevedo (7-5, 4.08) vs. RH Joe Van Meter (5-5, 4.09); Saturday, RH Tanner Bushue (6-5, 4.30) vs. RH Cody Buckel (6-3, 2.40); Sunday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (5-10, 4.69) vs. RH Ben Henry (5-2, 2.92).

Domingo Santana

Legend to watch: OF Domingo Santana (6-foot-5, 200 pounds, from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) joined the Legends after being acquired by the Astros on Monday as the “player to be named” in the July 30 trade of former Legend Hunter Pence to the Philadelphia Phillies. (Earlier, the Astros received RHP Jarred Cosart, OF Jonathan Singleton and RHP Josh Zeid.) Santana, who bats and throws right-handed, hit .269 over 96 games with Lakewwood, with 29 doubles, four triples, seven homers, 32 RBI and four stolen bases. He made his Legends debut Tuesday, going 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout at Hagerstown. Entering the season, Baseball America rated him as the ninth-best prospect in the Phillies system. Born in the Bahamas, he signed with Philadelphia as a free agent for $330,000. He made his pro debut in 2009 with the Gulf Coast League Phillies, batting .288 with six homers and 28 RBI over 37 games. Last year, he struggled in 49 games with Lakewood, hitting .182 with three homers and 16 RBI over 49 games. Dropped to Williamsport of the New York-Penn League, he improved to .237-5-20 over 54 games with the Crosscutters.

Jonathan Roof

Crawdad to watch: IF/OF Jonathan Roof (6-1, 165, from Paducah) is Mr. Versatile for the Crawdads, who have played him at second base, third, shortstop, left field and right field. Out of St. Mary High School and Michigan State University, he is batting .262 with two homers, 32 RBI, 25 runs and 14 stolen bases in 65 games with Hickory. He also has played 12 games for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Carolina League, hitting .186 and scoring five runs. An eighth-round draft pick last year, he played six games in the Arizona League in 2010 and 38 games with the Crawdads. His combined totals came to .266, 13 RBI, 19 runs and four SB. Roof’s father Gene and uncle Phil both played in the big leagues, while brothers Eric and Shawn are Tigers prospects. 

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Four-game series

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

Where: Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, Md.)

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

Quevedo

Bushue

Cruz

Foltynewicz

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

Mike Kvasnicka

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

Jason Martinson

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

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

                           South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. Augusta GreenJackets

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), San Francisco Giants

Bushue

Foltynewicz

Cruz

Alaniz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Wednesday, RH Tanner Bushue (6-3, 3.72) vs. RH Taylor Rogers (7-9, 3.27); Thursday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (5-8, 4.28) vs. LH Mike Kickham (3-7, 4.81); Friday, RH Ruben Alaniz (6-9, 4.43) vs. LH Ryan Bradley (1-1, 4.41); Saturday, LH Luis Cruz (3-2, 4.18) vs. LH Gaspar Santiago (3-6, 4.17).

Adam Duvall

GreenJacket to watch: All-star 3B Adam Duvall (6-foot-1, 205 pounds, from Louisville) ranks third in the league in homers (20), RBI (76), total bases (192), slugging (.547) and in homer-to-at-bat ratio (1/17.55). He leads Augusta in OPS (.938), ranks second in runs (59), walks (49) and on-base percentage (.391), and is third in batting average (.291). In eight games against the Legends, Duvall has four homers and six RBI. A Butler High School graduate and a 2010 11th-round draft pick out of the University of Louisville, Duvall began his collegiate career at Western Kentucky and transferred to Chipola Junior College before landing at U of L. He is batting .330 against left-handers, .276 against righties. Duvall broke into pro ball last summer with Salem-Keizer of the Northwest League, batting .245 with four homers, 18 RBI and 30 runs over 54 games.

Mike Foltynewicz (Herald-Leader/Mark Cornelison)

Legend to watch: Thursday starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz (6-4, 200, from Minooka, Ill.) has knocked nearly 2.5 runs off his ERA since May 11, when he stood at 6.63. Now at 4.28, the right-hander has won five of his last seven decisions. His 22 starts lead the staff and 115.2 innings pitched rank second on the team. He is fourth on the team with 72 strikeouts. In two outings against the GreenJackets, Foltynewicz is 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA over 11.2 innings. Selected by the Astros in the first round (19th overall) of the 2010 draft out of Minooka Community High School, he passed up a scholarship to Texas and signed for a bonus of $1.305 million. He made 12 starts for the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League last season, going 0-3 with a 4.03 ERA over 44.2 innings. Coming into this season, Baseball America rated him the fourth-best prospect in the Astros system and wrote that he “has the best raw arm in the system and flashes three plus pitches” — a 96 mph fastball, changeup and a slurvy breaking ball. 

Quevedo

Quevedo honored: Legends RH Carlos Quevedo is the SAL Pitcher of the Week for Aug. 1-7. Quevedo made one start, throwing seven scoreless innings in a 5-1 victory over the Kannapolis Intimidators. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter while earning his team-leading seventh victory. Quevedo (7-4) has walked only 12 batters all season, spanning 124.2 innings. Said Andy Shea, general manager of the Legends: “Carlos has been consistently strong this season and his control has been excellent. It’s great to see him receive this league-wide recognition.”

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Greenville Drive

What: Four-game series

When: Friday through Monday (7 each night except Sunday, 4 p.m.)

Where: Fluor Field (Greenville, S.C.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Boston Red Sox

Foltynewicz

Alaniz

Quevedo

Cruz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (5-8, 4,27) vs. RH Brandon Workman (3-6, 3.94); Saturday, RH Ruben Alaniz (5-9, 4.56) vs. RH Keith Couch (5-3, 2.97); Sunday, LH Luis Cruz (3-2, 4.09) vs. LH Manuel Rivera (5-4, 3.43); Monday, RH Carlos Quevedo (7-4, 3.83) vs. RH Kyle Stroup (3-5, 4.03).

Hector Rodriguez

Legend to watch: 2B/3B Hector Rodriguez (5-foot-11, 160 pounds, from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic) made his Legends debut Wednesday, going 1-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. The right-handed batter and thrower began the season by playing six games in the California League with the Lancaster JetHawks (.111, 2 runs), then played 17 games in the New York-Penn League with the Tri-City ValleyCats (.176, 3 RBI, 7 runs, 2 steals). Signed by the Astros as a free agent, Rodriguez broke in with the Dominican Summer League Astros in 2008, batting .214 with six RBI, 11 runs and four steals. With the same club in 2009, he improved to .269, 10 RBI, 33 runs and eight steals, earning all-star honors. Last year, with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League, Rodriguez hit .303 with nine RBI, 15 runs and two stolen bases. He was Greeneville’s Defensive Player of the Month last August.

Christian Vazquez

Drive to watch: C Christian Vazquez (5-9, 195, from San Juan, Puerto Rico), in seven games against the Legends this season, is 7-for-26 (.269) with a double, four homers, seven RBI, six runs and a gaudy 1.091 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentages). He earned SAL Player of the Week honors on June 27. Overall, Vazquez is hitting .268 with 13 homers, 60 RBI, 57 runs and an .804 OPS over 82 games. Selected by the Red Sox in the ninth round of the 2008 draft out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy high school, the right-hander broke in with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, batting .190 with five RBI and seven runs over 21 games. In 2009, playing 10 games for the GCL Sox and 21 with the NYPL’s Lowell Spinners, Vazquez totaled two homers, 16 RBI and nine runs, batting .178. Last year, over 79 games with the Drive, he hit .263 with three homers, 32 RBI and 34 runs.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300