Legends hop down for four at Greensboro

June 24, 2012
Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at Greensboro Grasshoppers

What: Four-game series

When: Monday through Thursday (7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday; 12:30 p.m. Wednesday)

Where: NewBridge Bank Park (Greensboro, N.C.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Miami Marlins

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (9-1, 2.13) vs. LH Charlie Lowell (3-3, 4.35); Tuesday, LH Luis Cruz (5-4, 3.70) vs. RH Jose Urena (5-4, 3.36); Wednesday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (1-2, 4.40) vs. RH Austin Brice (5-2, 4.26); Thursday, RH Jonas Dufek (5-1, 4.72) vs. RH Josh Hodges (5-5, 3.78).

Jonas Dufek

Legend to watch: Thursday starting RHP Jonas Dufek (6-foot-5, 218 pounds, will turn 24 Saturday, from Omaha, Neb.) has earned wins in his last four games. At 5-1, 4.72 overall, he has appeared in 14 games, including one in relief. Over 74 1/3 innings, Dufek has 59 and walked 20, holding opponents to a .277 batting average. In June, he is 4-0, 2.52 with 23 strikeouts to four walks, holding foes to a .236 average. Selected by the Astros in the ninth round of the 2011 draft, out of Creighton University, Dufek played last year for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League. He made 11 starts, going 3-4 with a 3.71 ERA, one complete game, 37 strikeouts and 16 walks over 51 innings. With Creighton, Dufek was named first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference last year and was MVP of the conference tournament. In addition, he was named third-team All-American.

Brent Keys

Grasshopper to watch: SAL all-star Brent Keys (6-1, 210, age 21, bats/throws L, from Simi Valley, Calif.) is batting .355 with four homers and 32 RBI through Saturday. He leads the Grasshoppers in average, runs (53), hits (89), stolen bases (15), on-base percentage (.427) and OPS (.893), and is second in total bases (117 games). Over 66 games and 251 at-bats, Keys has more walks (32) than strikeouts (22). Selected by the Marlins in the 17th round of the 2009 draft, out of Simi Valley High School, Keys broke in with the Gulf Coast League Marlins in 2009, then advanced to the NYPL’s Jamestown Jammers in 2010. He divided time last season between Jamestown and Greensboro. For three minor-league seasons leading into this year, Keys batted .282 with a homer, 61 RBI, 81 runs and 35 stolen bases in 158 games.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

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Posted by Mark Maloney

Legends hop on down to Greensboro

June 8, 2012
Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at Greensboro Grasshoppers

What: Three-game series

When: Friday through Sunday (7 Friday, Saturday nights; 4 p.m. Sunday)

Where: NewBridge Bank Park (Greensboro, N.C.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Miami Marlins

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (7-1, 2.14) vs. LH Charlie Lowell (3-2, 4.26); Saturday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (1-1, 4.50) vs. RH Austin Brice (5-1, 4.10); Sunday, LH Luis Cruz (5-2, 3.44) vs. LH Adam Conley (6-2, 2.56).

Roberto Pena

Legend to watch: C Roberto Pena (6 feet, 217 pounds, from Caguas, Puerto Rico), the team’s Defensive Player of the Month for May, has picked up on offense, too. Batting .233, with a homer, 13 RBI, 12 runs and five doubles, Pena takes a five-game hitting streak (7-for-19, .368)) into the series. He also has hits in nine of his last 10 games (11-for-39, .282). Selected by the Astros in the seventh round of the 2010 draft, split time that summer with the Gulf Coast League Astros, the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League and (for four games) the Legends. Combined, he finished with a .227 average, 17 RBI and 10 runs over 39 games. Last year, over 82 games with the Legends, Pena batted .217 with five homers, 33 RBI and 31 runs.

Adam Conley

Grasshopper to watch: Sunday starting pitcher Adam Conley (6-3, 200, from Olympia, Wash.) is rated the 10th-best prospect in the Marlins’ system, according to Baseball America, which reports in part: “Washington State’s primary closer as a sophomore, Conley moved into the rotation last spring and impressed the Marlins enough that they popped him in the second round and inked him to a $625,000 bonus. His heavy, two-seam fastball operates at 89-91 mph with good life, and he also throws a 92-94 mph four-seamer that hit 97 mph when he worked out of the bullpen. His sinker has the makings of a plus pitch, as does his straight changeup, which he turns over and fades away from right-handers.” He tied Washington State’s record with 12 saves as a sophomore. He broke in last season with the Gulf Coast League Marlins, but pitched only two innings over two games, giving up one hit and striking out two. In 12 starts this season, Conley has struck out 75 and walked 21 over 63 1/3 innings, while holding opponents to a .190 batting average.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

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Comments Off | Appalachian League, Baseball, Greeneville Astros, Greensboro Grasshoppers, Gulf Coast League Astros, Gulf Coast League Marlins, Houston Astros, Lexington Legends, Washington State University | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Mark Maloney