Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

The Houston Astros’ player development department has announced minor league players of the month for the month of June.

For the Class A Lexington Legends, that includes Mike Foltynewicz (pitcher of the month), Delino DeShields Jr. (offensive player) and Zach Johnson (defensive player).

Award winners for each of the Astros’ minor league affiliates were chosen by the field staff of each team.

Other honorees include former Legends Jose Cisnero, Jonathan Villar and Andrew Simunic with Class Double-A Corpus Christi, and Jose Trinidad, Ben Heath and Ben Orloff with High-A Lancaster.

Lexington Legends

Mike Foltynewicz

Foltynewicz went 3-1 with a 2.97 ERA in June, with 20 strikeouts and 10 walks over 33 1/3 innings. He made five starts, throwing at least six innings each time, holding opponents to a .242 batting average. He tossed eight innings of one-hit ball against Rome and worked two no-hit innings as the Southern Division starter in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game. He shares the league lead in innings pitched (96 2/3) and is second in wins (9) and ERA (2.51).

Delino DeShields Jr.

DeShields stole 25 bases in 25 games, going 30-for-99 (.303) at the plate. With a .407 on-base percentage in June, he hit two homers, drove in 16 runs and scored 22, while rapping four doubles and a triple. He leads the SAL with a franchise-record 60 stolen bases and ranks among the top five in walks and runs. He also played in the SAL All-Star Game.

Zach Johnson

Fellow all-star Johnson, a first baseman, has committed just five errors in 680 total chances (.993) over 70 games.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

Pitcher — RH Mickey Storey (3-0, 0.56, 16 innings, 15 strikeouts, two walks, .173 batting average against, 10 games).

Offense — Mike Hessman (29-for-104, .279, 14 HR, 27 RBI, 19 R, 2 2B, .702 slugging, 26 games).

Defense — IF Hessman (58 games at 1B, two errors in 514 chances, .996).

Double-A Corpus Christi

Pitcher — RH Jose Cisnero (3-1, 2.18, 33 innings, 31 strikeouts, 8 walks, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 5 starts)

Offense — Jonathan Villar (26-for-89, .292, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 20 R, 2 2B, 12 SB, .396 OBP, 24 games).

Defense — IF Andrew Simunic (65 games, 55 at 3B, six errors in 191 chances, .969, 132 assists).

A-Advanced Lancaster

Pitcher — RH Jose Trinidad (4-1, 0.43, 21 innings, 7 strikeouts, 8 games, 1 start).

Offense — Ben Heath (24-for-59, .407, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 12 R, 4 2B, 1.063 OPS, 14 games).

Defense — IF Ben Orloff (67 games, 56 at SS, 7 errors in 312 chances, .978, 195 assists).

Dominican Summer League

Pitcher — RH Samil De Los Santos (2-0, 2.20, 28 2/3 innings, 28 strikeouts, 8 walks, .160 batting average against, 5 games, 4 starts).

Offense — Randy Cesar (19-for-71, .268, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 9 R, 3 2B, 20 games).

Defense — IF Yoel Silfa (25 games, 4 errors, 94 chances, .957).

Lexington Legends Jason Chowning, Adam Bailey, Delino DeShields and Mike Kvasnicka are the team’s Players of the Month for May.

The Houston Astros Player Development Department announced the award winners for each of the minor-league affiliates. The awards are chosen by the field staff of each team.

Several former Legends are among the award winners with Houston’s other affiliates, including Brandon Barnes, Jimmy Van Ostrand, Brandon Wikoff, Jose Altuve, Grant Hogue and Jose Cisnero.

Jason Chowning

Chowning is Lexington’s Pitcher of the Month. The right-hander went 0-1 with a 2.00 ERA in May, striking out 27 over eight relief appearances and 18 innings. He allowed four earned runs and 15 hits, and held opposing batters to a .227 batting average (15-for-66).

Adam Bailey

Bailey, an outfielder, is the Legends’ Offensive Player of the Month. Over 28 games, Bailey went 34-for-111 (.306) with eight doubles, five homers, 18 RBI, 18 runs, a .366 on-base percentage and .532 slugging percentage.

Delino DeShields

DeShields and Kvasnicka share Defensive Player of the Month honors.

DeShields, a second baseman, has a .947 fielding percentage in 36 games this season and has turned 24 double plays.

Mike Kvasnicka

Kvasnicka, a third baseman, has an .894 fielding percentage over 43 games.

Other award winners follow.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

Pitcher — Andy Van Hekken (0-1-1, 0.98, 11 games, 18 1/3 innings, 22 strikeouts, 5 walks)
Offensive — Robinson Cancel (27-for-72, .375, 4 doubles, 2 homers, 8 RBI, 21 games)
Defensive — Brandon Barnes, OF (.988 season fielding, 33 games)

Double-A Corpus Christi

Pitcher — Xavier Cedeno (2-1, 2.94, 5 games, 33 2/3 innings, 30 strikeouts, .211 opponent batting average)
Offensive — Jimmy Van Ostrand (31-for-100, .310, 8 doubles, 12 RBI, 14 walks, 11 runs, .393 OBP)
Defensive — Brandon Wikoff, 2B/SS/3B (.981 fielding, 27 games, 9 double plays turned)

Class A-Advanced Lancaster

Pitcher — Jose Cisnero (2-2, 3.90, 6 games, 32 1/3 innings, 34 strikeouts, .209 opponent batting average)
Offensive — Jose Altuve (47-for-121, .388, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 22 RBI, 19 runs, 15 stolen bases, .424 on-base percentage)
Defensive — Grant Hogue, RF (.938 season fielding percentage, 27 games)

Jose Cisnero, Jake Goebbert and Jonathan Meyer have been named the Lexington Legends’ final Players of the Month for the 2010 season.

Jose Cisnero

The Houston Astros Player Development Department announced the monthly winners from each of its minor-league affiliates. Awards were chosen by the field staffs of each team.

Cisnero, Pitcher of the Month for the Legends, finished August with a 2-1 record and 3.31 ERA. The right-hander made six starts, giving up 13 earned runs over 35 1/3 innings.

Jake Goebbert

Goebbert, a corner outfielder, took Offensive Player of the Month honors by going 39-for-100 (.390). He had a .453 on-base percentage and 27 RBI over 27 games. He finished the season with team records for doubles and RBI.

Jonathan Meyer

Meyer is the Defensive Player of the Month. The third baseman finished the season with a .914 fielding percentage over 119 games.

Award winners at other Astros affiliates, listed in order of Pitcher, Offensive and Defensive (former Legends in CAPS):

Triple-A Round Rock — Roy Corcoran, Drew Locke, EDWIN MAYSONET.

Double-A Corpus Christi — Erick Abreu, J.D. MARTINEZ, Michael Affronti.

High-A Lancaster — Kyle Godfrey, BRIAN PELLEGRINI, ANDY SIMUNIC.

Short-season A Tri-City — David Martinez, Ben Orloff, Daniel Adamson.

Rookie Greeneville — Garrett Bullock, Telvin Nash, Hector Rodriguez.

Rookie Gulf Coast League — Matison Smith, Jordan Scott, Joshua Magee.

Rookie Dominican League — Luis Alayon, Luis De La Rosa, Mario Gonzalez.

Baseball

South Atlantic
     League

Lexington Legends
vs. Rome Braves

What: Final four games of the 2010 season

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

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call    (859) 422-7867   

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

Juan Minaya

Jose Cisnero

Zach Grimmett

Luis Cruz

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

Todd Cunningham

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

Roberto Pena

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

J.R. Towles

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

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball
(REVISED ROTATIONS)

South Atlantic
     League

Lexington Legends vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Four-game series

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

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call     (859) 422-7867    

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

Jose Cisnero

Zach Grimmett

Tanner Bushue

Luis Cruz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first: Monday, RH Jose Cisnero (6-6, 3.94) vs. RH Paul Demny (6-8, 3.75); Tuesday, RH Zach Grimmett (5-3, 4.56) vs. LH Graham Hicks (1-5, 5.24); Wednesday, LH Luis Cruz (7-4, 3.13) vs. LH Evan Bronson (4-2, 5.40);  Thursday, RH Tanner Bushue (7-8, 3.99) vs. LH Mitchell Clegg (9-3, 3.38).

Eury Perez

Sun to watch: CF Eury Perez (6-foot, 180 pounds, from San Luis, Dominican Republic) leads the league in stolen bases (57-for-67) and is second in runs scored (83). Hitting .293 with three homers and 41 RBI over 123 games, the 20-year-old has been on fire the second half of the season. Hitting .257 at the all-star break, he is hitting .332 since then. In August, he is 32-for-92 (.348). He comes in with a five-game hitting streak — 10-for-16 (.625). Signed by the Nationals as a non-drafted free agent before the 2007 season, Perez played two seasons with the Dominican Summer League Nationals, batting .293 with four homers, 58 RBI, 92 runs and 43 stolen bases over 112 games. Last year, with the Gulf Coast League Nationals, Perez hit a league-leading .381 over 47 games and was named Topps GCL Player of the Year. Coming into this season, Baseball America rated Perez as the 11th-best prospect in the Nationals system.

Jake Goebbert

Legend to watch: Corner OF Jake Goebbert (6-0, 200, from Hampshire, Ill.) leads the league in runs (82) and doubles (42), is tied for third in the SAL in RBI (87) and games (127), and is seventh in total bases (210) and hits (139). His 42 doubles ties the team record set by Felix Escalona on the 2001 league championship team. Goebbert also is batting .285 with nine homers. Hitting .272 at the all-star break, he is an even .300 since. In August, Goebbert is 36-for-94 (.383). Selected by the Astros in the 13th round of the 2009 draft, out of Northwestern University, Goebbert spent last season with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League, where he hit .238 with 18 RBI over 59 games. At Northwestern, Goebbert earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. He broke a 31-year-old school record and led the Big Ten with 22 doubles his sophomore season (2008), also leading the Wildcats in homers (10), RBI (48), walks (28), slugging (.665) and on-base percentage (.458). He also pitched in two games without allowing a run.

Homestand highlights — Monday: Kids Eat Free Night. Tuesday: Kraft Singles Night and Quarter Hot Dog Night; Wednesday: Sun Tan City Club members buy-one-get-one-free offer, plus “Baseball 101″ for ladies only at 6 p.m., and Equus Run Vineyards wine tasting. Thursday: Thirsty Thursday and Toga Night (fans wearing a toga can buy one ticket, get one free). Friday: Fan Appreciation Night and Legends Hall of Fame Night, with post-game concert by GodCry. Saturday: “Jersey Off Our Back” Night (silent auction of game-worn jersies to benefit St. Joseph Hospital nursing scholarship program), with entertainment by Myron Noodleman and a post-game fireworks show. Sunday: JIF Kids Club Sunday. Monday: Kids Eat Free Night and post-game fireworks.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

*******
Baseball

South Atlantic
    League

Lexington Legends
                                    vs. Augusta GreenJackets

What: Four-game series

When: Saturday through Tuesday (7:05 each night except Sunday, 5:35 p.m.)

Where: Lake Olmstead Stadium (Augusta, Ga.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), San Francisco Giants

Tanner Bushue

Juan Minaya

Luis Cruz

Jose Cisnero

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, RH Tanner Bushue (6-8, 4.28) vs. RH Brian Irving (6-4, 4.38); Sunday, RH Juan Minaya (4-10, 4.92) vs. RH Chris Heston (5-11, 3.92); Monday, RH Jose Cisnero (6-6, 4.18) vs. RH Zack Wheeler (2-3, 3.74); Tuesday, LH Luis Cruz (6-3, 3.08) vs. RH Andy Reichard (3-1, 3.54).

Chris Dominguez

GreenJacket to watch: SAL all-star 3B Chris Dominguez (6-foot-3, 215 pounds, from Los Angeles) leads Augusta in homers (18), RBI (86), total bases (214) and games played (121). (All statistics are through Thursday.) Batting .216, Dominguez has 26 doubles among his 130 hits. He also has scored 71 runs and stolen 12 stolen bases. Selected by the Giants in the third round of last year’s draft, out of the University of Louisville, he broke into pro ball in 2009 by playing nine games for the Arizona League Giants and 47 games for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the Northwest League. Over those 56 games combined, Dominguez hit .263 with 11 homers and 40 RBI. Baseball America ranked him No. 18 among Giants prospects coming into this season. At U of L, Dominguez twice was named Player of the Year in the Big East Conference and smacked a school-record 25 home runs in 2009. As a draft-eligible sophomore, he turned down the Colorado Rockies after being selected in the fifth round of the 2008 draft. The Giants signed him for $411,300.

Jose Cisnero

Legend to watch: Monday’s starting pitcher, RH Jose Cisnero (6-3, 212 pounds, from Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic), has been a solid contributor to the rotation all season. He shares the team lead with 23 starts, ranks second in innings pitched (114) and leads the staff in strikeouts (115). Having gone 3-4 with a 4.45 ERA before the all-star break, he is 3-2 with a 3.88 ERA since then. Cisnero is holding opponents to a .232 batting average. Signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent Dec. 6, 2007, Cisnero went 0-3 with a 3.10 ERA over 10 games (six starts) for the Dominican Summer League Astros in 2008. He made his U.S. debut last year, compiling a 4-2 record and 3.56 ERA over 13 starts for the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League. Combined over those two seasons, Cisnero struck out 98 and walked 41 over 84 2/3 innings.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

South Atlantic
    League

Lexington Legends
                             vs. Greenville Drive

What: Four-game series

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

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

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

Tanner Bushue

Juan Minaya

Zach Grimmett

Jose Cisnero

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Tanner Bushue (6-7, 4.31) vs. RH Kendal Volz (6-5, 4.09); Wednesday, RH Juan Minaya (4-10, 5.04) vs. RH Pete Ruiz (8-8, 4.56); Thursday, RH Jose Cisnero (6-6, 4.25) vs. RH Ryan Pressly (4-6,3.90); Friday, RH Zach Grimmett (5-2, 3.81) vs. LH Manuel Rivera (4-9, 4.32).

Reymond Fuentes

Drive to watch: CF Reymond Fuentes (6-foot, 160 pounds, from Manati, Puerto Rico) is batting .281 with five homers 37 RBI, 53 runs scored and 35 stolen bases through 87 games. Selected by the Red Sox in the first round (28th overall) of last year’s draft, Fuentes signed for $1.134 million. A cousin of Mets CF  Carlos Beltran, the left-hander (batter/thrower) is the sixth Puerto Rican ever selected in a first round. He broke in to pro ball last year with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, hitting .290 with a homer, 14 RBI, 16 runs and nine stolen bases over 40 games. He was ranked as the third-best prospect in the rookie league and, according to Baseball America, was the seventh-best prospect in the Red Sox’ organization coming into this season. Wrote BBA: “A track star in high school, he uses his quickness to make things happen on the bases and in center field, where he has Gold Glove potential. His swing is geared more for contact, ,but he has some power to his pull side and eventually could hit as many as 15 homers per  season. … Similar to Jacoby Ellsbury, Fuentes is a far better hitter at the same stage and projects as a better defender.” Hitting .277 at the all-star break, he is .292 since and, in 12 August games, is .391 (18-for-46).

Daniel Sarisky

Legend to watch: RHP Daniel Sarisky (6-1, 175, from Duluth, Ga.) has bolstered the bullpen after missing more than two months (mid-April through mid-July) due to a back injury. Over 17 games spanning only 18 1/3 innings, Sarisky is 2-0 with a 4.42 ERA, 13 strikeouts and eight walks. Eight of his nine appearances have come at home, where he notched both wins and has a 2.08 ERA. A 40th round draft pick in 2009, out of Oglethorpe University, Sarisky split last season between the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League and the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League, compiling a combined record of 2-1 with a 3.82 ERA, 41 strikeouts and 13 walks. 

Ben Heath

Player of the Week: Legends C Ben Heath is the SAL Player of the Week for the period that ended Sunday. In his first week since being promoted from Tri-City, Heath went 8-for-15 (.533) with three homers, a triple and 10 RBI, with a 1.267 slugging percentage. Three homers and seven RBI came in Friday against West Virginia. Heath, 21, was a fifth-round draft pick of the Astros in the June draft, out of Penn State University.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

South Atlantic
    League

Lexington Legends
                                vs. West Virginia Power

What: Five-game series

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

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call     (859) 422-7867    

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

Juan Minaya

Jose Cisnero

Luis Cruz

Zach Grimmett

Tanner Bushue

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Juan Minaya (4-10, 5.16) vs. RH Quinton Miller (2-2, 6.23); Friday, RH Jose Cisnero (6-6, 4.03) vs. RH Jason Erickson (7-5, 3.82); Saturday, LH Luis Cruz (5-3, 3.25) vs. RH Kyle McPherson (6-9, 3.87) or TBA; Sunday, RH Zach Grimmett (5-2, 3.59) vs. RH Brett Lorin (1-1, 4.50); Monday, RH Tanner Bushue (6-7, 4.31) vs. RH Phillip Irwin (5-2, 3.44).

David Rubinstein

Power to watch: All-star RF David Rubinstein (6-foot-2, 190 pounds, from Fountain Valley, Calif.) is hitting .291 with a homer, 39 RBI and 44 runs scored trhough 91 games. He also has 29 doubles and 18 stolen bases. A 2008 11th round draft pick of the Pirates, out of Appalachian State, Rubinstein spent his first two pro seasons with State College of the New York-Penn League. In 2008, hit .249 with a homer and 14 RBI over 47 games. A year later, his average climbed to .267, with three homers and 36 RBI over 65 games.

Ben Heath

Legend to watch: C Ben Heath (6-2, 220, from Martinsville, Va.) joined the Legends last Sunday to fill in for Rene Garcia, who is on the seven-day disabled list due to soreness in his right elbow. In his first three games with the Legends, Heath is 5-for-12 (.417), with two RBI and a run scored. Before joining the Lexington club, Heath hit .248 with six homers, 21 RBI and 20 runs scored over 37 games with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the NYPL. Selected by the Astros in the fifth round of the draft this year, Heath batted .369, with 19 homers, 57 RBI and 53 runs scored for Penn State University last spring. A second-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten, Heath led the Nittany Lions in average, homers, RBI, runs, total bases (148), slugging (.747) and on-base percentage (.451), and tied for the team lead in doubles (16). His 19 homers set a school record.

Note: Yordany Ramirez also has joined the Legends, although not yet on the active roster. As he makes the transition from outfielder to pitcher, Ramirez will be throwing bullpen sessions and simulated games before being activated.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

South Atlantic
    League
 

Lexington Legends vs. Delmarva Shorebirds

What: Five-game series

When: Friday through Tuesday (7:05 each night except Sunday, 5:05 p.m.)

Where: Arthur W. Perdue Stadium (Salisbury, Md.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Baltimore Orioles

Juan Minaya

Jose Cisnero

Luis Cruz

Zach Grimmett

Tanner Bushue

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Juan Minaya (4-10, 5.17) vs. RH Brent Allar (2-1, 4.50); Saturday, RH Jose Cisnero (6-5, 4.00) vs. RH Kenny Moreland (6-5, 3.33); Sunday, LH Luis Cruz (5-3, 3.60) vs. RH Jesse Beal (7-6, 3.86); Monday, RH Zach Grimmett (4-2, 3.81) vs. RH Pat Kantakevich (0-4, 3.98); Tuesday, RH Tanner Bushue (5-6, 4.32) vs. RH Bobby Bundy (2-4, 3.96).

Michael Flacco

Shorebird to watch: 1B/3B Michael Flacco (6-foot-5, 220 pounds, from Audobon, N.J.) is 11-for-32 (.344) with an RBI and a run scored in nine games since being promoted from the Aberdeen IronBirds of the New York-Penn League. Over 30 games with Aberdeen, Flacco hit .250 with 16 RBI and 12 runs. The younger brother of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, he was selected by the Orioles in the 31st round of the 2009 draft, out of the Community College of Baltimore County-Catonsville. Flacco played 65 games last season — 60 with the Bluefield Orioles of the Appalachian League and five with Delmarva — and hit a combined .263 with three homers, 35 RBI and 28 runs. Before turning pro, he missed two seasons of athletic competition due to a stress fracture in his back.

Bubby Williams

Legends to watch: C David “Bubby” Williams (6-0, 190, from Las Vegas, Nev.) joined the Legends on Thursday, taking the roster spot vacated when C Jordan Comadena was transferred to the Lancaster JetHawks of the California League. Williams, an 11th round draft pick of the Astros last year, hit .244 with five homers, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored over 25 games this season with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League. Over 11 road games, Williams hit .429, but over 14 home games his average was .093. Drafted out of Crowder (Mo.) Community College, Williams played 39 games with Greeneville last year, hitting .202 with four homers, 16 RBI and 17 runs scored. A free swinger, over his 64 pro games, Williams has struck out 60 times while drawing five walks.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

South Atlantic
     League

UPDATED ROTATIONS (Monday p.m.)

Lexington Legends vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Four-game series

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

Where: Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, Md.)

Affiliations: Houston Astros (Legends), Washington Nationals

Note: After four games at Hagerstown, the Legends move to Salisbury, Md., for five games against the Delmarva Shorebirds.

Jose Cisnero

Luis Cruz

Zach Grimmett

Tanner Bushue

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Jose Cisnero (5-5, 4.03) vs. RH Paul Demny (6-3, 3.58); Tuesday, LH Luis Cruz (5-2, 3.25) vs. LH Graham Hicks (1-4, 4.85); Wednesday, RH Zach Grimmett (4-1, 4.00) vs. RH Garrett Mock (rehab start, from Nationals); Thursday, RH Tanner Bushue (5-6, 4.32) vs. LH Josh Smoker (3-10, 7.38).

Justin Bloxom

Sun to watch: 1B Justin Bloxom (6-foot-1, 205 pounds, from Phoenix) ranks fifth or better in SAL batting (.310), RBI (68), hits (126), doubles (29) and total bases (193) through Saturday’s games. He’s also among the top 10 in runs (65), slugging (.474) and OPS (.829). Bloxom also has 10 homers, four triples and 10 stolen bases over 101 games. A 2009 11th-round draft pick of the Washington Nationals, out of Kansas State University, Bloxom broke in as a pro last year with the Vermont Lake Monsters of the New York-Penn League, hitting .228 with three homers, 24 RBI and 31 runs scored over 67 games.

Jimmy Paredes

Legend to watch: 2B Jimmy Paredes (6-1, 178, from Haina, Dominican Republic) joined the Legends on Saturday, moving from the Charleston RiverDogs as part of the Houston Astros’ trade of Lance Berkman to the New York Yankees. (The Astros also got pitching prospect Mark Melancon.) Paredes takes over for  all-star 2B Jose Altuve, who has been promoted to High-A Lancaster of the California League. Paredes made his first start for the Legends on Sunday, contributing an RBI double. He played 99 games with the RiverDogs, hitting .282 with five homers, 48 RBI, 59 runs, 24 doubles, six triples and 36 stolen bases. Paredes signed as a non-drafted free agent with the Yankees on July 2, 2006. He spent 2007 with the Dominican Summer League Yankees, 2008 with the Gulf Coast League Yankees and last year Staten Island of the New York-Penn League. With the DSL Yankees, he led the club with 42 RBI over 64 games, ranking second in hits (69) and doubles (14). A year later, he led the GCL Yanks in hits (45) and stolen bases (6). He earned NYPL all-star honors last year, batting .302 with two homers, 17 RBI, 36 runs and 23 stolen bases over 54 games.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300