Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Baseball

                                      South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Savannah
Sand Gnats

What: Four-game series

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

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

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

Sogard

Foltynewicz

Cruz

Alaniz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, LH Alex Sogard (1-3, 4.40) vs. RH Taylor Whitenton (4-1, 2.69); Wednesday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (4-7, 4.37) vs. RH Gonzalez Germen (6-4, 3.83); Thursday RH Ruben Alaniz (5-7, 5.00) vs. LH Angel Cuan (7-1, 3.44); Friday, LH Luis Cruz (1-1, 4.28) vs. RH Yohan Almonte (3-5, 3.74).

Taylor Whitenton

Sand Gnat to watch: Tuesday starter and all-star Taylor Whitenton (6-foot-3, 190 pounds, from Conyers, Ga.) has held opposing batters to the lowest average in the league (.183) and ranks fifth in the league in ERA (2.69). With a 4-1 record and one save, the right-hander has appeared in 17 games, including 13 starts, spanning 73 2/3 innings. He has struck out 81 and walked 35. Whitenton is 3-0 with an 0.66 ERA at home, 1-1 with a 5.23 on the road. In three starts since the all-star break, he is 1-0 with a 0.53 ERA over 17 innings, holding batters to a .156 average. Selected by the Mets in the 39th round of the 2009 draft, out of Darton (Ga.) College, he appeared in four games that year with the Gulf Coast League Mets, working five innings and picking up a save while yielding one hit and no runs. Last year, with Savannah, Whitenton finished 8-9, 4.57 over 26 games, including 18 starts, and 108 1/3 innings.

Telvin Nash

Legend to watch: 1B Telvin Nash (6-2, 220, from Belleview, Fla.) has been limited to 28 games with the Legends and five rehab appearances with the Gulf Coast League Astros this season due to injuries. He is hitting .298 with six homers, 16 RBI, 19 runs, .388 on-base percentage and .510 slugging with the Legends. Including his time in the GCL, he is batting .308 overall. Nash, who bats and throws righty, was selected by the Astros in the third round of the 2010 draft out of high school in Griffin, Ga., where he was a teammate od 2008 overall No. 1 pick Tim Beckham. Nash also played offensive and defensive end for his high school football team. Coming into this season, Baseball America rated him as the 13th-best prospect and with the “best raw power” in the Houston system. He also is capable of playing left field. After hitting .218 with a homer and 20 RBI over 40 games with the GCL Astros in 2008, he blossomed last year. Over 57 games with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League, Nash hit .265 with 12 homers and 39 RBI, earning team Offensive Player of the Month honors for August. He also played four games with the New York-Penn League’s Tri-City ValleyCats, going 4-for-13 (.308) with a homer, triple and double.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends at Asheville Tourists

What: Four-game series

When: Friday through Monday (7:05 Friday and Monday nights; 6:05 p.m. Saturday; 2:05 p.m. Sunday)

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

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

Foltynewicz

Minaya

Dydalewicz

Quevedo

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (0-0, 1.80) vs. RH Ricardo Ferrer (0-0, 4.50); Saturday, RH Carlos Quevedo (1-0, 4.50) vs. RH Erik Stavert (0-0, 2.25); Sunday, RH Juan Minaya (0-1, 5.40) vs. RH Joshua Slaats (0-0, 1.80); Monday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (0-2, 4.91) vs. LH Edwar Cabrera (1-1, 4.91).

Gouvea

Legend to watch: RHP Murilo Gouvea (6-foot-2, 200 pounds, from Sao Paulo, Brazil) Is the first Brazilian to play for the Legends. In one appearance last two innings, he has yielded an unearned run, a hit and a walk while striking out two. Orginally signed by the Chicago White Sox in 2006, he made his pro debut with the Dominican Summer League White Sox in 2007. He progressed to Bristol in 2008 and part of 2009. Also in 2009, he reached the South Atlantic League with the Kannapolis Intimidators. Since joining the Astros system, he appeared with Greeneville and Tri-City before moving up to Lexington this season. In his four seasons before joining the Legends, Gouvea appeared in 61 games, including 22 starts. He compiled a 9-12 record, two saves adn a 5.49 ERA, with 206 strikeouts and 87 walks.

Garneau

Tourist to watch: C Dustin “Drago” Garneau (6-1, 225, from San Pedro, Calif.) is 7-for-14 (.500) through his first four games of the season, with six RBI and four runs scored. Those hits include a pair of solo home runs and three doubles. A 2009 19th-round draft pick out of Cal State-Fullerton, Garneau has a gaudy 1.705OPS (combined on-base and slugging percentages of .563 and 1.143. Garneau made his pro debut in 2009 with the Casper Ghosts of the Pioneer League, going 18-for-72 (.250) over 23 games, with a homer and 13 RBI. Last year, he played 42 games for Tri-City of the Northwest League and 12 games with Modesto of the California League. Combined, he went 45-for-185 (.243), with three homers and 34 RBI.

Notes: The Legends activated 1B Telvin Nash (right groin strain) from the seven-day disabled list Wednesday. To make room for Nash, RHP Ruben Alaniz was reassigned to the Tri-City ValleyCats and, in the interim, extended spring training.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Here’s a look at the Lexington Legends, who open the 2011 season Thursday night in Whitaker Bank Ballpark, opposed by the Charleston RiverDogs. A tip of the hat to sources Keith Elkins and the Lexington Legends, the Houston Astros and Baseball America.

Opening Series

Lexington Legends vs. Charleston RiverDogs
What: Four-game series
When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, 2:05 Sunday afternoon)
Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark (formerly known as Applebee’s Park)
Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), New York Yankees (RiverDogs)
Radio: WLXG AM-1300
Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Mike Foltynewicz vs. RH Shane Greene; Friday, RH Tanner Bushue vs. LH Nik Turley; Saturday, LH Brad Dydalewicz vs. RH Mikey O’Brien; Sunday, RH Carlos Quevedo vs. LH Kramer Sneed.

Legends Coaching Staff

33 Rodney Linares, manager
Age: 33
Hometown: San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic

Rodney Linares

The scoop on the skipper: Linares returns for his second season as manager of the Legends, having guided the team to a 71-68 mark last year. He also served as hitting coach in Lexington during the 2005-06 seasons. Before taking over as manager in Lexington, Linares managed the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League for three seasons. He also spent six years with the Astros Dominican Republic operations as a scout and hitting coach. Linares joined the Astros coaching staff in 1999, following a three-year minor-league career. Signed by the Detroit Tigers as a non-drafted free agent in 1997, he played in the Tigers system (1997-98) and finished his career in the Houston system (1998-99). His father, Julio, is a frequent visitor to Lexington in his role as Astros Special Assistant to the General Manager for Dominican Scouting and Development.

11 Joel Chimelis, hitting coach

Joel Chimelis

Age: 43
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
The scoop: Beginning his sixth season in the Astros organization, Chimelis moves to Lexington after serving five seasons with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League. Before that, he spent the 2004-05 seasons on the coaching staff of the Washington Nationals’ South Atlantic League affiliate, the Savannah Sand Gnats. Chimelis, an infielder, played 13 seasons in the minor leagues and was called up to the majors in 1995 by the San Francisco Giants. He was a 1988 11th-round draft pick of the Oakland Athletics, traded to the Giants in 1991 and spent the 1996 season in the New York Mets organization. He also played in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, South Korea and Canada. In 2000, he posted career bests with 30 homers and 98 RBI for Dos Laredos of the Mexican Summer League. Before turning pro, Chimelis played for Howard Junior College in Big Spring, Texas, and the University of Texas. He was named to the 1988 NCAA Central Region team while playing for the Longhorns.

36 Dave Borkowski, pitching coach

Dave Borkowski

Age: 34
Hometown: Detroit
The scoop: The former big-league pitcher retired as a player in 2009 after a 14-year career. He comes to Lexington after spending last season as pitching coach for the Greeneville Astros. Borkowski pitched in 181 Major League games (21 starts), as well as 264 contests in the minors. In the big leagues. He went 13-20 with one save and a 5.87 ERA over seven seasons combined with Detroit (199-2001), Baltimore (2004) and Houston (2006-08). The Tigers selected him in the 11th round of the June 1995 draft. In the minors, Borkowski compiled a 79-70 record, six saves and a 3.85 ERA. He spent 2009 with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico of the Mexican League.

Pitchers

20 Ruben Alaniz

Ruben Alaniz

Height/weight: 6-4, 195
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 19
Hometown: La Grulla, Texas
Acquired: Non-drafted free agent (Aug. 14, 2009)
The scoop: Debuted last season with Greeneville. Made 12 starts, going 6-4 with a 4.21 ERA. His six wins led the team. Struck out 42 and walked 10 over 57.2 innings. Ranked as the 15th-best prospect in the Astros system by Baseball America, which says “it’s understandable how Alaniz slipped through the cracks of the draft. The tall, projectable righty was injured midway through the 2008 high school season, then a swine flu outbreak in the Rio Grande Valley canceled his 2009 high school baseball season. … He touched 95 mph in the Astros workout (scout Rusty) Pendergrass set up, and Houston won his services with a $150,000 bonus.” Alaniz also throws a curveball and changeup.

26 Tanner Bushue

Tanner Bushue

Height/weight: 6-4, 207
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 19
Hometown: Kinmundy, Ill.
Acquired: 2nd round, 2009 draft
The scoop: Drafted out of South Central (Ill.) High School, where he also played basketball, Bushue broke into pro ball in 2009 by going 1-0 with a 2.42 ERA over five starts with the Gulf Coast League Astros. He struck out 19 and walked five over 22.1 innings. Last year, with the Legends, Bushue led the team in innings pitched (133.2) but also led the league in homers allowed (18). Last year’s opening day starter. He made 25 starts, compiling a 7-8 record with a 4.11 ERA, 114 strikeouts and 48 walks. He missed two weeks of action due to a toe injury that required post-season surgery. Ranked by Baseball America as the eighth-best prospect in the Astros system, he features a fastball, curve and change.

21 Jason Chowning

Jason Chowning

Height/weight: 6-4, 186
Bats/throws: Left/Left
Age: 23
Hometown: Louisville
Acquired: 28th round, 2010 draft
The scoop: A three-year letter-winner and two-time team MVP at Eastern High School in Louisville, Chowning went on to Texarkana College and the University of Oklahoma. Drafted by the Astros last year, he was assigned to Tri-City. Over 16 relief appearances, Chowning went 2-2 with a 3.22 ERA. He struck out 23 and walked nine of 22.1 innings.

32 Jorge DeLeon

Jorge DeLeon

Height/weight: 6-0, 182
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 23
Hometown: La Cega Azua, Dominican Republic
Acquired: Non-drafted free agent (May 30, 2006)
The scoop: After four lackluster seasons — .213 batting, with 173 strikeouts – as a shortstop, DeLeon was converted to pitcher last year. The results were outstanding as DeLeon went 2-1 with six saves and a 0.64 ERA over 23 relief appearances for Tri-City. Armed with a top-end 98 mph fastball, he struck out 29, walked 12 and earned a spot on Houston’s 40-man roster. Baseball America rates him as the 20th-best prospect in the Astros system. His infielder days included a 43-game tour with the Legends in 2009, when he hit .187 and drove in nine runs.

25 Brad Dydalewicz

Brad Dydalewicz

Height/weight: 6-1, 195
Bats/throws: Left/Left
Age: 21
Hometown: Spicewood, Texas
Acquired: 8th round, 2008 draft
The scoop: Drafted out of Lake Travis High School in Texas, Dydalewicz broke into pro ball with Greeneville in 2008 — four starts, 10 innings, 0-0, 2.70. His first full season came as a key ingredient in a very good Legends rotation in 2009. He made 22 starts, working 110 innings, while going 8-5 with a 3.93 ERA, 78 strikeouts and 51 walks. Last year, however, saw a different pitcher. He began the season with the Lancaster JetHawks of the High-A California League. After 11 starts, with a 1-6 record and 11.39 ERA, plus more walks (34) than strikeouts (32), he was demoted to Lexington. His struggles waned, but did not end. He made 18 appearances, including six starts, going 1-4 with a 6.46 ERA. Manager Rodney Linares says last season was “a hiccup” and that he expects good things from Dydalewicz this season.

25 Mike Foltynewicz

Mike Foltynewicz

Height/weight: 6-4, 200
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 19
Hometown: Minooka, Ill.
Acquired: 1st round (19th overall), 2010 draft
The scoop: From Minooka Community High School in Illinois, Foltynewicz was ticketed for college ball at Texas. The Astros changed those plans, signing him for a $1.305 million bonus. He will be looking for his first professional victory when he gets the start in Thursday’s season opener. He made 12 starts for Greeneville last season, going 0-3 with a 4.03 ERA over 44.2 innings. He struck out 39 and walked 15. Baseball America rates Foltynewicz the fourth-best prospect in the Astros system and says he “has the best raw arm in the system and flashes three plus pitches” — a fastball that has reached 96 mph, changeup and a slurvy breaking ball.

8 Gabriel Garcia

Gabriel Garcia

Height/weight: 5-11, 164
Bats/throws: Left/Left
Age: 21
Hometown: Charallave, Venezuela
Acquired: Non-drafted free agent (May 18, 2007)
The scoop: Signed a week after his 18th birthday, Garcia sepnt two seasons with the Venezuelan Summer League Astros, then two with the Greeneville Astros. With the VSL Astros, he fashioned back-to-back 3-3 seasons with ERAs of 3.58 and 3.46 and combined totals of 64 strikeouts and 13 walks. At Greeneville, he went 0-4 with a 7.91 ERA, then 0-1 with a 3.86. Twenty-one of his 47 professional appearances have been starts. His four-season strikeout/walk totals: 113 to 22.

34 Murilo Gouvea

Murilo Gouvea

Height/weight: 6-2, 208
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 22
Hometown: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Acquired: Minor-league free agent (Jan. 14, 2010)
The scoop: Lexington’s first Brazilian player broke into pro ball with the Dominican Summer League White Sox in 2007. He progressed to Bristol in 2008 and part of 2009. Also in 2009, he reached the South Atlantic League with the Kannapolis Intimidators. With the Astros system, he has appeared with Greeneville and Tri-City. His four-season totals include 61 games, 22 starts, a 9-12 record, two saves, a 5.49 ERA, 206 strikeouts and 87 walks.

35 David Martinez

David Martinez

Height/weight: 6-2, 215
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 23
Hometown: Cumana, Venezuela
Acquired: Non-drafted free agent (March 3, 2005)
The scoop: Groomed for four seasons with the Venezuelan Summer League Astros, Martinez made his North American debut in 2009 with Greeneville, 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 include 89 games, 26 starts, a 22-11 record, 3.44 ERA, 261.1 innings, 196 strikeouts and 63 walks.

46 Juan Minaya

Juan Minaya

Height/weight: 6-4, 193
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 20
Hometown: Maimon, Dominican Republic
Acquired: Non-drafted free agent (Sept. 3, 2008)
The scoop: Minaya returns to the Legends’ starting rotation after going 4-12 with a 4.79 ERA over 26 starts and 127.2 innings last season. He made his pro debut in 2009 with the Gulf Coast League Astros. There, he worked 52.2 innings over 12 starts, compiling a 3-3 record, 4.27 ERA, 30 strikeouts and 18 walks. His strikeout and walk totals ballooned with the Legends — 96 whiffs and 73 passes. Minaya will need to cut down on the free passes this time around. 

27 Carlos Quevedo

Carlos Quevedo

Height/weight: 6-2, 239
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 21
Hometown: Valencia, Venezuela
Acquired: Non-drafted free agent (July 3, 2006)
The scoop: Quevedo earned Pitcher of the Month for Tri-City last July, during a season that he finished 7-3 with a 3.06 ERA. That came over 15 starts and 85.1 innings, with 55 strikeouts to eight walks. He broke into pro ball in 2007, his first of two seasons with the Venezuelan Summer League Astros. He went 4-0 with a 2.32 ERA in his debut season, then earned league MVP honors by going 4-2 with a 1.98 ERA in 2008. He came to North America in 2009, the one blip on his radar. With Greeneville, Quevedo struggled to a 2-7 finish with a 5.60 ERA. His four-year totals include 188 strikeouts to 43 walks over 53 games (51 starts) and 252.2 innings.

44 Alexander Sogard

Alex Sogard

Height/weight: 6-3, 222
Bats/throws: Left/Left
Age: 23
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Acquired: 26th round, 2010 draft
The scoop: Drafted out of North Carolina State University, Sogard made 22 appearances for the Tri-City ValleyCats last season, including three starts. He totaled 41 innings, going 1-2 with a 3.51 ERA. He finished with 36 strikeouts to 12 walks. At N.C. State, he came on late in the 2010 season after early struggles while recovering from shoulder surgery. He finished with a 2-2 record and 5.26 ERA over 15 games, including 11 starts. His last four games, including three starts, saw him compile a 2-0 mark with a 3.12 ERA. Began his collegiate career at Oregon State.

31 Brian Streilein

Brian Streilein

Height/weight: 6-4, 211
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 22
Hometown: Point Pleasant, N.J.
Acquired: 37th round, 2010 draft
The scoop: Streilein made his pro debut last season by making 20 relief appearances with Greeneville, going 2-1 with a 5.06 ERA. He pitched 32 innings, notching 35 strikeouts to eight walks. He also worked a scoreless inning for Tri-City, with a walk and a strikeout. Earlier in the year, he was the ace of the staff with Villanova University, going 6-3 with a 4.20 ERA over 13 starts and 90 innings. Over four seasons, he won 20 games and struck out 224 over 59 games and 289.2 innings. He ranks second in school history in career strikeouts, is tied for third in victories and fourth in innings pitched.

Catchers

10 Roberto Pena

Roberto Pena

Height/weight: 6-0, 210
Bats/throws: Both/Right
Age: 18
Hometown: Caguas, Puerto Rico
Acquired: 7th round, 2010 draft
The scoop: Baseball America rates him as the best defensive player in the Astros’ 2010 draft class, noting he “shows flashes of plus-plus arm strength and threw out 44 percent of basestealers in his pro debut. He’s also intelligent and bilingual, and he has a feel for game-calling.” His father, Bert, is a former major leaguer. Roberto played four games for the Legends last season, in addition to 23 games with the Gulf Coast League Astros and a dozen games with Greeneville. Overall, he hit .227 over 39 games, driving in 17 runs.

19 Chris Wallace

Chris Wallace

Height/weight: 6-0, 212
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 22
Hometown: Cypress, Texas
Acquired: 16th round, 2010 draft
The scoop: Hit a team-leading 10 home runs last year to go along with a .388 on-base percentage and .486 slugging as a senior at the University of Houston. The Astros then started him off in Greeneville, where he hit .310 with eight homers and 32 RBI over 47 games. He also showed good speed with three stolen bases and three triples. He was the team’s Offensive Player of the Month for July and was named an Appalachian League All-Star. He also got in 20 games with Tri-City, batting .250 with two homers and eight RBI.

Infielders

12 Tyler Burnett

Tyler Burnett

Height/weight: 6-0, 205
Bats/throws: Left/Right
Age: 21
Hometown: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Acquired: 17th round, 2010 draft
The scoop: Also a quarterback and punter in high school, Burnett went on to his hometown university, Middle Tennessee State. As a senior third baseman last year, he earned all-Sun Belt Conference honors while batting .351 with 12 homers, 46 RBI and 56 runs. The Astros assigned him to Tri-City, where he hit .250 with six homers, 31 RBI and 39 runs over 71 games. He stole six bases and had 45 walks versus 56 strikeouts. He was named a New York-Penn League all-star.

2 Delino DeShields Jr.

Delino DeShields Jr.

Height/weight: 5-9, 203
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 18
Hometown: Ocala, Fla.
Acquired: 1st round (eighth overall), 2010 draft
The scoop: The No. 2 prospect in the Astros system, according to Baseball America, which also pegged him as the top 12-year-old prospect in 2005. Really. His father, Delino Sr., also was a first-round draft pick (12th overall in 1987) and played 13 seasons in the major leagues, stealing 463 bases. Delino Jr., who signed for an Astros draft-record $2.125 million out of Woodward Academy, could see action in center field or at second base. He debuted last season with two games in the Gulf Coast League and 16 with Greeneville, combining to hit .289 with eight RBI, 11 runs, six doubles, a triple and five stolen bases in six attempts. Baseball America also rates him as Houston’s fastes runner, best athlete and best pure hitter in the 2010 draft and writes: “He has quick hands, lets the ball travel deep and doesn’t get out on his front foot. He has shown the ability to catch up to premium fastballs with excellent bat speed.” Also was recruited for football by Georgia and Ole Miss.

24 Enrique “Kike” Hernandez

Kike Hernandez

Height/weight: 5-11, 170
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 19
Hometown: Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
Acquired: 6th round, 2009 draft
The scoop: Drafted out of the American Military Academy school in Puerto Rico, Hernandez made his pro debut in 2009 with the Gulf Coast League Astros. Over 53 games, he went 61-for-207 (.295), knocking a homer, three triples and 12 doubles. He drove in 27 runs, scored 35 and stole eight bases. Last year at Tri-City, he was the team’s Offensive Player of the Month for August. Overall, he hit .280 with three homers, 33 RBI, 31 runs and three stolen bases over 60 games.

7 Mike Kvasnicka

Mike Kvasnicka

Height/weight: 6-2, 208
Bats/throws: Both/Right
Age: 22
Hometown: Lakeville, Minn.
Acquired: 1st round supplemental (33rd overall), 2010 draft
The scoop: What’s not to love about a switch-hitting third baseman who can also play outfield and catch, and has pop in his bat? Like his father Jay, Kvasnicka played collegiate ball at 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. He is rated by Baseball America as the 14th-best prospect in the Astros system.

14 Jhonny Medrano

Jhonny Medrano

Height/weight: 6-1, 223
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 23
Hometown: Tucupita, Venezuela
Acquired: Non-drafted free agent (Feb. 21, 2005)
The scoop: This will be Medrano’s seventh season in the organization. He spent three years with the Venezuelan Summer League Astros, then missed all of 2008 due to injury. He came to North America in 2009, hitting .213 with a homer and 23 RBI over 47 games with Tri-City. He bumped that up considerably last year at Greeneville, going .295 with seven homers and 24 RBI. His overall minor-league totals include a .266 average, 271 games, 143 RBI, 13 homers, 142 runs and 49 stolen bases. Has played third base in about half of his 265 games, but has also played first, shortstop, left field and right.

3 Jiovanni Mier

Height/weight: 6-2, 180
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 20
Hometown: Las Vegas
Acquired: 1st round (21st overall), 2009 draft
The scoop: The smooth shortstop returns for a second season in Lexington. Still highly rated (No. 5 in the Astros system) by Baseball America, which writes: “The first prep shortstop drafted in 2009, Mier signed for $1.358 million, then ranked as the top position prospect in the Rookie-level Appalachian League after hitting .276/.380/.485 (average, on-base percentage, slugging with Greeneville). His first full pro season was rougher, as he was hitting .199 as late as June 17. He grinded his way through the season, however, batting .260 in the second half and ranking sixth in the low Class A South Atlantic League with 63 walks.”

Telvin Nash

Height/weight: 6-2, 220
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 20
Hometown: Belleview, Fla.
Acquired: 3rd round, 2010 draft
The scoop: Drafted out of high school in Griffin, Ga., where he was a teammate of 2008 overall No. 1 pick Tim Beckham. Also played offensive and defensive end in football. Rated by Baseball America as the 13th-best prospect in the Astros system and with the “best raw power” in the system. Can play first base or left field. After hitting .218 with a homer and 20 RBI over 40 games with the Gulf Coast League Astros in 2008, showed spark last year. Had 57 games with Greeneville, hitting .265 with 12 homers and 39 RBI. Greeneville’s Offensive Player of the Month for August. Also played four games with Tri-City, going 4-for-13 (.308), including a homer, triple and double.

9 Ben Orloff

Ben Orloff

Height/weight: 5-11, 171
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 23
Hometown: Simi Valley, Calif.
Acquired: 9th round, 2009 draft
The scoop: 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. Was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2008, but opted to return for his senior season and earn his degree in criminology. Led the Anteaters to a No. 1 ranking and their first Big West Conference championship. Finished as the school’s all-time leader in multiple categories, including hits (281) and runs (178). Also stole 61 bases, second in school history. Split the summer of 2009 between Greeneville (11 games) and Tri-City (28 games), hitting below .200 with both clubs. Turned that 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. Finished with a .307 average, 16 RBI and 52 runs scored over 63 games, with 23 stolen bases.

Outfielders

30 Daniel Adamson

Daniel Adamson

Height/weight: 5-11, 215
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 23
Hometown: Spring, Ala.
Acquired: 20th round, 2010 draft
The scoop: A first-team all-Ohio Valley Conference pick last year for Jacksonville State, where he batted .349 with 13 homers and 53 RBI in helping the Gamecocks with the OVC Tournament championship and earn a berth in the NCAA tournament. Did not commit an error all season, nor in his final 244 chances (spanning two seasons). With Tri-City last season, he went 66-for-252 (.262) with nine homers, 11 doubles, four triples, 35 RBI and 33 runs over 69 games. He also stole 11 bases.

13 Adam Bailey

Adam Bailey

Height/weight: 6-1, 192
Bats/throws: Left/Left
Age: 23
Hometown: Monument, Colo.
Acquired: 23rd round, 2010 draft
The scoop: A 38th round draft pick in 2009, Bailey opted to play his senior season at the University of Nebraska. He earned all-Big 12 honors, batting .368 with 18 homers, 69 RBI and 57 runs over 54 games. For two seasons with the Cornhuskers, hit batted .348 with 30 homers and 199 RBI over 104 games. The Astros assigned him to Tri-City last season, where he went 55-for-234 (.235) over 66 games. Included were four homers, a triple and 15 doubles. He drove in 33 runs, scored 20 and stole three bases.

15 Bryce Lane

Bryce Lane

Height/weight: 6-0, 180
Bats/throws: Right/Right
Age: 21
Hometown: Phenix City, Ala.
Acquired: 41st round, 2010 draft
The scoop: A Junior College All-American for Gulf Coast Community College, Lane had committed to continuing his career at Auburn until the Astros came along. Lane set Gulf Coast school records with 26 homers and 90 RBI his sophomore season. He then played for three Astros affiliates last summer — Gulf Coast League Astros (.333 over eight games), Greeneville (.202 over 37 games) and Lancaster (.356 over 15 games). Overall, he batted .268 with a homer, 20 RBI, 17 runs and four stolen bases.

Jake Goebbert

The Houston Astros Player Development Department named the 2010 Most Valuable Players for its minor-league affiliates Friday, including Jake Goebbert from the Lexington Legends.

Each of the eight MVP were selected by the field staff of each team.

Two former Legends were honored: Koby Clemens of the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks and Brandon Barnes of the High-A Lancaster JetHawks.

The rundown on each player follows.

Class A – Legends outfielder Goebbert finished his second professional season with a .291 average (151-for-519), franchise-record 48 doubles, 10 home runs and franchise-record 98 RBI to earn MVP honors. He finished first in the South Atlantic League in doubles, while ranking second in RBI and sixth in hits (151). Among Astros prospects, Goebbert finished the season ranking first in RBI. He was named SAL Player of the Week from July 26-August 1, and earned Defensive Player of the Month honors twice for the Legends. Goebbert was a 13th round pick of the Astros in the June 2009 Draft.

Avg.      AB      H      R      2B      3B     HR     RBI     SB
.291    519    151    91    48      1      10      98    14

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.

The Houston Astros, parent club of the Lexington Legends, announced Monday that 22 of the 51 players selected by the club in last week’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft have agreed to terms.

Next stop for most, if not all, of the draftees will be the Tri-City (N.Y.) ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League or Greeneville (Tenn.) Astros of the Appalachian League.

Tri-City opens its season Friday. Greeneville will open the following Tuesday, June 23.

For a closer look at all 51 Houston draftees, see my earlier blog entry: http://markmaloney.bloginky.com/2009/06/13/the-lowdown-on-51-potential-legends-in-the-making/

Players agreeing to terms thus far, by round drafted:

     Player                       Pos.     School                               Ht.  Wt.  Hometown
 2. Tanner Bushue         RHP   South Central (Ill.) H.S.  6-4  180  Kinmundy, Ill.
 3. Telvin Nash                OF   Griffin (Ga.) H.S.                6-2   220  Belleview, Fla.
 4. Brailon (B.J.) Hyatt   RHP  Univ. S.C.-Sumter             6-4  205  Taylors, S.C.
 5. Brandon Wickoff        SS  Univ. Illinois                       5-8  170  Peoria, Ill.
 9. Ben Orloff                    SS  Univ. Cal-Irvine                  5-11  175  Simi Valley, Calf.
11. David Williams            C  Crowder (Mo.) College      6-0  190  Blue Springs, Mo.
15. Ryan Humphrey         OF St. Louis CC-Meramec      6-0  190  Blytheville, Ark.
16. Ronald Sanchez         1B  Manuela Toro H.S.            5-10  180  Caguas, Puerto Rico
17. Justin Harper            RHP  Oklahoma City Univ.        6-3  225  Phoenix, Ariz.
18. J.B. MacDonald     RHP  Boston College                 6-2  190  Danvers, Mass.
19. Brian Kemp                OF  St. John’s Univ.                  5-10  180  E.Rockaway, N.Y.
20. Julio Martinez            OF  Nova Southeastern U.     6-3  210  Hollywood, Fla.
21. Barry Butera              2B  Boston College                   6-0  180  Madisonville, La.
22. Mark Jones              RHP  Manheim (Pa.) H.S.           6-7  205  Lancaster, Pa.
23. Robert Donovan     RHP  Stetson Univ.                   6-5  215  Royal Palm Beach, Fla.
24. Mike Modica           LHP  George Mason Univ.        6-1  185  Sewell, N.J.
25. Nicholas Stanley     1B  Fla. Southern College         6-2  195  Largo, Fla.
27. Aaron Bay                3B  UNC-Charlotte                    6-0  180  Charlotte, N.C.
31. Travis Smink           LHP Va. Military Institute          6-2  200  Dalmatia, Pa.
33. Brenden Stines       RHP  Ball State University         6-2  190  Granger, Ind.
34. Scott Migi               RHP  Texas A&M University    6-3  190  Houston
35. Grant Hogue             OF  Mississippi State Univ.     6-0  190  Hattiesburg, Miss.

Taking a closer look at the Houston Astros’ selections in this week’s Major League Baseball Draft.

After all, this is where many of the 2010 Lexington Legends are sure to come from. Background info, courtesy of the Astros media relations staff.

1st Round (#21): SS Jiovanni Mier, Bonita (Calif.) H.S.; 6-2, 175
Year AVG AB  R  H   2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB OBP
2009   .394   71  37 28   10     1     5    18   22     9   18   .545
Ranked 44th on Baseball America’s draft rankings, noted as having above average speed and a powerful arm that grades out to well-above-average. … Homered in his last at-bat for Bonita High. … Also pitched in high school, and reportedly had his fastball gunned in the 91-93 mph range. … Maintained a 2.80 ERA (4ER/10IP) through the 2008-09 season. … MVP of the Miramonte League in his 2007 junior season (.479 , 3 HR, 30 RBI, 5 SB). … Brother, Jessie Mier, is a catcher for Inland Empire, Class A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
* * * * *
2nd Round (#69): RHP Tanner Bushue, South Central (Ill.) H.S.; 6-4, 190
Year ERA W-L G   IP   H  R ER BB SO
2009   0.62   8-3 13 68.1 31 15    6   22 140
No. 140 in Baseball America’s draft rankings. … As a junior in 2008, Midland Trail Conference Player of the Year (6-0, 2 sv, 47.2 ip, 11 h, 21 w, 126 so).
* * * * *
3rd Round (#100): OF Telvin Nash, Griffin (Ga.) H.S.; 6-2, 220
Year AVG AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP
2009   .527   78 39    7     1   10    40     9    9   .591
A Louisville Slugger High School Pre-Season All-Star in 2009.
* * * * *
3rd (Supplemental-#111): 3B Jonathan Meyer, Simi Valley (Calif.) H.S.; 6-1, 195
Year AVG  H 2B HR RBI BB SO SB
2009   .390 36   10    3     34  13    19    7
177th in Baseball America’s draft rankings. … As a junior in 2008 (.387 , 13 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 43 RBI, .802 SP), led Simi Valley to CIF title. … The Ventura County Star and the Daily News Player of the Year in 2008, as well as All-State First-Team, All-CIF Southern Section First-Team and L.A. Times All-County Team that year.
* * * * *
4th Round (#131): RHP B.J. Hyatt, South Carolina — Sumter; 6-4, 205
Year ERA W-L G/GS S   IP   H  R ER BB SO HR WP
2009   7.24   3-0   16/3   3 32.1 33 34  26   19   31     4     1
Former member of the Coastal Plain League’s Florence RedWolves.
* * * * *
5th Round (#161): SS Brandon Wickoff, Illinois; 5-9, 170
Year AVG  AB  R   H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009   .373  228 56  85   17    5    4      41  25     7    10-13
Rivals.com Preseason All-Big Ten as junior this season. … All-Ping! Baseball second team. … Finished on a career-best 18-game hitting streak, including nine multiple-hit games, and reached base in every game except one this season. … Had 23 multi-hit games, second-best on team, and 10 multi-RBI games. … In 2008, All-Big Ten SS. … Started all 56 games and hit in No. 3 spot in 50 games. … Hit .369 with team-high 61 RBI, tied for team lead in doubles (12) and tied for Big Ten lead in sacrifice flies (9). … His 37 RBI in Big Ten games ranked second in the league and were third-most in Illini history. … Had 24 mult-hit games and 15 multi-RBI efforts. … Played 56 games in 2007, starting 54, all at third base. … Batted mostly in the No. 2 spot. … Led his high school team to the Illinois State Tournament in 2005 and 2006, placing fourth in his junior season. … 2006 All-State pick by Prep Baseball Report and the Chicago Tribune. (Peoria) Journal Star Player of the Year in 2005.
* * * * *
6th Round (#191): SS Enrique Hernandez, American Military Academy (Puerto Rico); 5-11, 170
2009 Puerto Rico High School Baseball All-Star.
* * * * *
7th Round (#221): LHP Dallas Keuchel, Arkansas; 6-2, 180
Year ERA W-L  G    IP    H  R ER BB SO
2009   4.04   7-3  16 98.0 106 54  44   28  62
186th in Baseball America’s draft rankings. … Led Razorbacks in wins and innings pitched. … 4-3, 4.58 ERA, 61 strikeouts, 74.2 inning pitched and 11 starts in 2008. … Threw five or more innings in six of 11 starts and had 2-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. … In SEC play, 2-1, 4.72, 30 strikeouts over 47.2 innings. … Pitched two seasons for Wareham Gatemen of Cape Cod League; a West Division all-star.
* * * * *
8th Round (#251): RHP Brandt Walker, Stanford; 6-3, 185
Year ERA W-L G    IP   R ER BB SO
2009   7.11   0-1 12 19.0  16   15  13  12
2008   4.50   0-0   6   6.0    5    3     7    4
Opened the year as a starter. … Sophomore season (2008), reached College World Series with the Cardinal. … Pitched in 15 games (two starts) over his first two seasons, going 0-1 with a 6.38 ERA (13er, 18.1 ip. …Graduated in 2006 from St. Stephens Episcopal School in Austin, Texas. … A 2006 first-team Preseason Louisville Slugger All-American. … Ranked No. 7 among 2006 Texas High School players. … Selected by the Texas Rangers in the 21st round of the 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
* * * * *
9th Round (#281): SS Ben Orloff, Cal-Irvine; 5-11, 170
Year AVG GP AB  R  H 2B RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009   .358  60  254 62  91 11     28   21   16    18-23
2008   .344  60  227 50  78 17     23   30   19    19-28
Named a Louisville Slugger Third Team All-American this year; Top 10 Returning Senior by Rivals.com; Brooks Wallace Award Preseason Watch List. … In 2008, All-Big West Conference first-team honoree; Lincoln NCAA Regional All-Tournament team. … Ranked 12th in the country in sacrifice bunts (16). … Tied for third on UCI career list with 44 stolen bases; seventh in games played (181); tied for 13th in runs (116); tied for 19th in hits (190). … Started 155 consecutive games. … Struck out 35 times in 481 at bats over his last two seasons.
* * * * *
10th Round (#311): 3B Erik Castro, San Diego State; 6-4, 200
Year AVG GP  AB  R  H 2B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009   .388   58  206 48 80  19   11     56   42   37     3-4
All-Mountain West Conference second team as utility/DH. … Homered in four consecutive games against three different opponents May 10-15 (vs. Air Force, San Francisco, Utah). … Two of his team-leading 11 home runs came at PETCO Park (home of the San Diego Padres) against UC Davis on April 3; the first player in the 10 col­legiate games played in the Major League stadium to hit two homers in a game. … .496 on-base percentage led the Aztecs. Also led in batting, homers and RBI. … Errorless in 19 games at catcher and four appearances at first base. .… Batted .446 (33-for- 74) with runners in scoring position … Hit .400 in league play with eight doubles, seven homers, 24 runs and 29 RBI.
* * * * *
11th Round (#341): C David “Bubby” Williams, Crowder (Mo.) College; 6-0, 190 
NJCAA Division I Baseball All-Region 16 Team in 2008. … As a freshman last year, 1st Team All Region and  Region 16 Player of the Year.
* * * * *
12th Round (#371): RHP Geoffrey Thomas, Stephenson (Ga.) H.S.; 6-0, 187
Year  ERA W-L     IP BB SO
2009    0.51   3-2  27.2    23   48
Team MVP in 2006 and 2008, all-county in 2007 and 2008. … Rawlings/Perfect Game USA Preseason All-Region Team this season. … Participated in the Major League Baseball Inaugural Break­through Series and was a MLB Urban Academy All-Star selection in 2008.
* * * * *
13th Round (#401): OF Jake Goebbert, Northwestern University; 6-0, 205
Year AVG GP AB  R  H 2B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009   .280  30  107 24 30  10     4     23   18   15     2-3
2008   .353  49  173 41 61  22   10     48   28   27     3-3
As a sophomore in 2008, second-team All-Big Ten. … The Wildcats’ Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient. … Broke a 31-year-old school season record by posting a Big Ten-leading 22 doubles; also led team in HR, RBI, BB and with .665 slugging percentage, . 458 on-base percentage. … Hit safely in 17 straight games. … Pitched twice, at Illinois and in a home win over Elmhurst, and did not allow a run. … ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District V team . … Academic All-Big Ten.
* * * * *
14th Round (#431): LHP David Berner, San Jose State; 6-2, 205
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV    IP  H  R ER BB SO
2009   3.20   7-2   13/13    3     0  95.2 84 43  34   15   84
In 2008, made 14 appearances, 13 starts. … Tossed 83.0 innings, second-most on the team and seventh-most in the WAC. … Led the Spartans with 67 strikeouts, fifth-most in the conference. … Went at least 4.2 innings in every start.
* * * * *
15th Round (#461): CF Ryan Humphrey, St. Louis Community College–Meramec; 6-0, 195
Year AVG GP-GS  AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI
2009   .278    44-44  133  37    6    0    0      21
* * * * *
16th Round (#491): 1B Ronald Sanchez, Manuela Toro (Puerto Rico) H.S.; 5-10, 170
* * * * *
17th Round (#521): RHP Justin Harper, Oklahoma City University; 6-3, 210
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV   IP   H    R ER BB SO
2009   4.94   9-3  15-14     4     0 71.0  63  44  39   38   86
Went 2-1 with 6.00 ERA as sophomore, fanning 42 over 36 innings. … Ranked as top junior-college prospect in Arizona by Baseball America. … 0-2, 3.24 ERA, 14 strikeouts, 25 innings as freshman. … All-state for Greenway High School in Phoenix, Ariz. 
* * * * *
18th Round (#551): RHP James (J.B.) MacDonald, Boston College; 6-2, 190
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV  IP   H  R ER BB SO
2009   4.86   5-7   15-15    1    0 96.1 96 58  52   32  71
Started 11 games and made one relief appearance as a junior in 2008, going 4-7. … As a sophomore, pitched in 13 games, totaling 28.1 innings; 1-0, one save, 23 strikeouts. … Went six straight appearances — 9.2 innings — without surrendering an earned run. … Played four years at Danvers High School, earning Northeastern Conference MVP and all-region honors in 2005.
* * * * *
19th Round (#581): CF Brian Kemp, St. Johns; 5-9, 180
Year AVG  GP-GS  AB  H  R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009    .379    52-52  219 83 68   13    3     3     35   25   25   16-21
2008 pre-season All-Big East selection as a sophomore. … Played 36 games, all starts, batting a team-high .360 with 20 RBI, three doubles, five triples and one home run. … Stole a team-best 16 bases in 21 attempts and had 15 multi-hit games. … Had a 15-game hitting streak. … As a freshman, started 56 games and batted .348, with team-bests of 53 runs and 25 stolen bases. … Louisville Slugger freshman All-American; All-Big East third team.
* * * * *
20th Round (#611): RF Julio (J.D.) Martinez, Nova Southeastern (Fla.); 6-3, 194
Year AVG GP-GS AB  H  R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT E FLD%
2009   .428     55-55 187 80 73  15    2  15      57  41   26      8-9       6  .921
2008   .370     51-50 192 71 54  18    1  12      56  27   18      6-7       1  .989
Set single-season program record in runs scored (73) while placing second in batting average this season; top 10 season in slugging percentage (.770), hits, home runs, RBI, total bases (144) and walks. … Set NSU career home run record April 17 vs. Barry University, hitting his 31st. … Sophomore season of 2008, led team in RBI, second in at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, homers and total bases (124). …  First-Team All-Sunshine State Conference, Daktronics All-South Region Second-Team, NCBWA All-South Region First-Team, ABCA/Rawlings All-America Baseball third team. .. Finished with 21 multiple hit and 10 multiple RBI games. … As freshman in 2007, hit .379 with 5 HR, 29 RBI. … Back-to-back state title teams at Flanagan High School. … Team Gold Glove winner senior year. … 2006 MLB Draft 36th Round Pick of the Minnesota Twins.
* * * * *

48th Round (#1451): LHP Steven Rodriguez, Gulliver Prep (Fla.) H.S.; 6-3, 215
A 2008 Under Armour All-American. … Also named an All-American Prospect.
* * * * *

49th Round (#1481): 1B Matthew Smith, Mississippi; 6-3, 230
Year AVG GP AB   H  R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT FLD%

2009   .336   64  232 78 52 15    2    8    59    30    57     4-6        .988

Appeared in 61 games, drawing 60 starts in 2008. … Hit .283, with 40 RBI, 39 runs, 11 doubles, a triple and 14 home runs. … His 14 home runs set the Ole Miss freshman record as he posted a .527 slug­ging percentage. … Also drew 22 walks and posted 17 multiple-hit games, 11 multiple-RBI games.
* * * * *

50th Round (#1511): LHP Spencer Hylander, Oklahoma Baptist; 6-1, 195
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP   H   R ER BB SO

2009   5.02   5-1   16/10   4   0   61.0 61 34 26   26   56
* * * * *