2005 Northern League preview

NORTH DIVISION

CALGARY VIPERS

2004 Record: 2005 will be 1st Northern League season

2005 Manager: Mike Busch (1st year)

Players To Watch In 2005:

Carlos Duncan (3B): Had a .270 average at AA and A clubs in Angels system in 2004…Has played ten pro seasons in Phillies, Rockies, and Angels systems.

Evan Greusel (RHP): Was Calgary's opening night starter at Sioux Falls…Spent last three seasons in Marlins system, fanning 87 batters in 90 innings at Jupiter and Greensboro in 2004.

Greg Morrison (1B): Was the 1st pick in the expansion draft in November…Batted .300 with 11 homers in 81 games at Winnipeg in 2004…Tied for 5th in the league with 14 homers in 2003 with the Goldeyes.

Corey Paul (OF-DH): Hit .293 with 11 homers and 52 rbi in 95 games with Fargo-Moorhead and Joliet in 2004…Is a 13-year pro who has played in Mariners system as well as stops in Japan, Korea, and Mexico.

EDMONTON CRACKER-CATS

2004 Record: 2005 will be 1st Northern League season

2005 Manager: Terry Bevington (1st year)

Players To Watch In 2005:

Stubby Clapp (3B): Split 2004 between Indians and Blue Jays systems…Has also played in Cardinals and Braves organizations…Batted .200 in 23 games with St. Louis in 2001.

Darin Kinsolving (1B-OF): Posted a .258 average with 13 homers and 60 rbi in 91 games with Sioux Falls and Gary last season…Had .336 average, 2nd best in Frontier League, in 2003.

Mike Kusiewicz (LHP): Pitched in 26 games for Milwaukee's High Desert club in 2004…Has also pitched in Rockies, Twins, Blue Jays, Red Sox, and A's systems, reaching triple-A in the Boston system in 2001-02.

Jeremy Ware (OF): Played in 26 games at AAA Edmonton in 2004 in Expos system…Spent all but five months of ten pro seasons with Montreal organization.

FARGO-MOORHEAD REDHAWKS

2004 Record: 55-41…Won 1st half…Lost to St. Paul in Division playoffs, 3 games to 1

2005 Manager: Doug Siminic (10th year with Fargo-Moorhead, 485-298 record)

Players To Watch In 2005:

Richard Austin (OF): Was the 2004 Frontier League most valuable player at Rockford, batting a league best .359 with 15 homers, 77 rbi, and 22 stolen bases…Is a four-year Frontier League veteran.

Kelley Gulledge (C): Was the Northern League's all-league catcher in 2004, batting .320 with eight homers and 55 rbi in 96 games with the RedHawks…Also selected to Baseball America Independent League All-Star Team…Has played in the Twins, Rangers, and Brewers systems.

Joe Mathis (OF): Had a .284 average in 96 games at Fargo-Moorhead last year and established a league record with 416 at bats…Ranked 5th in the league in runs (80)…Has 221 steals in 12 pro seasons.

Mike Peschel (LHP): Was the 2004 Northern League Rookie Pitcher of the Year, going 7-2, 2.86 in 17 games at Fargo…Is 13-5 in two pro seasons, both at Fargo-Moorhead.

2005 Northern League Preview…Page 2

SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS

2004 Record: 39-57

2005 Manager: Steve Shirley (1st year)

Players To Watch In 2005:

Casey Baker (OF): Earned Northern League Rookie of the Year honors in 2004, batting .337, 5th best in the league, with two homers and 36 rbi in 82 games…Has a .320 career average in his two pro seasons, both with the Explorers.

Marcel Longmire (C): Returns for a 2nd season at Sioux City after hitting .327, 10th in the league, with 11 homers and 72 rbi in 96 games a year ago…Played in league all-star game…Has played in Cubs system.

Ryan Ruiz (OF): Split 2004 between Sioux City and Schaumburg, combining for .310 average in 93 games…Ranked 2nd in the league with 35 stolen bases…Has .293 average in six Northern League campaigns.

Mitch Wylie (RHP): Joins the Explorers after seven seasons in the Chicago White Sox organization, posting a 27-26 career record…Appeared in 28 games at AAA Charlotte in 2004…Was 15-4 at AA Birmingham in 2001.

SIOUX FALLS CANARIES

2004 Record: 33-63

2005 Manager: Mike Pinto (1st year)

Players To Watch In 2005:

Edgard Clemente (OF): Had a .331 average with 11 homers and 46 rbi in 75 games at Somerset in the Atlantic League in 2004…Batted .249 in 114 major league contests with Colorado in 1998-99 and Anaheim in 2000…Is in his 13th pro year.

Rafael Gross (RHP): Was signed by Sioux Falls this winter after appearing in just three games at Winnipeg in 2004 due to injuries…Earned Northern League Pitcher of the Year honors with the Goldeyes in 2003, going 13-2, 2.28…Has a 36-9 career Northern League record.

Anthony Monegan (OF): Had a .297 average in 124 games at St. Louis' Peoria club in 2004…Batted .307 and stole 50 bases, 2nd most in Northern League history, at Joliet in 2003,,,Played three seasons in the White Sox farm system.

Juan Thomas (1B-DH): Batted .304 with 14 homers and 31 rbi in 52 games at Sioux Falls last season…Also played in Mexico…Has been with the White Sox, Reds, and Mariners systems during a 13-year pro career…Entered 2005 with 278 homers, 7th best all-time among minor leaguers.

WINNIPEG GOLDEYES

2004 Record: 56-39

2005 Manager: Hal Lanier (10th year with Winnipeg, 476-312 record)

Players To Watch In 2005:

Harry Berrios (OF): Produced a .327 average with 9 homers and 71 rbi in 94 games at Winnipeg in 2004…Was tied for 2nd in the league in hits (131) and was 9th in batting…Is the Northern League's all-time leader with 415 rbi and ranks 2nd in at bats, runs, hits, and doubles, and is 3rd in homers…Is in his 13th pro season…Played in Orioles, Indians, Rangers chains.

Shayn Holbrook (RHP): Won 12 games in relief for the Goldeyes in 2004, tying for 2nd in the league in wins…Had a 3.72 era and three saves in 36 games…Was 5-3 at Sioux Falls in 2003.

Roger Luque (LHP): Went 9-4, 3.74 in 21 starts at Winnipeg a year ago…Ranked 2nd in the league in innings (149) and shutouts (3)…Has pitched in the Padres, Mariners, and Royals organizations.

Max Poulin (SS): Batted .269 with 15 steals in 93 games for the Goldeyes in 2004…Played in league all-star game…Is in his 5th year at Winnipeg.

SOUTH DIVISION

GARY SOUTHSHORE RAILCATS

2004 Record: 31-65

2005 Manager: Greg Tagert (1st season)

Players To Watch In 2005:

Curt Lee (2B): Played in every game for the RailCats in 2004, batting .264 with 47 rbi in 96 games…Is in his 6th pro season, all in the Northern League.

Jay Pecci (SS): Had a .242 average in 63 games at AA Norwich in the Giants organization in 2004…Has also played in the A's and Mariners systems in a seven-year pro career.

Scott Samuels (OF): Split 2004 between St. Paul and Gary, hitting .274 with nine homers and 47 rbi in 79 games…Has played in the Marlins, Cubs, Expos, and Red Sox chains during a 14-year pro career.

Dominic Woody (RHP): Made conversion from catcher to pitcher in 2004, going 2-3, 3.16 in 18 appearances with Gary…Was signed by the Angels organization in August and was 2-3, 4.41 at A Rancho Cucamonga…Caught in the Marlins and Mariners systems from 1999-2002.

2005 Northern League Preview…Page 3

JOLIET JACKHAMMERS

2004 Record: 49-47

2005 Manager: Jeff Isom (2nd season at Joliet, 49-47 record))

Players To Watch In 2005:

Jermaine Allensworth (OF): Had a .321 average in 79 games with the JackHammers in 2004…Has a .260 career average in 342 major league contests with the Pirates (1996-98), Royals (1998), and Mets (1998-99).

Jayson Drobiak (3B): Had a pair of homers and seven rbi on May 22 vs. Gary…Signed with Joliet after spending last three seasons in Yankees organization, 2004 at A Tampa…Began career in Tigers system in 1999.

Kyle Logan (OF): Joined the JackHammers after playing all eight pro campaigns in the Astros organization…Spent last three years at AAA New Orleans, hitting .248 with 17 steals in 121 games in 2004.

Josh Loggins (1B-OF): Was a Northern League all-star in 2004, batting .305 with 20 homers and 76 rbi in 92 games…Was 3rd in the league in homers and ranked 5th in rbi...Has played in the Padres, Yankees, and Rockies systems.

KANSAS CITY T-BONES

2004 Record: 48-48…Won 2nd half…Lost to Schaumburg in Division playoffs, 3 games to 2

2005 Manager: Al Gallagher (4th season at Kansas City, 127-148 record)

Players To Watch In 2005:

Greg Bicknell (RHP): Despite not joining T-Bones until June, topped the Northern League with 13 victories in 2004…Posted a 3.56 era and five complete games in 20 outings…Also serves as Kansas City's pitching coach…Has pitched in Blue Jays and Mariners chains in 14-year career.

Ray Brown (1B): Hit .362 with 19 homers and 85 rbi in 94 games with the T-Bones a year ago…Topped league in doubles (36), tied for 1st in extra base hits (56) and was 2nd in average, total bases (226), hits (131), and slugging (.624)…Has a .318 career average in 11 pro campaigns.

Eddie Pearson (DH): Led Northern League in homers (30) and slugging (.630), 2nd in rbi (94), and placed 7th in batting (.330) at K.C. last season…Was the league mvp in 2003, finishing 1st in batting (.362) and rbi (78)…Has played with White Sox, Devil Rays, and Cardinals farm clubs during 13-year pro career.

Rick Prieto (OF): Established Northern League records for runs (97), walks (78), and triples (10-tied) in 2004…Hit .314 with 42 rbi in 94 games…Has spent last two seasons with the T-Bones after stops in Indians, Dodgers, Padres, and White Sox systems.

LINCOLN SALTDOGS

2004 Record: 49-47

Manager: Tim Johnson (3rd season at Lincoln, 90-96 record)

Players To Watch In 2005:

Cory Harris (OF): Combined for a .280 average with 11 homers at A Frederick and A Delmarva in the Orioles system in 2004…Established a Northern League record with a 28-game hitting streak at St. Paul in 2003…1st four pro seasons were with the Mets organization.

Jared Hoerman (RHP): Joined the Saltdogs after six years with the Mariners system…Went 5-1, 4.91 in 39 appearances at AAA Tacoma in 2004…Is 25-18, 3.19 with 77 saves in pro career.

Josh Patton (3B): Had a .320 average with 15 homers and 56 rbi in 96 games at Lincoln a year ago…Is the all-time Northern League career leader in games, at bats, runs, hits, doubles, and walks, and ranks 2nd in rbi…Is in his 9th pro season, all in Northern League.

Bryan Warner (OF): Batted .304 with 14 homers and 64 rbi in 96 contests with the Saltdogs in 2004…Was the 2002 Northern League Player of the Year…Has played for Indians, Rockies, and Cubs organizations.

ST. PAUL SAINTS

2004 Record: 61-34 (North Division)…Won 2nd half…Defeated Fargo-Moorhead in Division playoffs, 3 games to 1

Defeated Schaumburg in Championship Series, 3 games to 2…2004 Northern League Champions

2005 Manager: George Tsamis (3rd season at St. Paul, 113-72 record)

Players To Watch In 2005:

Tonayne Brown (OF): Hit .344, 4th best in the Northern League, with eight homers and 62 rbi in 85 games with the Saints last season…Has been with the Red Sox and Tigers systems,

Tim Christman (LHP): Returns to St. Paul after starting 2004 with the team…Was 1-0 in four games before sale to Mariners…Spent rest of year at AAA Tacoma, going 2-0, 4.62 in 30 appearances…Has also pitched in the Rockies, Cubs, and Tigers organizations…Appeared in one game with the Colorado Rockies in 2001.

Justin Hall (2B): Was the Northern League all-league 2nd baseman in 2004, batting .326 with five homers and 36 rbi in 83 games…Earned Most Outstanding Player honors of the NL championship series…Has played with A's and Giants.

Adam Olow (OF): Produced the highest batting average in Northern League history at .376 and also topped league with a .453 on-base percentage at St. Paul in 2004…Was selected to post-season Northern League and Baseball America Independent League all-star teams…Has .331 career average in five Independent campaigns.

2005 Northern League Preview…Page 4

SCHAUMBURG FLYERS

2004 Record: 58-38…Won 1st half…Defeated Kansas City in Division playoffs, 3 games to 2

Lost to St. Paul in Championship Series, 3 games to 2

2005 Manager: Andy McCauley (3rd season at Schaumburg, 105-79 record)

Players To Watch In 2005:

Matt Bailie (RHP): Won a team high nine regular season games for the Flyers in 2004 and was 3-0 in post-season play…Is in his ninth pro season after originally being singed by the Phillies.

Anthony Boughner (LHP): Had a great start for the Flyers a year ago, going 7-1, 2.09 in ten starts…Earned league pitcher of the month honors for June…Was signed by the Reds in July and had a 2-4 mark at A Dayton and A Potomac…Spent 1st two pro campaigns in the Orioles chain.

Geoff McCallum (SS): Was the league's all-star shortstop with the Flyers a year ago, setting a Northern League record with 138 hits…Batted .358, 3rd in the league, with 48 rbi and 16 steals in 93 games…Also scored the 2nd most runs (86).

Chris Weekly (3B): Had a .330 average, 8th highest in the league, with 16 homers and 68 rbi in 94 contests at Schaumburg a year ago…Was selected as the Outstanding Player of the 2004 NL all-star game…Has played in Blue Jays, Cubs, and Cardinals organizations.

NORTHERN LEAGUE NEWS AND NOTES

MAJOR LEAGUE ALUMNI: Six players who have seen time in the major leagues were members of Northern League opening day rosters in 2005: Joliet OF Jermaine Allensworth (Pirates, Royals, Mets); St. Paul LHP Tim Christman (Rockies); Edmonton INF Stubby Clapp (Cardinals); Sioux Falls OF Edgard Clemente (Rockies and Angels); Sioux Falls LHP Tony Cogan (Royals); and Schaumburg LHP Rick DeHart (Royals).

ANOTHER FORMER BIG LEAGUE SKIPPER: The Northern League welcomed another former major league manager to its ranks this season with Terry Bevington becoming the first skipper of the expansion Edmonton Cracker-Cats. Bevington guided the Chicago White Sox to a 222-214 mark from 1995-97. He joins Lincoln's Tim Johnson (Toronto in 1998) and Winnipeg's Hal Lanier (Houston from 1986-88) as Northern League managers with major league experience.

"LEON" MAKES THE GRADE: Nigel Thatch, the actor who portrays the prima donna athlete ‘Leon' in a series of Budweiser television commercials, made the Schaumburg Flyers' 22-man opening night roster. Thatch is a right-handed relief pitcher. The Los Angeles-based actor reported to spring training earlier this month to pursue a long set-aside baseball dream. Thatch made his regular season pro debut on May 22 at St. Paul, pitching a scoreless inning with one hit and one strikeout in Schaumburg's 15-2 loss to the Saints.

FRONTIER LEAGUE DOUBLE: The top player and pitcher in the Frontier League from 2004 have both joined the Northern League this season. Outfielder Richard Austin signed with the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks after batting a league best .359 with 15 homers and 77 rbi at Rockford a year ago. Austin is off to a strong Northern League start, going 6-10 with 2 homers and 6 rbi in the RedHawks' three-game sweep of Winnipeg, May 20-22.

Chad Sosebee was the Frontier League's 2004 Most Valuable Pitcher, going 12-4 with a league low 2.02 era at Richmond. He joined the Kansas City T-Bones in the off-season but has left the mound for the outfield. Starting all three games in right field in the opening series versus Edmonton, Sosebee was 2-11 with a home run on Sunday in the T-Bones' 5-2 victory. Sosebee was classified as an LS-4 pitcher but with his new position is now considered a rookie outfielder.

HOME RUN LEADERS: The Northern League has two of the 15 active players who have hit at least 200 career minor league homers in its opening day rosters. Juan Thomas of Sioux Falls ranks fifth with 278 and Lincoln's Kevin Grijak is 14th at 202. Overall, Thomas is eighth on the all-time list of minor league homers. Julian Yan, who is playing at Tabasco in the Mexican League, is the all-time leader at 326 and Monterrey's Bubba Smith, who was in Joliet for the 2nd half of 2004, is next at 316.

Active minor league home run leaders (players have appeared in at least one minor league game in 2005):

No. Player No. Player No. Player

326 Julian Yan 264 Boi Rodriguez 232 Pat Lennon

316 Bubba Smith 245 Adam Hyzdu 226 Matias Carrillo

302 Glenn Murray 241 Oreste Marrero 218 Morgan Burkhart

284 Ernie Young 237 Alan Zinter 202 KEVIN GRIJAK

278 JUAN THOMAS 232 Mike Coolbaugh 200 Chad Mottola

2005 Northern League Preview…Page 5

EXHIBITION RESULTS: The 2005 exhibition records of the Northern League teams

NORTH DIVISION W L T SOUTH DIVISION W L T

Calgary 2 0 1 Gary 2 3 0

Edmonton 0 2 1 Joliet 1 5 0

Fargo-Moorhead 2 4 2 Kansas City 1 3 0

Sioux City 4 1 0 Lincoln 4 0 0

Sioux Falls 2 4 2 St. Paul 2 3 1

Winnipeg 4 1 2 Schaumburg 6 0 0

NORTHERN LEAGUE SHORTS: The first Sunday of the regular season saw some record-setting performances…Joliet's Jayson Drobiak drove in a club record seven runs on Sunday versus Gary…That same day, St. Paul established a Northern League record with 10 doubles against Schaumburg…At Sioux Falls, Lincoln set team records with 18 runs and 25 hits…The Saltdogs' Jake Whitesides tied a team mark with five rbi, a record set two nights earlier by Kevin Sullivan…Lincoln has scored 51 runs in its four games, the 1st time in team history the Saltdogs have tallied 10+ runs in four straight contests…Lincoln also tops the league with a .396 average and 10 homers…At the other end of the spectrum, Edmonton is batting .151 with a league low 12 runs in its 1st four contests…St. Paul has produced 22 and 21 hits, respectively in its last two games, a 1st for the Saints…INF Matt Howe, son of former major league player and manager Art Howe, is playing with Sioux City for a 2nd consecutive year…Fargo-Moorhead, which was swept in a four-game series at Schaumburg to open 2004, won three straight over Winnipeg to begin 2005…The Goldeyes are 0-4 to start this season after a loss in Lincoln on Monday…Oldest player on a Northern League opening day roster: Schaumburg LHP Rick DeHart, born March 21, 1968…The youngest is Edmontion LHP Aric Van Gaalen, born August 25, 1984.

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