Rising Stars Showcase rosters announced
October 24, 2006 - Arizona Fall League (AzFL) News Release
Phoenix, Arizona - The Arizona Fall League's inaugural "Rising Stars Showcase" game featuring elite prospects from every organization in Major League Baseball will be played at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, October 27 at Surprise Stadium, the spring home of the Kansas City Royals andTexas Rangers in Surprise, Arizona. Fall League Hall of Fame ceremonies honoring current Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona will begin at 6:45 p.m.
The game, pitting the Fall League's East Division (Mesa Solar Sox, Phoenix Desert Dogs, Scottsdale Scorpions) versus the West Division (Grand Canyon Rafters, Peoria Javelinas, Peoria Saguaros), is the vision of Fall League Executive Director Steve Cobb. It is intended to serve much the same purpose as Major League Baseball's annual "Futures Game" that now leads off All-Star Game festivities each July.
"We're putting as many top prospects as possible on one field at one time," Cobb states. "We've had so many first-round picks and minor league all-stars play in the Fall League, we thought this is a natural way to showcase the tremendous talent rising in baseball. For scouts and fans alike, it's a dream to see top pitchers face top hitters." Friday's game is scheduled on a World Series travel day to fill a void for baseball fans.
Scouting and minor league directors of every organization had the opportunity to complete a ballot to select the players for Friday's game. Most roster selections were based on their input. Each major-league organization is represented by at least one player.
The coaching staffs of the Desert Dogs - manager Tony DeFrancesco (Athletics), pitching coach Tom Signore (Blue Jays), coaches Jamie Dismuke (Reds) and Steve Livesey (Devil Rays) - and the Saguaros - manager Randy Ready (Padres), pitching coach Rick Tomlin (Nationals), coaches James Rowson (Yankees) and Derek Lilliquist (Cardinals) - earned the right to skipper Friday's contest by virtue of having their teams in first place in the east and west divisions, respectively, through the play of last Saturday, October 21.
Friday's starting pitchers will be Rafter Luke Hochevar (Royals) and Solar Sox Michael Pelfrey (Mets).
Following the "Rising Stars Showcase," the six-team Arizona Fall League resumes play on Saturday, October 28 and continues with three games per day, six days per week (Monday-Saturday) through the weekend before Thanksgiving when the championship game will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 18 at Scottsdale Stadium.
The complete rosters of the inaugural "Rising Stars Showcase" follow.
East Division
Pitchers
Matt Albers, RHP, Solar Sox/Astros Jon Coutlangus, LHP, Desert Dogs/Reds Dewon Day, RHP, Scorpions/White Sox Marcus McBeth, RHP, Desert Dogs/Athletics Jonathan Meloan, RPH, Solar Sox/Dodgers Patrick Misch, LHP, Scorpions/Giants Mike Mitchell, RHP, Desert Dogs/Athletics Michael Pelfrey, RHP, Solar Sox/Mets Jeff Ridgway, Desert Dogs/Devil Rays Billy Sadler, RHP, Scorpions/Giants Kevin Slowey, RHP, Solar Sox/Twins
Catchers
Landon Powell, Desert Dogs/Athletics Curtis Thigpen, Desert Dogs/Blue Jays
Infielders
James D'Antona, Scorpions/Diamondbacks Ryan Braun, Scorpions/Brewers Danny Richar, Scorpions/Diamondbacks Ryan Klosterman, Desert Dogs/Blue Jays Chin-Lung Hu, Solar Sox/Dodgers Scott Moore, Solar Sox/Cubs Eric Patterson, Solar Sox/Cubs
Outfielders
Terry Evans, Scorpions/Angels Travis Buck, Desert Dogs/Athletics Brent Clevlen, Desert Dogs/Tigers Fernando Martinez, Solar Sox/Mets Hunter Pence, Solar Sox/Astros
Coaching Staff (Desert Dogs)
Manager: Tony DeFrancesco, Athletics
Pitching Coach: Tom Signore, Blue Jays
Coaches: Jamie Dismuke, Reds
Steve Livesey, Devil Rays
West Division
Pitchers
Lenny Dinardo, LHP, Javelinas/Red Sox Giovany Gonzalez, LHP, Saguaros/Phillies
J.A. Happ, LHP, Saguaros/PhilliesLuke Hochevar, RHP, Rafters/Royals Jesse Ingram, RHP, Rafters/Rangers Stephen Kahn, RHP, Javelinas/Mariners Josh Newman, LHP, Rafters/Rockies Devin Perrin, RHP, Saguaros/Nationals Tony Sipp, LHP, Javelinas/Indians William Startup, LHP, Javelinas/Braves Scott Tyler, RHP, Javelinas/Marlins
Catchers
Neil Walker, Rafters/Pirates Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Javelinas/Braves
Infielders
Eric Duncan, Saguaros/Yankees Yunel Escobar, Javelinas/Braves Michael Garciaparra, Javelinas/Mariners Chase Headley, Saguaros/Padres Joe Koshansky, Rafters/Rockies Kevin Kouzmanoff, Javelinas/Indians Troy Tulowitzki, Rafters/Rockies
Outfielders
Trevor Crowe, Javelinas/Indians Jacoby Ellsbury, Javelinas/Red Sox Mitch Maier, Rafters/Royals Amaury Marti, Saguaros/Cardinals Nolan Reimold, Rafters/Orioles
Coaching Staff (Peoria Saguaros)
Manager: Randy Ready, Padres
Pitching Coach: Rick Tomlin, Nationals
Coaches: James Rowson, Yankees
Derek Lilliquist, Cardinals
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Arizona Fall League Stories from October 24, 2006
- Arizona Fall League update - AzFL
- Strait, Sadler earn weekly honors - AzFL
- Rising Stars Showcase rosters announced - AzFL
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