2007 Fall League Factoids
October 9, 2007 - Arizona Fall League (AzFL) News Release
- 2007 Fall League Hall of Fame Inductees
Jermaine Dye
Torii Hunter
Derrek Lee
Ken Macha
- Nearly 1,500 former Fall Leaguers have reached the major leagues
- 407 Ex-AFLers On '07 MLB Opening-Day Rosters
- 83 Class of '06 Fall Leaguers reach major leagues in '07
- Over 100 MLB All-Stars including 24 in 2007
- 4 MLB MVPs Jason Giambi Ryan Howard Justin Morneau Albert Pujols
- 3 Cy Young Award winners Chris Carpenter Roy Halladay Brandon Webb
- 14 MLB Rookies-of-the-Year
- 7 MLB batting champions
- 10 MLB hits leaders
- 3 MLB RBI leaders
- 1 MLB home-run leader
- 30 MLB Silver Sluggers
- 20 MLB Gold Glove Awards
- 20 MLB managers
- 30 MLB umpires
- 68 administrators serving the baseball industry
General
- Four Arizona Fall League players - Scottsdale Scorpions IF Evan Longoria (TB), Peoria Saguaros IF Mike Hollimon, IF (DET) and LHP Josh Outman (PHI), and Surprise Rafters RHP Jeff Stevens (CLE) - will appear in the Fall League until October 22, then join Team USA.
- Seven inbound Fall League players were selected to the 2007 MLB Futures Game in San Francisco - Mesa Solar Sox C J.R. Towles (HOU), Peoria Saguaros IF Chris Coghlan (FLA), IF Chin-Lung Hu (LAD), and OF Cameron Maybin (DET), Scottsdale Scorpions IF Evan Longoria (TB), and Surprise Rafters IF Elvis Andrus (TEX) and IF German Duran (TEX).
- There will be 30 former first-round draft choices participating in the 2007 Arizona Fall League. Five were selected in the first 10 picks - Mesa Solar Sox OF Matt LaPorta (MIL), seventh in 2007: Peoria Javelina C Jeff Clement (SEA), third in 2005; Scottsdale Scorpion IF Evan Longoria (TB), third is 2006; Scottsdale Scorpions LHP Ricky Romero (TOR), sixth in 2005; and, Surprise Rafters OF Chris Lubanski (KC), fifth in 2003.
- Four Arizona Fall League players - Peoria Javelinas RHP Zech Zinicola (WSH), Peoria Saguaros C Tuffy Gosewisch (PHI) and IF Jeff Larish (DET), and Phoenix Desert Dogs RHP Patrick Bresnehan (PIT) - played college baseball at Arizona State. The quartet was on the Sun Devils' 2005 team that reached the College World Series in Omaha. Gosewich and Larish started at catcher and first base, respectively, while Bresnehan and Zinicola shared closer duties. The group brings the total number of former Sun Devils to appear in the Arizona Fall League to 27. Additionally, former Sun Devil outfielder Todd Steverson (OAK) is a coach with the Phoenix Desert Dogs this year.
- Two Fall League players - Peoria Saguaros C Nick Hundley (SD) and Surprise Rafters OF Trevor Crowe (CLE) - played for the University of Arizona baseball program.
- Five 2007 Fall Leaguers won't be forgotten on their birthdays: Peoria Javelinas RHP Adam Carr (WSH)-April Fool's Day; Peoria Saguaros RHP Jeff Gerbe (DET) and Scottsdale Scorpions OF Sergio Santos (TOR)-Fourth of July; Rafters RHP Paul Kometani (TEX)-Christmas Eve; and, Peoria Javelinas IF Christian Colonel (COL)-Christmas Day.
- Thirty-four 2007 Arizona Fall Leaguers have major league experience.
Mesa Solar Sox
- RHP Matt Avery (CHC) was a college teammate of Ryan Zimmerman (Nationals) and Mark Reynolds (Diamondbacks) at the University of Virginia.
- RHPJustin Berg (CHC) was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2003 and traded to the Cubs for OF Matt Lawton.
- RHP Mitch Boggs (STL) helped the University of Georgia reach the College World Series in 2004 before playing football for a semester at Division I-AA Chattanooga ... appeared in three games at quarterback, rushing three times for nine yards and never attempting a pass.
- C Dusty Brown (BOS) attended Bradshaw Mountain (AZ) High School and Yavapai Community College (AZ).
- IF Chris Carter (BOS) attended Stanford University ... human biology major ... plans to become a pediatric surgeon following baseball career.
- RHP Tim Dillard (MIL) was named Milwaukee Brewers minor league pitcher-of-the-year in 2005 ... father, Steve, played eight seasons in the major leagues with four different teams (Cubs, Red Sox, Tigers, White Sox).
- OF Mitch Einertson (HOU) named the 2007 Carolina League player-of-the-year ... also the Appalachian League player-of-the-year in 2006 after setting league record with 24 home runs.
- OF Josh Flores (HOU) won the national junior college batting title by hitting .519 at Triton Junior College (IL).
- OF Sam Fuld (CHC) played for Team USA in the summer of 2002 ... played at Stanford for four years ... diabetic who enjoys working with diabetic children.
- LHP Daniel Haigwood (BOS) has been traded three times ... drafted by the White Sox ... sent to the Phillies in the Jim Thome deal ... traded to the Rangers for Fabio Castro ... acquired by Red Sox last April for a minor leaguer and cash considerations.
- LHP Steven Hammond (MIL) was drafted out of Long Beach State where he teamed with former AFL star Troy Tulowitzki and current Fall Leaguers IF Evan Longoria (TB) and RHP Brian Anderson (SF).
- RHP Craig Hansen (BOS) is the first player in Red Sox history to reach the big leagues the same year he was drafted.
- IF Adam Heether (MIL) attended Long Beach State and was teammates with fellow Dirtbag Jared Weaver (LAA) who was in Heether's wedding.
- IF Jarrett Hoffpauir (STL) hit a walk-off home run to win the Florida State League championship with the Palm Beach Cardinals ... brother, Josh, spent time in the Oakland Athletics' organization.
- RHP Dave Johnson (MIL) was one of nine UCLA Bruins selected in the 2004 draft ... UCLA holds the record with 12 players chosen in the 2000 draft.
- IF Josh Lansford (CHC) is the son of former major leaguer Carney Lansford ... uncles Phil and Joe also played in the big leagues ... brother Jared is a pitcher in Oakland's minor-league system.
- OF Matthew LaPorta (MIL) was a two-time Southeastern Conference player-of-the-year at the University of Florida ... Gators' single-season record holder with 26 home runs as a sophomore in 2005 ... member of Team USA national baseball team.
- IFJed Lowrie (BOS) played three years at Stanford ... Pac-10 Conference player-of-the-year as a sophomore ... spent the summer of 2004 as a member of Team USA.
- RHP Jason Motte (STL) was converted to a pitcher after spending his first three professional seasons as a catcher.
- LHP Josh Muecke (HOU) was 0-7 in 2006 with Double-A Corpus Christi ... returned in 2007 to lead the team with nine wins.
- RHP Rocky Roguet (CHC) played baseball at four different colleges (Cal Poly, Florida State, Northeast Texas Community College, Santa Ana College) before signing with the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in 2006.
- OF Mark Shorey (STL) was named the Big South Conference MVP in 2006 at High Point University (NC) where he paced the league in batting average, home runs, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage.
- IF Joe Simokaitis' (CHC) father played football at Missouri ... older brother Nick played baseball at Northwestern State ... played college baseball at Nebraska but was recruited to play football by Illinois and Missouri.
- IF Steve Sollman (MIL) was a three-sport star at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati ... holds career rushing record in yards and touchdowns ... also won Ohio state title as a point guard in basketball ... brother, Scott, was a pitcher who reached Double-A in the Reds' organization ... sister played soccer at West Virginia.
- LHP Mitch Stetter (MIL) was a college teammate of current Rockies infielder Clint Barmes at Indiana State where Stetter earned Missouri Valley Conference freshman-of-the-year honors.
- C J.R. Towles (HOU) recently posted a Houston Astros franchise record with eight RBI and hit his first major league home run off Cardinals IF Aaron Miles in an 18-1 win over St. Louis in September, 2007 ... eight RBI are the most by a catcher since Ivan Rodriguez plated nine for Texas on April 13, 1999 ... has his own web site - www. jrtowles.net.
- RHP Jose Vaquedano (BOS) was born and raised in Honduras ... moved to San Antonio when he was 11 ... grew up speaking only Spanish ... learned English when he arrived in the United States.
Peoria Javelinas
- RHP Adam Carr (WSH) was an all-Big 12 Conference utility player selection at Oklahoma State ... converted to a pitcher after being drafted by the Nationals in 2006.
- IF Kory Casto (WSH) was awarded back-to-back Nationals minor league player-of-the-year awards in 2005 (Single-A Potomac) and 2006 (Double-A Harrisburg).
- IF Yung Chi-Chen (SEA) is the youngest player on the Taiwan national baseball team ... played in the 2006 MLB Futures Game, the Asian Games, and the World Baseball Classic ... won a gold medal at the Asian Games.
- RHP Darren Clarke (COL) was a 2006 California League all-star at Modesto ... moved to the bullpen in 2005.
- C Jeff Clement (SEA) played on the 2003 and 2004 U.S. national team ... set national high school record at Marshalltown High School (IA) with 75 career home runs ... also played on the 1996 Marshalltown team that played in the Little League World Series at Williamsport, Pa.
- IF Christian Colonel (COL) enjoyed best minor league season in 2007 at Double-A Tulsa ... led the Texas League with 162 hits, 47 doubles, and 261 total bases ... .309 average and 84 RBI ranked second ... born on Christmas Day in 1981.
- IF Reggie Corona (NYY) was a Florida State League all-star for Class-A Tampa.
- RHP Brodie Downs (SEA) is the oldest player in the Arizona Fall League at age 28 (7/19/79) by 18 days ... Ki Jung (ATL) is the second oldest (8/06/79).
- RHP Brodie Downs (SEA) was a 27-year-old construction surveyor when the Mariners drafted him in the 23rd of the 2007 draft ... three weeks later, he was pitching for Triple-A Tacoma and ended the year with Double-A West Tennessee ... played very little baseball in high school and junior college ... discovered pitching in a highly competitive recreational league in California by a scout ... attended Modesto Community College (CA) ... 6-4 with a 2.55 ERA with 101 strikeouts in 98 innings.
- OF Dexter Fowler (COL), a natural right-handed hitter, learned to switch hit in 2004 after being drafted by the Rockies and participating in their instructional league program.
- OF Brett Gardner (NYY) played at the College of Charleston and is the highest drafted player in school history ... led Charleston to its first two NCAA tournament berths in 2004-05 ... named a first team all-America in 2005 when he established single-season school and conference records with 122 base hits and 85 runs scored ... also owns school records for career stolen bases (97) ... played 25 games last year for the Peoria Saguaros in the 2006 Arizona Fall League.
- RHP Jarrett Grube (COL) was named a first-team all-Conference USA selection as a senior at Memphis in 2004 ... led the conference in ERA (2.73) and finished second with 110 strikeouts.
- IF Brandon Hicks (ATL) was drafted out of Texas A&M in 2007 after playing junior college baseball at San Jacinto (TX), leading it to the 2006 Junior College World Series at Grand Junction, Colo.
- IF J.C. Holt (ATL) was the MVP of the Cape Cod Summer League in 2003 for the Brewster Whitecaps.
- C Devin Ivany (WSH) was named Best Defensive Catcher in Baseball America's Annual Best Minor League Tools survey prior to the 2007 season
- RHP Steven Jackson (NYY) was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for LHP Randy Johnson ... Jackson's grandfather, Scott, was a three-year letter winner at Clemson in the 1950's.
- RHP Stephen Kahn (SEA) is playing in the Arizona Fall League for the third time ... Western Coast Conference pitcher-of-the-year in 2004 for Loyola Marymount where he was a teammate of Surprise Rafters OF Chris Pettit.
- RHP Sung Ki Jung (ATL) played his first professional season in three years in 2007 after serving compulsory military service in the South Korean army ... his last season of professional baseball was 2003 with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans ... named pitcher-of-the-year for High-A Myrtle Beach in 2007.
- RHP Ching Lung-Lo (COL) is one of three players from Taiwan in the 2007 Arizona Fall League, joining Peoria Javelina IF Yung Chi Chen (SEA) and Peoria Saguaro IF Chin-Ling Hu (LAD) ... nicknamed "Dragon Lo" by some but prefers Ching-Lung.
- OF Justin Maxwell (WSH) was a 4.0 GPA student in high school in Maryland in 2001 ... declined academic scholarship to Harvard ... accepted baseball scholarship to Maryland ... drafted in the fourth round of the 2005 draft by the Washington Nationals ... previously drafted by Baltimore Orioles (2001) and Texas Rangers (2004) ... .first hit in the big leagues was a grand slam ... Nationals minor league player-of-the-year in 2007.
- IF Juan Miranda (NYY) is a native of Cuba ... former teammate of Chicago White Sox RHP Jose Contreras on the Cuban national team ... defected from Cuba to the Dominican Republic where he was granted citizenship.
- RHP Garrett Mock (WSH) was traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Nationals for Livan Hernandez last season.
- RHP Alex Morales (WSH) pitched at four different levels for four different teams (Rookie Gulf Coast Nationals, Single-A Potomac Nationals, Double-A Harrisburg Senators, and Triple-A Columbus Clippers) in 2007.
- RHP Charlie Morton (ATL) spent the year with Double-A Mississippi ... 4-6 with a 4.29 ERA in 41 games and six starts.
- RHP Brad Nelson (ATL) was born in Phoenix, Arizona ... started the season with Single-A Myrtle Beach, going 3-0 with one save and without allowing a run ... next stop was Double-A Mississippi ... 5-1 with one save and a 3.77 ERA in 29 games ... two different stints with Triple-A Richmond ... 1-1 and a 2.53 ERA with one start.
- RHP Michael Nix (ATL) played baseball at Auburn from 2002-05 ... father Mike played baseball and basketball at Auburn ... uncle Paul Nix coached the Auburn baseball team.
- RHP Mumba Rivera (SEA) is from St. Croix, Virgin Islands.
- C Clint Sammons (ATL), along with former Arizona Fall Leaguer and current Atlanta Brave OF Jeff Francouer, guided Parkview High School (GA) to the state football and baseball championships in 2001-02 ... Sammons played quarterback and catcher; Francouer was a wide receiver/defensive back and outfielder/pitcher.
- OF Jordan Schafer (ATL) was named the position player-of-the-year for the Braves' High-A affiliate Myrtle Beach in 2007 ... legally adopted brother, Tony Joiner, is a starting safety for the Florida Gators football team.
- LHP Sean Thompson (COL) committed to play college baseball at Arizona State before being drafted by the San Diego Padres and signing in 2002.
- IF Matt Tuiasosopo (SEA) is the younger brother of New York Jets quarterback Marquis Tuiasosopo and the son of former Seattle Seahawk Manu Tuiasosopo ... grandfather is Chief Asovalu of a village of 800 people in American Samoa, one of six men who hold that title.
- RHP Kevin Whelan (NYY) was a catcher at Texas A&M and didn't pitch full-time until the summer after his senior year in the Cape Cod League ... acquired by the Yankees from the Tigers for Gary Sheffield in 2006.
- RHP Steven White (NYY) pitched in the Fall League in 2005 ... named Fall League pitcher-of-the-week once.
- IF Corey Wimberly (COL) is rated by Baseball America as the fastest player in the Colorado organization ... in just three seasons of professional baseball, Wimberly has stolen 138 bases for three different teams.
- RHP Joe Woerman (SEA) was on the Netherlands roster for 2006 World Baseball Classic.
- RHP Zech Zinicola (WSH), a former Arizona State standout, was named the Nationals minor league pitcher-of-the-year in 2006.
Peoria Saguaros
- IF Matt Antonelli (SD) was named state player-of-the-year in football and hockey and runner-up in baseball as a high school senior in Massachusetts.
- RHP Burke Badenhop (DET) was the Detroit Tigers 2006 minor league pitcher-of-the-year after going 14-3 at Single-A West Michigan.
- RHP Eddie Bonine (DET) hails from Glendale, Arizona ... attended Mountain Ridge High School and Glendale Community College (AZ).
- IF Blake DeWitt (LAD) hit for the cycle in 2005 at Single-A Columbus. P Jonathan Ellis (SD) pitched at The Citadel ... named to the 2004 CollegeBaseballInsider.com all-America team ... Southern Conference pitcher-of-the-year ... named the 2004 SoCon All-Tournament MVP after throwing
two complete games during the five-day tournament ... led the 2007 San Antonio Missions to the Texas League championship.
- RHP Jeff Gerbe (DET) played baseball at Michigan State University ... starter and reliever for the Spartans ... continued both roles in 2007 for Single-A West Michigan ... born on the Fourth of July in 1984.
- OF Gregory Golson (PHI) has been consistently timed at 4.0 seconds from home to first base.
- C Tuffy Gosewich and Saguaro teammate Jeff Larish were four-year teammates at Arizona State ... Johnny Bench Award semifinalist in 2004 ... played 215 games as a Sun Devil ... 2007 all-star for the Lakewood BlueCats.
- C Brett Hayes (FLA) was named the Western Athletic Conference freshman-of-the-year and a freshman all-America in 2003 for the University of Nevada ... father, Tim, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals but never played ... great-grandfather, Tim, played for the Cleveland Indians.
- IF Chin-Lung Hu (LAD) was MVP of the 2007 MLB Futures Game in San Francisco.
- C Nick Hundley (SD) played at the University of Arizona ... member of the 2004 Wildcat team that reached the College World Series ... father is the defensive coordinator for UTEP and a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame after an all-America football career at Western Oregon.
- RHP Neil Jamison (SD) played at Long Beach State with fellow 2007 AFL player Evan Longoria and 2006 Fall Leaguer standout Troy Tulowitzki (COL) ... father played baseball at Santa Clara ... mother played softball at San Diego State.
- IF Tuffy Gosewich and Saguaro teammate C Tuffy Gosewich were four-year teammates at Arizona State ... hit 51 home runs as a Sun Devil from 2002-05 to rank second in school history ... career .333 hitter in college ... first team all-America in 2003 ... two-time all-Pac 10 Conference selection ... selected to the all-College World Series team in 2005 ... hit 28 home runs for the Erie SeaWolves in 2007.
- OF Cameron Maybin (DET) is 20 years old and spent just six days in Double-A before being promoted to the parent Tigers ... recorded first major league hit and home run off Roger Clemens in Yankee Stadium in August ... cousin of former North Carolina basketball star and current Minnesota Timberwolve Rashad McCants.
- LHP Greg Miller (LAD) was the Dodgers' 2003 minor league pitcher-of-the-year ... won a Fall League championship in 2005 as a Phoenix Desert Dog.
- OF Jai Miller (FLA) held a 3.8 GPA in high school ... signed a letter of intent with Stanford, planning to play baseball and football (wide receiver) ... selected in the fourth round of the 2003 draft by the Florida Marlins ... father, Quincy Williams, Raiders, and grandfather Tommy Agee, Cowboys, played in the National Football League.
- RHP Edwin Moreno (SD) was signed mid-season by the Padres out of the Mexican League (Minatitlan) ... 0-0, 1.62 ERA, nine for 10 in save opportunities for the San Antonio Missions.
- RHP Ricky Nolasco (FLA) hit a home run for first big-league hit ... brother David pitched in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
- RHP Justin Orenduff (LAD) pitched for Team USA in 2003.
- OF Xavier Paul (LAD) was a Southern League all-star with Jacksonville this year ... older brother Matt was drafted and signed by the Dodgers in 2004.
- LHP Joseph Savery (PHI) was the Phillies' 2007 first-round draft choice from Rice ... two-way all-America (first baseman and pitcher) in 2007 for the Owls ... concentrating on pitching as a professional.
- LHP Will Startup (SD) was a member of the 2004 University of Georgia baseball team that won the Southeastern Conference title and took third place at the College World Series.
- OF Will Venable (SD) played both baseball and football at Princeton ... son of former major-league outfielder/ designated hitter Max Venable, a Phoenix native and who played 12 seasons.
Phoenix Desert Dogs
- RHP Jake Arrieta (BAL) went 4-0 with Team USA in the summer of 2006, allowing just one run in 35 innings ... led team USA to its first gold medal on Cuban soil after tossing three shutouts in six starts.
- IF Jeff Baisley (OAK) led all of minor league baseball in RBI (110) and runs (86) in 2006 ... Midwest League player-of-the-year ... twin brother, Brian, currently playing in the Yankees' organization ... older brother, Brad, was a second-round pick of the Phillies in 1998.
- RHP Nick Blackburn (MIN) was the winning pitcher in the Florida State League all-star game in 2005 ... that season, he progressed through three minor-league levels, starting at Class A and finishing at Triple-A.
- RHP Patrick Bresnehan (PIT) helped lead Arizona State to the 2005 College World Series in 2005 ... three-sport star at Dover-Sherborn High School (MA) where he was the league and state MVP in 2003 and played for the Team USA Junior National team in 2002-03 ... father, Jay, played college hockey at Boston University.
- C Drew Butera's (MIN) father, Sal Butera, played in the major leagues with the Blue Jays, Expos, Reds, Tigers, and Twins.
- RHP Jesse Chavez (PIT) was named to the Arizona Fall League's All-Prospects Team in 2006 after going 3-0 with a
0.64 ERA and four saves.
- IF Blake Davis (BAL) won the College World Series with California State-Fullerton in 2004 ... college nickname was "Rat".
- IF Jason Delaney (PIT) won a state title at Boston College High School where he holds the career record for hits ... earned finance degree from Boston College ... aspires to be a general manager in baseball.
- RHP Jack Egbert (CWS) has led his team in innings pitched in each of the last three seasons.
- OF Jeff Fiorentino (BAL) is nicknamed "Screech" because of his resemblance to the "Saved by the Bell" actor.
- IF Chris Getz (CWS) was named "Mr. Baseball" in Michigan before attending Wake Forest for a year and then transferring to the University of Michigan.
- RHP Jeff Gray (OAK) was a teammate of Ryan Howard (PHI) at Southwest Missouri State, now known as Missouri State.
- LHP David Haehnel (BAL) attended the University of Illinois-Chicago ... first Flame drafted since teammate Curtis Granderson in 2002.
- RHP Chris Hernandez (PIT) pitched two years at the University of South Carolina, helping the Gamecocks reach the College World Series twice, including a loss in the 2002 championship to Texas.
- RHP Jim Johnson (BAL) was named Carolina League pitcher-of-the-year in 2005 as well as the Jim Palmer Prize as top pitcher in the Orioles' farm system.
- LHP Brad Kilby (OAK) was a dominant pitcher at San Jose State where he teamed with current San Francisco Giants IF Kevin Frandsen.
- C Donny Lucy (CWS) hit a memorable walk-off home run in the 10th inning against UCLA to clinch the Pac-10 Conference title in 2003 for Stanford ... earned a political science degree at Stanford ... father, Robert, was drafted by the Montreal Expos but did not sign.
- IF Matt Macri (MIN) played baseball at Notre Dame after leading Dowling High School (IA) to state titles in baseball and football (quarterback) ... Iowa's "Mr. Football" in 2000.
- LHP Jay Marshall (OAK) was selected in the Rule 5 Draft from the Chicago White Sox ... went from High Class A Winston-Salem in 2006 to spending the entire 2007 season in the big leagues with the Athletics.
- OF Andrew McCutchen (PIT) was selected in the first round (11th overall) in the 2005 draft ... Pirates' 2006 minor league player-of-the-year ... as a high school freshman, member of the 4x100-meter relay team that won the Florida state title ... named 2005 Gatorade high school player-of-the-year in Florida ... led his county in hitting as an eighth grader playing on the high school varsity team at Ft. Meade High School (FL).
- OF Nyjer Morgan (PIT) left his home in California at 16 years of age to play four years of junior hockey in Canada, including a stint playing at the major junior level with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League.
- RHP Eduardo Morlan (MIN) came to the United State from Cuba when he was 12 years old ... regularly trains with fellow Cubans Danys Beaz (TB), Gio Gonzalez (CWS) and Livan Hernandez (ARI).
- LHP Ryan Mullins (MIN) attended Vanderbilt University with fellow southpaws and first-round draft picks Jeremy Sowers and David Price.
- RHP Hayden Penn (BAL) went 3-2 in eight starts with Baltimore in 2005 and 0-4 in six starts in the big leagues in 2006 ... recalled to start for the Orioles against Seattle on May 23, 2006 but suffered an emergency appendectomy that day and placed on the disabled list.
- OF Nolan Reimold (BAL) was a member of the USA team in the 2006 Futures Game in Pittsburgh ... also played in the Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars game last year ... played college baseball at Bowling Green State with current Fall Leaguer Burke Badenhop (Peoria Saguaros).
- RHP James Simmons (OAK) was named Big West Conference pitcher-of-the-year at California-Riverside before being selected by the Athletics in the first round of the 2007 draft (26th overall).
- RHP Anthony Swarzak (MIN) led Nova High School (FL) to its first Class 5-A state title in 57 years ... earned a scholarship to LSU before being drafted and signing with the Twins.
- OF Ryan Sweeney (CWS) was named Louisville Slugger national player-of-the-year after his senior year at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Scottsdale Scorpions
- RHP Brian Anderson (SF) was the 2006 California League pitcher-of-the-year with San Jose after leading all of minor league baseball with 37 saves ... in his three seasons of professional baseball, the former Long Beach State reliever has played in three leagues and led each one in saves.
- LHP Adam Bostick (NYM) was a quarterback and defensive back in high school in Pennsylvania where he received a football scholarship to attend Slippery Rock University ... father, Adam, played basketball at Bradley University ... uncle, Sidney, played basketball at the University of West Virginia.
- IF Reid Brignac (TB) was named the Devil Rays 2006 minor league player-of-the-year and California League MVP.
- LHP Eddie Camacho (NYM) was working in a canning factory when he was signed by the Mets as a free agent in 2004 ... played first two seasons of college ball at Glendale Community College (AZ) where he was converted to a pitcher after playing the outfield in high school.
- IF Mike Carp (NYM) was selected the Mets' minor league player-of-the-year in 2006 ... led the South Atlantic League in 2005 with 21 hit by pitches and the Florida State League in 2006 with 25 ... broke his high school home run record previously held by Damien Easley.
- OF Aaron Cunningham (ARI) went three-for-three in the mid-season Carolina League/California League All-Star Game representing the Carolina League ... one week prior, he was traded from the White Sox to the Diamondbacks for IF Danny Richar ... began the second half of the season playing for Visilia of the California League.
- C Josh Ford (ARI) became the first Baylor player to hit for the cycle in a Big 12 Conference game.
- C John Jaso (TB) has made the all-star team in four different minor leagues.
- RHP Eddie Kunz (NYM) helped Oregon State win back-to-back College World Series in 2006-07.
- IF Evan Longoria (TB) was named the Southern League's 2007 player-of-the-year ... majored in criminology at Long Beach State where he was drafted third overall in 2006 ... signed a contract within 20 minutes of his selection ... played shortstop briefly at LBSU when teammate Troy Tulowitzki was injured ... attended the same high school as Nomar Garciaparra.
- RHP Calvin Medlock (TB) was the Reds minor league pitcher-of-the-year in 2005 ... originally drafted by Cincinnati in 2002 ... traded earlier this season to Tampa Bay with LHP Brian Shackelford for Devil Rays IF Jorge Cantu.
- RHP Evan Meek (TB) was acquired in a trade with San Diego in exchange for IF Russell Branyan in 2006.
- RHP Carlos Muniz (NYM) received the 2007 Sterling Award as MVP at Double-A Binghamton.
- RHP Scott Munter (SF) was a 47th round pick in 2001 ... became the lowest draft choice to make the San Francisco roster since Marvin Bernard (50th round, 1995-2002) ... nicknamed "Mad Dog" for his 6-6, 260-pound frame.
- C Mike Nickeas' (NYM) father is a native of Southport, England and played professional soccer for Liverpool, the Plymouth Argyle, and Chester of the English Premier League.
- IF Chris Nowak (TB) was named 2007 Southern League Championship Series MVP after hitting .611 (11-for-18) with three home runs in the series for Double-A Montgomery.
- IF Daniel Ortmeier (SF) received USA Today all-America accolades for the Lewisville (TX) H.S. Fighting Farmers.
- OF Ryan Patterson (TOR) teamed with best friend Hunter Pence (Astros) at Texarkana Junior College (TX) ... also holds the Florida State League record with nine RBI in a single game.
- RHP Nick Pereira (SF) was a member of the U.S. squad in the 2006 Futures Game in Pittsburgh ... made the transition from shortstop to pitcher his freshman year at De Anza Community College in San Francisco ... co-authored a book "Pitching Perfection" with teammate Dave McKae.
- LHP Mike Prochaska (TB) tossed a shutout in a 3-0 win over top-ranked Clemson in 2002 as a sophomore at North Carolina State ... father, Mick, played shortstop in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization until a knee injury ended his career.
- LHP Ricky Romero (TOR) led California State-Fullerton to the 2004 College World Series championship, winning game one of the title series ... sixth overall pick in the 2005 draft ... highest Blue Jay selection since Vernon Wells (fifth overall) in 1997 ... first pitcher selected in that draft.
- LHP Mark Rosen (ARI) was forced to take the mound in relief of Mobile (Double-A) teammate and 2006 Fall Leaguer Matt Elliot who was trapped in the bathroom for over 40 minutes after slamming the door shut behind him ... the game continued with Rosen on the mound after a brief delay while the fire department eventually was called to extricate Elliot from the restroom.
- IF Sergio Santos (TOR) was drafted 27th overall by Arizona in 2002 ... became first player in Diamondbacks' organizational history to hit three homer runs in a single game with Lancaster of the California League ... traded to Toronto with Troy Glaus for Orlando Hudson and Miguel Batista in 2005 ... claimed victory in the Eastern League home-run derby in 2007 to win a John Deere tractor which he spent the rest of the season trying to sell.
- RHP Max Scherzer (ARI) went 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four appearances as a member of the 2005 USA Baseball national team ... also named the Big 12 Conference pitcher-of-the-year with Missouri in 2005.
- OF Nate Schierholtz (SF) tied the Double-A Connecticut Defenders record with a 25-game hitting streak in 2006.
- LHP Greg Smith (ARI) pitched for the 2006 Team USA squad that qualified for the 2008 Olympics ... Pioneer League pitcher-of-the-year in 2005 ... Louisiana's "Mr. Baseball" in 2002 after going 9-0 with a 0.12 ERA as a high school senior.
- OF Travis Snider (TOR) committed to Arizona State before being drafted and signing with Toronto ... highly regarded fullback in high school until fracturing his fibula and quitting the sport after his sophomore campaign.
- OF Caleb Stewart (NYM) is the only Kentucky Wildcat to go seven-for-seven in a game ... member of the 2001 AAABA World Series champion Arlington Senators.
- RHP Esmerling Vasquez (ARI) was named the Arizona Diamondbacks 2007 minor league pitcher-of-the-year.
- IF Eugenio Velez (SF) was named the South Atlantic League MVP in 2006 playing for Augusta.
- RHP James Vermilyea (TOR) attended Sabino High School in Tucson ... initially a walk-on at the University of New Mexico ... threw the only perfect game in Double-A New Hampshire history.
Surprise Rafters
IF Elvis Andrus (TEX) is the youngest player in the 2007 Arizona Fall League at 19 years of age.
RHP Greg Atencio (KC) played on back-to-back New Mexico high school baseball championship teams ... pitched at Lamar Community College (COL) and led his team to the National Junior College World Series tournament in 2002.
IF Michael Aubrey (CLE) was named the Louisiana player-of-the-year as a high school senior in 2000 ... led the USA national team in batting, home runs, and RBI in 2002.
RHP David Austen (LAA) missed all of the 2006 season with a torn right labrum in his shoulder.
RHP T.J. Burton (CLE) in 2006 helped Canada qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics ... possesses dual citizenship in Canada and the United States.
OF Trevor Crowe (CLE) played college baseball at the University of Arizona ... turns 24 years old November 17, the day of the 2007 Arizona Fall League championship game ... former nationally ranked racquetball player and a member of the 1998 Junior National Racquetball Team ... father, David, played on the PGA Golf Tour.
IF Chris Davis (TEX) won the 2007 Texas Rangers Tom Grieve Minor League Player-of-the-Year Award ... tied California League record with 35-game hitting streak ... 36 home runs ranked second in minor league baseball.
IF German Duran (TEX) won the 2007 Double-A Texas League Home Run Derby.
OF Jose Duarte (KC) ranked with best throwing arm in the Royals' system the last two years ... named the Royals player-of-the-year at Class-A Wilmington in 2007.
OF Chris Dickerson (CIN) is the cousin of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson.
RHP Scott Feldman (TEX) pitched at San Mateo College (CA) ... Coast Conference pitcher-of-the-year in 2002-03 ... participated in Hurricane Relief efforts in 2005.
C Chris Gimenez (CLE) won the home run derby contest at the 2007 California League vs. Carolina League All-Star Game in Stockton, CA.
LHP Matt Harrison (TEX) was traded with two-time Fall League C Jarrod Saltalamacchia and three other players from the Atlanta Braves to the Texas Rangers for former AFL and MLB all-star IF Mark Teixera and LHP Ron Mahay during the 2007 season.
LHP Dusty Hughes (KC) was the Double-A Wichita Wranglers pitcher-of -the year in 2007.
LHP Ben Jukich (CIN) played for Dakota Wesleyan for one season in 2006 ... remains the only player drafted from the NAIA school and the Great Plains Conference.
RHP Paul Kometani (TEX) and IF Kila Kaaihue (KC) are both native Hawaiians who reside their in the off-season.
RHP Sam Lecure (CIN) was the Saturday starter for Texas at the 2004 College World Series ... the Longhorns were runner-up to California State-Fullerton.
OF Chris Lubanski (KC) was the Gatorade National High School Baseball Player-of-the-Year in 2003 ... declined a baseball scholarship to Florida State.
LHP Tyler Lumsden (KC) played high school basketball in Roanoke, Va. with former Duke University all-America basketball player J.J. Redick, currently with the Orlando Magic (NBA).
IF Marc Maddox (KC) was a two-time all-Conference USA selection at Southern Mississippi in 2005 -06 ... 2006 scholar/athlete-of-the-year in Conference USA ... Idaho Falls (short season) player-of-the-year in 2006.
OF John Mayberry Jr. (TEX) is the son of former major league all-star John Mayberry ... father, John, played for the Astros, Blue Jays, Royals, and Yankees for 16 seasons ... Mayberry, Jr. played for the USA national team in 2004 ... won a gold medal at the University Games in Taiwan.
RHP Randy Newsom (CLE) played football (quarterback and wide receiver) and baseball at Tufts ... traded from the Red Sox organization in the Coco Crisp deal in 2006 ... partner with former BoSox minor-league teammates in ownership of Lacers, LLC, a custom shoe lace company ... laces were worn by teams in the World Baseball Classic and some college teams.
RHP Darren O'Day (LAA) was only the fourth University of Florida baseball player to receive academic all-America honors when he was named to the third team by ESPN Magazine in 2006 ... animal biology major at Florida ... Academic All-District III member three consecutive years.
LHP Tyler Pelland (CIN) turns 24 years old on October 9, the 2007 Arizona Fall League's Opening Day.
RHP Fernando Rodriguez (LAA) led the California League in innings pitched in 2006.
IF Adam Rosales (CIN) was a Florida State League all-star in 2007 ... attended Western Michigan University ... only player in Bronco school history to be a two-time all-conference selection ... tied the school record with six hits in a game against Illinois in 2005.
RHP Von Stertzbach (LAA) missed the 2006 season following "Tommy John" surgery on his right elbow.
C Craig Tatum (CLE) was the Mississippi Gatorade High School Player-of-the-Year in 2001 ... played college baseball at Mississippi State.
C Taylor Teagarden (TEX) was a member of the 2005 Texas Longhorns' College World Series championship team ... also a member of the 'Horns' runner-up squad in 2004 that fell to California State-Fullerton in the championship game.
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Arizona Fall League Stories from October 9, 2007
- Arizona Fall League Begins 16th Season - AzFL
- 2007 Arizona Fall League Q&A - AzFL
- 2007 Fall League Factoids - AzFL
- AZ Fall League Announces 2007 Hall of Fame Inductees - AzFL
- 100 AZ Fall League Alums In MLB Postseason - AzFL
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