Cal Leaguers Thriving in Big Leagues
Published on June 16, 2010 under California League (CalL1) News Release
Port Hueneme, CA - Days before the Cal League vs. Carolina League All-Star game, four former Cal Leaguers made their presence known in the Big Leagues last week. After 12 years in the Minor Leagues, Jesus Feliciano (2000 San Bernadino Stampede/2004 Bakersfield Blaze) became the oldest player to make his debut this season with the New York Mets. Feliciano made his professional debut with the Yakima Bears in 1998 at the tender age of 19.
Last Friday, Carlos Santana (2008 Inland Empire 66ers) got his call up to the Bigs with the Cleveland Indians. Facing the Washington Nationals in an interleague contest, Santana grounded into a Fielder's Choice in his first Big League at-bat but got revenge the next night going 2-4 with a double and a homerun. Santana was a 2008 Post-season All-Star in the Cal League.
Former Cal League Batting Champion, Daniel Nava (2008 Lancaster JetHawks), made a historic debut for the Boston Red Sox last Saturday. Facing the defending National League Champions Philadelphia Phillies in an interleague game, Nava swung at the first pitch he saw from former Cal Leaguer Joe Blanton (2002 Modesto 's) and launched it 397 feet into the right field bullpen for a Grandslam. It was only the second time in Major League history that a Grandslam was hit on the first pitch by a player making his Big League debut. Nava was never drafted and signed onto an Independent League team before he was given a chance by the Red Sox and sent to Lancaster.
Chad Huffman (2007 Lake Elsinore Storm) got a hit in his first Major League at-bat also. Huffman, playing for the New York Yankees, singled against the Houston Astros last Sunday in front of 46,000 screaming Yankee fans. He ended up going 1-4 in his first game.
Other Notes:
Congratulations to San Jose and Lake Elsinore for clinching the first half Championship. They will get a first round bye in the playoffs at the end of the year. San Jose led the North division in hitting with a team batting average of .287 as well as pitching with a team ERA of 4.04. Lake Elsinore has hit .281 so far this year and leads the entire Cal League in team ERA with an incredible 3.63 mark. Lake Elsinore also has the highest winning percentage in the League with a .667 percentage while San Jose isn't far behind with a .636 percentage of their own.
Michael Bianucci of Bakersfield was named as the Player of the Week. In 27 at-bats, Bianucci got 11 hits ending the week with a .407 batting average. Of those 11 hits, 4 were round trippers and 2 were doubles as he finished the week with 10 RBI and 6 runs scored.
2010 Cal League All-Star Tyler Chatwood (Rancho Cucamonga) was the Cal League Pitcher of the Week. Pitching against LA Dodgers Rehab pitcher Charlie Haeger (Inland Empire), Chatwood shut out the 66ers 5-0 and threw a complete game. Tyler scattered 3 hits and didn't walk a single batter while striking out 6.
The Cal League vs Carolina League All-Star game is on June 22 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Cal League baseball continues throughout the summer with the regular season ending on Labor Day, September 6.
California League Stories from June 16, 2010
- Storm Take Two of Three with 3-1 Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- JetHawks Make it Back-to-Back Road Win over Inland Empire - Lancaster JetHawks
- Cal Leaguers Thriving in Big Leagues - CalL1
- Alumni Magnet Giveaway Tonight - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Clinch Sixth Straight First Half Title - San Jose Giants
- Quakes Capitalize On Six Storm Errors, Win 10-7 - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
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