Greene & Infante Promoted to AA
Published on June 29, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
WINSTON-SALEM, NC (JUNE 29, 2010) - Today two of the Winston-Salem Dash's All-Star players were promoted to AA Birmingham, as OF Justin Greene and RHP Gregory Infante were called up to the Barons. In a pair of corresponding roster moves, RHP Dylan Axelrod was re-assigned to Winston-Salem from Birmingham while OF Jose Martinez was promoted to the Dash from Advanced Rookie Bristol.
Greene was the starting centerfielder for the Carolina League in last week's All-Star Game. He was having a breakout season for Winston-Salem, hitting .309 with 15 doubles, ten home runs and 45 runs batted in. He nine triples led the league and he ranked first in slugging percentage (.562) despite hitting ninth for virtually the entire season. A former 20th round draft pick from Goose Creek, South Carolina, Greene was one of Dash's most clutch hitters. He belted two walk-off home runs in a one-week span earlier this month and hit .370 with an OPS over 1.200 after the eighth inning this season. As Winston-Salem's primary centerfielder, Greene routinely made spectacular diving catches, including this one from an April game against Kinston: http://www.youtube.com/watch?verVBGz5VhC8. This season was Greene's second in Winston, as he split 2009 between the Dash and low-A Kannapolis. He hit .240 with two homers and 13 RBI in 49 Carolina League games in 2009.
Infante was the Dash's All-Star closer and was the only relief pitcher named to the original Carolina League All-Star roster. He was the league's most used pitcher, throwing in 31 games and going 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA. He ranked third in the CL in saves with nine and racked up 35 strikeouts in 33.2 innings. In his first season since being converted from a starting pitcher, the flame-throwing Venezuelan wowed crowds across the league with a fastball that topped out at 99 mph and a sharp, high-80s slider. Like Greene, Infante also spent part of 2009 in Winston-Salem. He went 1-2 with a 7.84 ERA in six games (five starts) for the Dash last year.
Axelrod returns to Winston-Salem after a ten-day stint with AA Birmingham. He started two games for the Barons, going 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA. The Santa Barbara, California native was on the Dash's opening day roster and pitched for the team until his promotion on June 17. In 12 games (two starts) in the Carolina League, Axelrod was 2-1 with a 2.23 ERA.
Martinez entered the season ranked by Baseball America as the 29th best prospect in the White Sox system. The same publication ranked him fourth in the organization prior to the 2008 season, noting that he possessed the "Best Outfield Arm" of Chicago's minor leaguers. He missed most of 2008 and all of 2009 with a torn anterior cruciate ligament that required microfracture surgery on his right knee. A native of La Guaira, Venezuela, he has played in six games this season for Advanced Rookie Bristol, hitting .409 with one home run, a double, and five RBI. Prior to this season, he last played for low-A Kannapolis in 2008 and hit .306 with two home runs and 18 RBI in 39 games. Martinez is a second-generation player in the White Sox organization, as his late father, Carlos, played for Chicago from 1988-90. He spent seven seasons as a major leaguer with the White Sox, Cleveland, and California.
The Dash roster remains at the Carolina League limit of 25 players.
Winston-Salem plays the rubber game of its series with the Salem Red Sox tonight. Dash RHP Nate Jones opposes RHP Caleb Clay at 7 p.m. from BB&T Ballpark.
Carolina League Stories from June 29, 2010
- Keys Drop Rubber Match to Rocks - Frederick Keys
- Rocks Hold On for Series Win in Frederick - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Martinez Sparks Dash Comeback Win - Winston-Salem Dash
- Winston Rolls Past Salem 9-5 - Salem RidgeYaks
- Early Offense Gives Cats Series Win - Lynchburg Hillcats
- P-Nats Rained out in Kinston - Potomac Nationals
- K-Tribe Game Rained out Tuesday Night - Kinston Indians
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- K-Tribe Notes - Kinston Indians
- Greene & Infante Promoted to AA - Winston-Salem Dash
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