MLB Playoff Tickets, Meet the New Jays
September 23, 2002 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Haven Ravens News Release
RavensNest Update
September 23, 2002
1. Major League Playoff Tickets Available
2. Meet the New Jays, Part One: Alexis Rios
3. Other E.L. Affiliate News
4. Haynes an All-Star
5. Wathan Makes Big Leagues
6. Game-worn Jersey Sale Continues
7. 2003 Schedule Coming
1. The Ravens have a limited number of tickets to Major League playoff games for their former affiliate, the St. Louis Cardinals. If you are interested, call Ticket Manager Shawn Campbell at (203) 782-1666 x. 20 by September 24.
2. With the New Haven Ravens switching affiliates to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Ravens' roster will feature all-new players next year. Throughout the offseason, The RavensNest will introduce you to some of the players in the Toronto farm system who may be headed for New Haven â "Meet the New Jays". In this edition, we feature outfielder Alexis Rios. Rios, 21, was Toronto's first-round draft pick (19th overall) in 1999. At 6'5", he figures to develop into the Jays' top power prospect. He spent all of this past season at Single-A Dunedin of the Florida State League, where he was named to the All-Star team. He was fifth in the league in batting average (.305), adding 22 doubles, eight triples, three homeruns and 61 RBIs. He also stole 14 bases and was tough to strike out â just 55 Ks in nearly 500 plate appearances. The native of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, is also strong defensively and could play centerfield or rightfield.
3. New York Yankee and Boston Red Sox fans will note that the Ravens were not the only team changing affiliates. Trenton is now a Yankees affiliate, while Portland is a Red Sox affiliate. Norwich, which had been a Yankees affiliate, will now be a San Francisco Giants affiliate. Fans should also note that, with the Ravens now affiliated with an American League club, the designated hitter will be used in every Ravens game. No more pitchers batting.
4. New Haven Ravens outfielder Dee Haynes was named to USA Today Baseball Weekly's 2002 Minor League All-Star Team. Haynes, 24, hit .312 with 21 homeruns and an Eastern League-best 98 RBIs this past year. He became just the second Raven to homer over the "Green Monster," the 35-foot high wall in centerfield at historic Yale Field. Haynes was also named to the Double-A All-Star team at midseason and the Eastern League All-Star team after the season.
5. Yet another New Haven Ravens alum has made it to the Major Leagues, as the Kansas City Royals called up catcher Dusty Wathan on Sunday September 22. Wathan, 29, played for the Ravens in 1999, when the team was a Seattle Mariners affiliate. He hit .279 with four homeruns and 37 RBIs. This year, after signing with the Royals' Triple-A club at Omaha, Wathan hit .288 with one homer and 26 runs batted in. The son of former Royals catcher and manager John Wathan, he was quoted on MLB.com as saying "It's especially exciting because it's the Royals. With my father playing and managing here and with me growing up around the ballpark in Kansas City, there's no team I'd rather make it to the Major Leagues with than the Royals."
6. The Ravens still have some game-worn jerseys available. If you are interested, please contact Merchandise Manager Will Smith at (203) 782-1666 x. 12.
7. The 2003 New Haven Ravens schedule is nearly finalized! Look for it on ravens.com within the next two weeks. If you are interested in a ticket package or group outing for 2003, please e-mail your contact information to info@ravens.com
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Eastern League Stories from September 23, 2002
- MLB Playoff Tickets, Meet the New Jays - New Haven Ravens
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