CalL1 Stockton Ports

Ports Players to Compete in Arizona Fall League

Published on September 9, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. -The Stockton Ports are proud to announce that former players Jemile Weeks, Grant Desme and Corey Brown will be competing in the Arizona Fall League, which showcases top prospects from around the country, this year.

The trio will be playing together with the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the East Division of the League. The Desert Dogs will look to capture their sixth consecutive championship title this season.

The Desert Dogs also feature prospects from Toronto, Washington, Baltimore and Tampa Bay, in addition to Oakland. The No. 1 pick of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, RHP Stephen Strasburg, will also be a member of the 2009 Phoenix Desert Dogs.

Weeks arrived in Stockton on May 27, and made his presence known immediately. Weeks, the A's 1st Round (12th overall) selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, started off the season by hitting safely in each of the first 22 straight games he played in. He batted .400 (36x90) with five doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 23 RBI in that span. He posted six multi-RBI games in the streak as well. Weeks holds the longest hitting streak by a Ports player this season. He was also only one of two California Leaguers with a 20+ game hitting streak. James McOwen of High Desert compiled a 45-game hitting streak, from May 10 to July 8. Weeks was promoted to Double-A Midland on August 2.

Desme joined the Ports after the All-Star Break from Single-A Kane County, and his outstanding performance earned him 2009 Ports Player of the Year honors. In 62 games with the Ports, Desme posted a .304 batting average, with 12 doubles, four triples, 20 home runs and 51 RBI. Desme led the team in home runs and finished third on the team in RBI. Desme, in fact, led the A's farm system with 31 total home runs, and ranks among Oakland organization leaders with 89 total RBI and 40 stolen bases this season. Desme is also the only 30-30 player in all of affiliated professional baseball.

Brown was a member of the Stockton Ports in 2008, helping the team to their 11th California League championship title. He began the 2008 season with Single-A Kane County and was named a Midwest League midseason All-Star before being promoted to Stockton on July 10. With the Ports, he batted .260 with nine doubles and 16 home runs and 34 RBI in 49 games. He finished the season with 30 home runs, to rank 15th overall in the Minor Leagues. In 2009, he was named a midseason All-Star with the Texas League. He batted .268 with 20 doubles, four triples, nine home runs and 43 RBI for the RockHounds this year.

The Arizona Fall League opens play on Tuesday, October 13. The Desert Dogs will play their home games in the Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Gary Cathcard of the Toronto organization will manage the team while Brian McArn of the Oakland organization will be the hitting coach and R.C. Lichtenstein of Tampa Bay will be the pitching coach.

Check out the Stockton Ports Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



California League Stories from September 9, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central