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MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Top prospect, son of big leaguer headline likely roster

March 29, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


Top pick Colby Rasmus and A.J. Van Slyke, son of former Cardinals player Andy, were the most intriguing names on the latest Quad Cities roster to come out of the St. Louis spring training camp in Jupiter, Florida on Wednesday. With camp scheduled to break over the weekend the roster has not yet been finalized, but most of the names in place are expected to make the flight to the Quad Cities on Monday.

Rasmus, 19, was the Cardinals' first selection in the 2005 draft, taken 28th overall out of Russell County High School in Alabama, where he was coached by his father, a former pro ballplayer, and played with his younger brother Cory. Coach Tony and his two sons have stuck together through the years and boast a history of winning. Their Phenix City, Alabama little league team won the United States bracket in 1999, and two years later they won the Dixie League national championship.

In 2005 for Russell County, Colby hit .424 with 24 home runs (the second highest single-season total in state history), also pitching occasionally while leading the school to a 38-1 record and the national championship. The lefthanded outfielder proceeded to hit .296 in his pro debut with Johnson City, including 16 doubles, seven home runs, 13 stolen bases and 47 runs scored (4th in the Appalachian League) over 62 games. That performance led to his being labeled by Baseball America as the number two prospect in the entire Cardinals' organization, writing that he is "the best all-around outfield prospect St. Louis has brought into the system since J.D. Drew."

Also a 2005 draftee with a big league pedigree, Van Slyke landed with St. Louis in the 23rd round out of the University of Kansas. The 6-2, 210-pound first baseman began 2005 with Johnson City, where he hit .380 and drove in 14 runs in 13 games. That earned him a ticket to New Jersey, where the lefty's .343 batting average was good enough to make the New York-Penn League All-Star Game. In his 22 total games played, Van Slyke has hit safely in 18 contests with nine multi-hit games. His father, Andy Van Slyke, spent 12 seasons in the major leagues with the Cardinals (1983-86) and Pirates (1987-94). His career included a .274 career batting average, 164 home runs, three All-Star appearances, and a trip to the World Series with St. Louis in 1985.

The preliminary roster includes 11 players that suited up for the Swing of the Quad Cities in 2005, including seven pitchers. Phillip Andersen, Mark McCormick, and Cory Meacham are expected to begin the year in the starting rotation, while Buddy Blair, Jason Cairns, Matt Trent, and Jeremy Zick will pitch out of the bullpen. Outfielder Wes Swackhamer, catcher Brandon Yarbrough, infielder Calvin Hayes, and utility man Casey Rowlett are also planning on making an encore appearance at John O'Donnell Stadium.

Another notable is that the roster includes three teenagers. Lefthander Jaime Garcia is slated to pitch out of the starting rotation despite a 2-7 record with a 7.86 ERA in 12 starts at Johnson City in 2005. The 18-year-old native of Mexico was drafted in the 20th round last year out of Sharyland High School in Texas. Catcher Bryan Anderson, 19, should join Garcia and Rasmus as the youngsters of the bunch. Anderson, a 2005 4th-rounder, impressed the Cardinals' brass by hitting .331 and swatting six home runs with Johnson City last year.

Adam Daniels, a southpaw out of Oklahoma State University, will likely join Garcia and the trio of Swing veterans in the starting rotation.

While the current roster is still a bit premature, a final squad will be determined no later then this weekend. Another release will follow at that point, accompanied by a roster.

UP NEXT: The Swing of the Quad Cities will open their second season as an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals on the road on Thursday, April 6, at 4:00 p.m. against the Kane County Cougars. The Swing will then return home to open John O'Donnell Stadium's 75th season of baseball on Monday, April 10 against the Clinton LumberKings at 6:30 p.m. For both contests - and all others in 2006 - radio broadcasts will begin 15 minutes prior to the first pitch on Progressive Talk AM-1270.

DOWN THE ROAD: The Swing will also host the annual Midwest League All-Star game on Tuesday, June 20. Season tickets, mini-plans, group ticket packages, and single-game tickets are all currently available by calling (563) 328-2000.

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