There's been lots of exciting news about former Vermont Mountaineers lately, but I've just barely been able to sift through it all.
Here's a link to Darin Mastroianni's spring training highlight sent by current VTM GM Brian Gallagher from a game last week against the Red Sox (what is with former Mountaineers doing awesome against the Red Sox? David Carpenter made his debut for the Astros against the Red Sox and I don't think he gave up a hit).
Also, this:
| Over 15 NECBL Alumni Ranked as a Top 20 Prospect by MLB.com
|
|
MLB.com recently released their top 20 prospects for each Major League organization. 17 NECBL alumni were on these prestigious lists, representing 15 Big League organizations.
Players are listed in order of their ranking within the organization. The NECBL congratulates those on this list who are part of the over 75 alumni who have appeared in the Major Leagues, and eagerly anticipates the imminent debuts of those who have yet to get a call up.
Player: Mike Olt, 3B
Organization and Rank: Texas, #3 prospect
What MLB.com said: "He chased the home run and RBI records in the fall and was named the number six prospect in the AFL by MLB.com...he is a good defender at third to boot."
2011 season summary: The supplemental first round pick in 2010 slugged .504 in 69 games with High-A Carolina
NECBL Highlight: Hit .279 and slugged .469 as an All-Star for the 2008 Danbury Westerners
Player: Ryan Lavarnway, Catcher
Organization and Rank: Boston, #4 prospect
What MLB.com said: "As a sixth round pick out of a school like Yale...a player will have to prove himself at every level. Lavarnway has done just that, especially with the bat."
2011 season summary: Slugged .563 in 2011 and played in 17 games in the Majors
NECBL Highlight: Had a .462 on base percentage during an All-Star summer with the 2007 Manchester Silkworms
Player: Scott Barnes, LHP
Organization and Rank: Cleveland, #5 prospect
What MLB.com said: "Barnes had a very solid bounce back season in 2011. Perhaps he may have even earned a September call-up but he tore an ACL in July, ending his season. He's healthy again and ready to knock on that Big League door."
2011 season summary: Struck out 90 in 88 innings in Triple-A
NECBL Highlight: Had a 1.61 ERA in seven appearances for the 2006 Holyoke Giants
Player: Sean Gilmartin, LHP
Organization and Rank: Atlanta, #6 prospect
What MLB.com said: "The Braves' first round pick last June, he is the prototypical college lefty, one who throws strikes, mixes pitches and should move quickly through the system."
2011 season summary: Posted a 2.53 ERA in 5 starts for Class-A Rome, where he struck out 30 in 21.1 innings
NECBL Highlight: Appeared in 11 games for the 2009 North Shore Navigators as a position player
Player: A.J. Pollock, OF
Organization and Rank: Arizona, #6 prospect
What MLB.com said: "He picked up where he left off in 2011 (after a suffering a fractured elbow in 2010), serving as one of the key ingredients in Double-A Mobile's Southern League championship."
2011 season summary: Hit .307, stole 36 bases and rapped 41 doubles for Double-A Mobile
NECBL Highlight: Hit .348-5th best in the NECBL- and led the League with 15 doubles as a freshman for the 2007 Vermont Mountaineers. Pollock was a first round draft pick in 2009
Player: Adam Conley, LHP
Organization and Rank: Miami, #7 prospect
What MLB.com said: "He has a plus fastball, one that gains a few ticks when he is coming out of the bullpen, with plenty of sink."
2011 season summary: Drafted in the 2nd round in 2011 and pitched 2 scoreless Gulf Coast innings.
NECBL Highlight: Had 0.00 ERA in eight appearances for the 2009 Keene Swamp Bats, allowing just 14 hits in 34 innings
Player: Matt Adams, 1B
Organization and Rank: St. Louis, #9 prospect
What MLB.com said: "Simply put, Adams can flat out hit. With a career .316/.365/.552 line, he has produced wherever he has been."
2011 season summary: Hit .300 with 32 home runs in Double-A and was named the Texas League MVP.
NECBL Highlight: Won the NECBL MVP Award in 2008 with the Pittsfield Dukes and finished in the top 4 in all three Triple Crown categories
Player: Chris Dominguez, 3B
Organization and Rank: San Francisco, #9 prospect
What MLB.com said: "Power hitting third basemen are always a good commodity to have and Dominguez has the chance to fit the profile well. He's always been known for his raw power."
2011 season summary: Hit 18 homers between High-A and Double-A in 2011. Dominguez was a third round selection in 2009
NECBL Highlight: Led the NECBL with 11 homers in 2006 as a member of the Newport Gulls
Player: Steve Lombardozzi, INF
Organization and Rank: Washington, #10 prospect
What MLB.com said: "All of the baseball clichés- baseball rat, grinder, hard nosed- fit the gritty infielder. He knows how to play the game the right way and all of his tools play up because of his all out style and baseball IQ."
2011 season summary: The switch hitter batted .294 at Triple-A and stole 30 bases. He made his Major League debut last year
NECBL Highlight: Played in seven games for the 2007 Holyoke Blue Sox
Player: Christian Friedrich, LHP
Organization and Rank: Colorado, #14 prospect
What MLB.com said: "He still has the repertoire to be a successful starter." Friedrich was a first round draft pick in 2008
2011 season summary: Went 6-10 with 103 strikeouts and 43 walks in 133.1 innings for Double-A Tulsa.
NECBL Highlight: Won the NECBL Rookie of the Year as a freshman for the 2006 Vermont Mountaineers
Player: Anthony Meo, RHP
Organization and Rank: Arizona, #14 prospect
What MLB.com said: "He has an easily above-average fastball that would undoubtedly be a plus in the bullpen."
2011 season summary: Selected in the second round of the 2011 Draft
NECBL Highlight: Had a 0.87 ERA- sixth best in League- and averaged a strikeout per inning for 2008 New Bedford
Player: Matt Den Dekker, OF
Organization and Rank: New York Mets, #16 prospect
What MLB.com said: "The 2010 senior sign had a solid first full season, reaching Double-A, banging out 60 extra-base hits, stealing 24 bases and playing a superb center field."
2011 season summary: Hit 17 homers and slugged .460 between High-A and Double-A
NECBL Highlight: Blasted 13 doubles, second in the NECBL, for the 2007 Keene Swamp Bats
Player: Adam Wilk, LHP
Organization and Rank: Detroit, #17 prospect
What MLB.com said: "Wilk will mix his fastball, curve, changeup and cutter well to keep hitters off-balance."
2011 season summary: Posted a 3.24 ERA and walked just 14 in 18 Triple-A starts. Made his Major League debut with Detroit
NECBL Highlight: Led the NECBL with a 1.12 ERA as a member of the 2007 Newport Gulls
Player: Kevin Chapman, LHP
Organization and Rank: Kansas City, #18 prospect
What MLB.com said: "Chapman missed the 2008 season after arm surgery but by 2010 he was arguably the best college reliever in the game."
2011 season summary: Whiffed 90 in 62 innings between High and Double-A
NECBL Highlight: Made one appearance in 2009 for North Shore
Player: Stephen Parker, 3B
Organization and Rank: Oakland, #18 prospect
What MLB.com said: "He hits enough to be a big leaguer, but if the pop returns, he could be a pretty special corner infielder."
2011 season summary: Hit .286 with 30 doubles at Double-A Midland
NECBL Highlight: Slugged .379 and had an OBP of .362 for the 2007 Torrington Twisters
Player: Josh Zeid, RHP
Organization and Rank: Houston, #18 prospect
What MLB.com said: "Zeid profiles as a hard throwing short reliever...he has a plus fastball, which touches the upper 90s in shorter stints, as well as a nasty slider."
2011 season summary: Fanned 71 batters in 79.2 innings in Double-A
NECBL Highlight: Went 4-1 with a 3.19 ERA for the 2006 Torrington Twisters
Player: Aaron Westlake, 1B
Organization and Rank: Detroit, #19 prospect
What MLB.com said: "A senior sign, Westlake was drafted for his best tool: power. The left-handed hitter can mash at the plate."
2011 season summary: Slugged .379 in Short Season Class-A
NECBL Highlight: Made 27 starts for Keene in 2008. Slugged .495 and rapped 13 extra base hits for Newport in 2009
|
And this:
| Nearly 60 NECBL Alumni in Major League Camps |
|
59 NECBL alumni were in Major League camps as pitchers and catchers began reporting. 37 players were on Active or 40-man rosters while another 22 were in Major League camps as non-roster invitees. 24 of the 30 Major League clubs had at least one NECBL alumnus in their camp.
Joe Nathan, who played in the NECBL's inaugural 1994 season, may be the most marquee alumnus. The long time Twin closer is in the process of training with new teammates, the defending American League champion Texas Rangers.
Three more alumni- first baseman Matt Adams, pitcher Mitchell Boggs and pitcher Jason Motte- are on the 40-man roster of the defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals while a fourth, pitcher Nick Greenwood, is a Redbirds' non-roster invitee.
The Boston Red Sox have an NECBL flavor with two NECBL alums- catcher Ryan Lavarnway and pitcher Andrew Bailey- in their Big League camp. OF Alex Hassan and pitcher Jesse Carlson are non-roster invitees.
At least one representative of every NECBL season from 1999 to 2009 is in a camp. The numbers validate the NECBL's position as a launching point for some of the best baseball talent in America. Over 75 participants in the NECBL have played in the Major Leagues.
The data is as of February 16th.
Alumni on an Active Roster
Pos Name MLB Team NECBL Yr NECBL Team
P Adam Wilk Detroit 2007 Newport Gulls
OF Andre Ethier L.A. Dodgers 2001 Keene Swamp Bats
P Andrew Bailey Boston 2004 Lowell All-Americans
INF Andy Parrino San Diego 2005 Manchester Silkworms
P Andy Sonnanstine Chi Cubs 2002-03 Sanford Mainers
OF Brian Bogusevic Houston 2003 Danbury Westerners
P Brian Wilson San Francisco 2001 Keene Swamp Bats
INF Bryan LaHair Chicago Cubs 2002 Keene Swamp Bats
OF Chris Denorfia San Diego 2000-01 Manchester Silkworms
C Chris Iannetta L.A. Angels 2003 Newport Gulls
P Christian Friedrich Colorado 2006 Vermont Mountaineers
OF Cole Gillespie Arizona 2005 N. Adams SteepleCats
P Craig Breslow Arizona 1999 Middletown Giants
P Danny Otero San Francisco 2005 Newport Gulls
OF Darin Mastroianni Minnesota 2004-05 Vermont Mountaineers
P David Carpenter Houston 2005 Vermont Mountaineers
P Frank Herrmann Cleveland 2004 Pittsfield Dukes
P Graham Godfrey Oakland 2004 Manchester Silkworms
P Jason Berken Baltimore 2003 Keene Swamp Bats
P Jason Motte St. Louis 2002 Sanford Mainers
P Jeff Beliveau Chicago Cubs 2006 Newport Gulls
INF Jeff Keppinger Tampa 1999 Keene Swamp Bats
P Joe Martinez Arizona 2003 Danbury Westerners
P Joe Nathan Texas 1994 Fairfield Stallions
P Joe Smith Cleveland 2004 N. Adams SteepleCats
P Joe Thatcher San Diego 2001 Danbury Westerners
P Kevin Slowey Cleveland 2004 Sanford Mainers
DH Matt Joyce Tampa Bay 2004 Danbury Westerners
P Mitchell Boggs St. Louis 2004 Newport Gulls
OF Rajai Davis Toronto 2001 Middletown Giants
C Ryan Hanigan Cincinnati 2001 Lowell All-Americans
C Ryan Lavarnway Boston 2007 Manchester Silkworms
LHP Scott Barnes Cleveland 2006 Holyoke Giants
INF Steve Lombardozzi Washington 2008 Holyoke Blue Sox
P Stephen Strasburg Washington 2007 Torrington Twisters
P Tim Stauffer San Diego 2001 Keene Swamp Bats
P Tom Koehler Miami 2005 Danbury Westerners
Alumni Who Are Non Roster Invitees:
Pos Name MLB Team NECBL Yr NECBL Team
OF A.J. Pollock Arizona 2007 Vermont Mountaineers
OF Alex Hassan Boston 2007 Pittsfield Dukes
INF Andy LaRoche Cleveland 2002 Keene Swamp Bats
INF Chris Dominguez San Francisco 2006 Newport Gulls
P Dusty Hughes Atlanta 2002 Danbury Westerners
P Evan Scribner Oakland 2005 N. Adams SteepleCats
OF Jarrett Hoffpauir Washington 2003 Danbury Westerners
INF Jeff Baisley L.A. Dodgers 2002 Danbury Westerners
P Jeff Fulchino Washington 1999-00 Keene Swamp Bats
P Jesse Carlson Boston 2000 Middletown Giants
C Luke Carlin Cleveland 2000 Keene Swamp Bats
INF Matt Adams St. Louis 2008 Pittsfield Dukes
OF Matt Den Dekker N.Y. Mets 2007 Keene Swamp Bats
P Matt Torra Tampa Bay 2003 Torrington Twisters
INF Michael Olt Texas 2008 Danbury Westerners
P Mike Ekstrom Colorado 2002 N. Adams SteepleCats
P Nick Christiani Cincinnati 2007 Manchester Silkworms
P Nick Greenwood St. Louis 2008 Vermont Mountaineers
P Rob Delaney N.Y. Mets 2005 Pittsfield/Vermont
P Ryan Reid Tampa Bay 2005 Sanford Mainers
P Sean Gilmartin Atlanta 2009 North Shore Navigators
P Sean Green Texas 1999 Torrington Twisters
|
So is it June yet? : )
-Anna Grearson
Comments