Jason Kipnis; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

• Ben Badler of Baseball America ranks one-time UK outfielder, turned second baseman Jason Kipnis the No. 3 prospect in the Indians’ system. Kipnis transfered to Arizona State after his redshirt-freshman season at UK. (subscription required)
• Matt Eddy of BA breaks down the trade that sent former UofL right-handed pitcher Trystan Magnuson to the Athletics, writing Magnuson’s “career prospects perked up after a full-time move to the bullpen in 2009, culminating in a fine 2010 season in Double-A that featured six times as many strikeouts (63) as walks (10).”
• Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com also profiles Magunson, noting the A’s will have to add him to the MLB 40-man roster or risk losing him in the December Rule 5 draft.
• Baseball America has released its top 100 high school prospects list for the 2011 draft, which includes one University of Louisville signee: right-handed pitcher Nick Burdi of Illinois. BA ranked Burdi at No. 26 on the list.
• Larry Larue of The New Tribune in Tacoma has an update on former UK left-handed pitcher James Paxton, who has until the June 2011 draft to sign with the Mariners. Seattle director of amateur scouting Tom McNamara told Larue negotiations remain at the status quo with the two sides continuing to talk and neither wanting to discuss the situation in public.
• Mayo reports PRP alum Zack Cox, the St. Louis Cardinals’ 2010 first-round pick, was nominated for the Arizona Fall League’s Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award. Former Lexington Legends infielder Koby Clemens and 2010 Louisville Bats infielder Kris Negron were also nominated for the award.
• Cox launched his second home run of the AFL season for the Surprise Rafters on Wednesday and drove in four runs. Cox’s home run came of former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Henry Mabee.
• Kipnis was 2-5 with a double and run scored for the Peoria Javelinas of the AFL.