Arizona Fall League

Revere leads AFL in SBs; Kipnis, Lueke also excel

Minor League Baseball

 

Ben Revere; Photo by Pat Neshek

The Arizona Fall League season came to an end over the weekend, meaning several Kentucky players saw the official end of their 2010 seasons. Check out a quick rundown of Kentucky AFL stats below:

 

  • OF Ben Revere (Lexington Catholic) — .295/.358/.330, 20 R, 12 SB, 9 RBI
  • 2B Jason Kipnis (UK) — .295/.337/.628, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 13 R
  • RHP Josh Lueke (NKU) — 0-1, 0.79 ERA, 2 SV, 12 SO/3 BB, 11.1 IP
  • 3B Zack Cox (PRP) — .262/.333/.446, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 8 R
  • RHP B. J. Rosenberg (UofL) — 0-1, 8.53 ERA, 10 SO/8 BB, 12.2 IP
  • RHP Henry Mabee (Morehead St.) — 0-0, 6.92 ERA, 5 SO/9 BB, 13 IP
  • RHP Michael Broadway (Paducah) — 0-1, 10.13 ERA, 5 SO/1 BB, 5.1 IP
  • OF Dave Sappelt (Louisville Bats) — .291/.316/.319, 10 RBI, 9 R
  • C Devin Mesoraco (Louisville Bats) — .242/.250/.455, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 7 R
  • LHP Philippe Valiquette (Louisville Bats) — 0-1, 14.14 ERA, 5 SO/5 BB, 7 IP

Revere led the AFL with 12 stolen bases.

Kipnis ranked No. 3 in Indians’ system; UofL signs top 30 pitcher; Paxton, Mariners talks remain at impasse

College Baseball, Minor League Baseball

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.

UK picks up commitment from Indiana infielder; Nationals may be interested in Webb; Marks traded

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

UK Athletics Wallpaper

Latest highlights and links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Patrick Dorsey of The Indianapolis Star reports Zionsville infielder Max Kuhn has committed to the University of Kentucky.
  • Ryan Korby of The Washington Post breaks down the Nationals’ pursuit of Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb.
  • Kendall Rogers of Yahoo! Sports and Rivals.com lists UK among his declining NCAA programs, writing “After failing to reach a postseason again last season, the Wildcats are declining and on the verge of turning back into an SEC afterthought.”
  • Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com profiles former UofL left-handed pitcher Justin Marks, who was traded by the A’s to the Royals in the David DeJesus deal.
  • One-time UK outfielder turned second baseman Jason Kipnis was 2-4 with a double and two RBI for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League.

WKU gets commitment from Tates Creek OF; Donze highlights Murray St. scrimmage; Maronde among NCAA best

College Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Latest highlights and links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Kelly Thesier of MLB.com reports Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere is working on improving his defense in the Arizona Fall League.
  • Mike Fields of the Lexington Herald-Leader reports Takes Creek High School outfielder Ryan Fucci, one of the state’s top high school players, has committed to Western Kentucky University.
  • In its ongoing top 2011 NCAA players series, The College Baseball Blog ranks Lexington Catholic alum Nick Maronde, a left-handed pitcher at the University of Florida, the No. 71 player in the country.
  • Senior left-handed pitcher Jake Donze highlighted Murray State University‘s fall scrimmage by striking out six in six scoreless innings.
  • One-time UK outfielder turned second baseman Jason Kipnis was 2-4 with two triples a walk and two runs scored for the Peoria Javelinas of the AFL.

Revere, Kipnis highlight AFL Rising Stars game; Meyer strong in UK scrimmage; Colome named top prospect

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Ben Revere; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Latest links and highlights from around Kentucky baseball:

  • On Saturday Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere was 1-3 and one-time UK outfielder Jason Kipnis was 1-1 with a double in the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game. PRP alum and St. Louis Cardinals 2010 first-round pick Zack Cox was 0-2 in the game.
  • Junior left-handed pitcher Alex Meyer highlighted the final game of the University of Kentucky Fall World Series with three scoreless innings.
  • Nick Coman of NESN speculates the Red Sox could fix the team’s bullpen as well as deal a blow to a division foe by signing former UK left-handed pitcher Scott Downs.
  • Bill Mitchell, writing for Baseball America, profiles Revere and his strong AFL performance.
  • Bill Ballew, writing for BA, names 2010 Bowling Green Hot Rods right-handed pitcher Alexander Colome the No. 7 prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Former Hot Rod left-handed pitcher Matt Moore was ranked the No. 2 prospect.

Kentuckians named AFL rising stars; Hustlers announce first 2011 signings; Brandon Webb likely leaving Arizona

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Ben Revere; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball from the first day of the offseason:

  • Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere, PRP alum Zack Cox, one-time UK outfielder Jason Kipnis, Louisville Bats catcher Devin Mesoraco and Bats left-handed pitcher Philippe Valiquette were named to the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars game to be played on Saturday.
  • The Lexington Hustlers of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League have announced initial signings for the 2011 summer season including a plethora of Kentucky natives.
  • Jack Magruder of FoxSportsArizona.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb is unlikely to return to the Diamondbacks.
  • Game four of Morehead State University‘s fall scrimmage series was highlighted by senior right-handed pitcher Trey Smith, who struck out seven in six innings.
  • Kipnis was 2-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored for the Peoria Javelinas of the AFL.
  • Revere extended his AFL hitting streak to eight games by going 1-6 with two runs scored and his ninth stolen base for the Peoria Saguaros.

Kentucky prep pitchers highlight wood-bat tournament; Revere stays hot in AFL; Gibson excels for Morehead

College Baseball, High School Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Jon Rauch; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Latest links and highlights from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Conor Glassey of Baseball America recaps the action from the World Wood Bat Championship, highlighting performances from Lexington Catholic High School right-handed pitcher Tyler Arthur and St. X right-handed pitcher Matt Spalding.
  • Mark Polishuk of MLBTradeRumors evaluates former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch‘s free agent stock.
  • On Wednesday former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke earned his first save for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League. Former Lexington Legend right-handed pitcher Kyle Greenwalt pitched four scoreless innings for the win.
  • On Thursday Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere was 3-6 with three RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base for the Peoria Saguaros of the AFL.
  • Former UofL right-handed pitcher B. J. Rosenberg took the loss after surrendering four runs in one inning for the Mesa Solar Sox of the AFL.
  • Morehead State University sophomore right-handed pitcher Cody Gibson struck out 10 batters in six innings to lead the Gold team to a 2-0 series lead in the Eagles’ fall scrimmage series.

Blanton, Phillies eliminated; Martinez named best class A hitter; Revere tallies three more hits in AFL

Uncategorized

J. D. Martinez; Lexington Legends photo

Latest links and notes from around Kentucky baseball on the day after the MLB season ended for Kentuckians:

  • With the elimination of the Philadelphia Phillies by the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night, Kentucky lost its last MLB playoff participant in former UK right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton.
  • I passed this note along on Twitter yesterday, but after waiting nine seasons for his first playoff appearance Lexington native Austin Kearns did not get in a single game for the Yankees during their 2010 playoff run.
  • Lexington Legends outfielder J. D. Martinez was voted the best class A hitter by MiLB.com readers.
  • On Saturday PRP alum and St. Louis Cardinals 2010 first-round pick Zack Cox was 1-2 with a double, RBI, walk and run scored for Surprise of the Arizona Fall League.
  • Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere was 3-4 with a stolen base and run scored for the Peoria Saguaros of the AFL. Former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Henry Mabee recorded a hold with a scoreless inning for the Saguaros.
  • One-time UK outfielder turned second baseman Jason Kipnis homered and drove in two runs for the Peoria Javelinas of the AFL. Former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke pitched two scoreless innings and struck out one for the Javelinas.
  • Kelly Thesier of MLB.com reports the Minnesota Twins’ bullpen could look very different in 2011 as the team has a number of free agent relievers, including former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch.

Blanton still on for game four start; UofL freshman stars in scrimmage; Ijames among top NCAA players

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Joe Blanton; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Dave Sheinin of The Washington Post reports Phillies manager Charlie Manuel still plans to start former UK right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton in game four, but he says the team is just taking it “day by day.”
  • One-time UK outfielder, turned second baseman Jason Kipnis blogs about his preparation for the Arizona Fall League for MLB.com.
  • University of Louisville freshman right-handed pitcher Jeff Thompson surrendered just one hit in four and two-third scoreless innings while striking out six in game three of the fall Pizza Bowl scrimmage series. Pirates eight-round pick Dace Kime surrendered five runs in four innings in his unofficial UofL debut.
  • Indiana University has released its 2011 schedule, which includes two games against UofL, one against the University of Kentucky and one against Morehead State University.
  • The College Baseball Blog is running down the top 100 players in college baseball in advance of the 2011 season and recently ranked UofL redshirt junior outfielder Stewart Ijames at No. 97.

UofL recruiting class ranked No. 24; Kipnis, Revere have big AFL performances; Cards pitching highlights Pizza Bowl

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball, including Friday Arizona Fall League highlights:

  • Aaron Fitt of Baseball America ranks the University of Louisville’s 2011 recruiting class No. 24 in the country. Fitt calls the University of Kentucky’s recruiting class as “sleeper” in the Southeastern Conference.
  • In his detailed breakdown of the top 25 classes, Fitt calls UofL freshman right-handed pitcher Dace Kime the key to the class. (subscription required)
  • One-time UK outfielder Jason Kipnis was 2-5 with a triple, home run, five RBI and run scored for the Peoria Javelinas of the AFL. Kipnis’ home run came off former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Henry Mabee, who surrendered five runs in two innings.
  • Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere was 3-4 with a triple, two RBI and run scored for the Peoria Saguaros in the game.
  • University of Louisville freshman right-handed pitcher Chad Green earned the win in game one of the Pizza Bowl fall series with two and two-third scoreless innings.
  • UofL junior right-handed pitcher Travis Tingle, a transfer from Cleveland State, took a no decision in game two but surrendered just two runs on five hits in four and one-third innings while striking out six and walking none.
  • The New York Yankees earned a come-from-behind 6-5 win in game one of the ALCS over the Texas Rangers, but Lexington native Austin Kearns did not appear in the game.