Colorado Rockies

Webb’s velocity down during rehab appearance; Miller struggling; Wellemeyer to return to action this week

High School Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Brandon Webb; Photo by SD Dirk via Flickr

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb was at 78 to 81 mph during the first two innings of his latest extended spring training appearance.
  • Jason Frakes of the Courier-Journal runs down the high school top 25 matchups at this week’s Louisville Invitational Tournament.
  • Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Louisville native Trever Miller has been struggling recently as the Cardinals’ only left-handed reliever. Miller has not recorded an out in his last five appearances.
  • Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports Louisville native and former Bellarmine right-handed pitcher Todd Wellemeyer is scheduled to pitch this week for AAA Iowa.
  • Thomas Harding and Nick Kosmider of MLB.com reports Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook, who was born in Ft. Campbell, will throw a simulated game on Wednesday as he rehabs from a broken finger.
  • Mike Fields of the Lexington Herald-Leader profiles 16-0 Madison Central High School in his most recent high school notebook.
  • Herald-Leader columnist Mark Story also talked to me this week about BluGrass Baseball for his latest column.

Morehead St. loses to Indiana; Campbellsville coach gets 900th win; Friedrich impresses Rockies’ executive

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Christian Friedrich; Photo by Matt McGee via Flickr

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Morehead State University dropped a 5-1 decision to Indiana in the state’s only college baseball game on Wednesday. Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Josh Schneider took the loss after surrendering two runs on four hits in four innings while striking out six batters and walking none. The Eagles tallied just four hits in the game, and junior catcher Taylor Davis scored the team’s only home run. (Box Score)
  • Jack Etkin, writing for Baseball America, reports former EKU left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich made a major impression on the Colorado Rockies’ management with six shutout innings versus the big-league team in a scrimmage to end Spring Training. (Subscription required)
  • Campbellsville University head coach Beauford Sanders earned his 900th career win with the Tigers’ 4-3 win over Shawnee State Monday.
  • Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA ranks Davis the No. 20 college catcher prospect. He ranks Western Kentucky University senior Matt Rice the No. 13 college catcher by performance and Davis the No. 20 catcher by performance. (Subscription required)
  • Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb threw to live hitters on Wednesday, two days ahead of schedule.
  • Nick Baumgardner of The Daily News in Bowling Green reports WKU coach Chris Finwood told his team they could make some new fans before the large crowd at Bowling Green Ballpark if they played well against the University of Kentucky on Tuesday.

Joe Blanton leads Kentucky major leaguers in salary

Major League Baseball

Joe Blanton; Photo via Wikimedia Commons

With Opening Day upon us its time for the annual look at the contracts of each of Kentucky’s major league players. The group added two new members in Josh Lueke and Nathan Adcock this season, but is still dominated by the familiar names. Check out the full list of 2011 salaries below with contract data via USA Today‘s MLB  salary database:

  • Joe Blanton (Phillies) — Franklin-Simpson HS, UK — $10.5 million
  • Aaron Cook (Rockies) — Born in Ft. Campbell — $9.875 million
  • Dan Uggla (Braves) — Born in Louisville — $9.15 million
  • Corey Hart (Brewers) — Greenwood HS — $6.833 million
  • Mark Reynolds (Orioles) — Born in Pikeville — $5.333 million
  • Scott Downs (Angels) — PRP, UK — $5 million
  • Jon Rauch (Blue Jays) — Oldham Co. HS, Morehead St. — $3.5 million
  • Brandon Webb (Rangers) — Paul Blazer HS, UK — $3 million
  • Trever Miller (Cardinals) — St. X HS — $2 million
  • Austin Kearns (Indians) — Lafayette HS — $1.3 million
  • Sean Green (Brewers) — Male HS, UofL — $875,000
  • Tyler Clippard (Nationals) — Born in Lexington — $443,000
  • Jonny Venters (Braves) — Born in Pikeville — $429,500
  • A. J. Ellis (Dodgers) — PLD HS — $421,000
  • Nathan Adcock (Royals) — North Hardin HS — $414,000
  • Josh Lueke (Mariners) — Scott HS, NKU — $414,000
 

No significant differences were discovered. Race does not influence the length of enrollment in adult literacy programs.

Adcock overcomes two hits in MLB debut; Friedrich excels in scrimmage; Ellis to serve as Dodgers’ primary backup

Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

 

Nathan Adcock; Photo by mwlguide via Flickr

Latest links and notes from around Kentucky baseball:

 

  • Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock surrendered two hits in a scoreless inning in his MLB debut in the Kansas City Royal’s loss to the Angels on Opening Day.
  • Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com reports PLD alum A. J. Ellis will serve as the Dodgers’ primary backup catcher until Dioner Navarro returns from injury.
  • Barry Lewis of the Tulsa World reports former EKU left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich impressed Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy by throwing six shutout innings in a start against the big league team to end Spring Training.
  • John Fay, writing for Baseball America, profiles Louisville Bats outfielder Dave Sappelt, who impressed the Reds with a .564 batting average in Spring Training. (Subscription required)

Kentuckians on MLB Opening Day rosters

Major League Baseball

You can always see the list of Kentucky MLB players on the “Ky. in the Majors” page here, but with Opening Day upon us I thought it would be a good idea to post the list on the home page. Check out the Kentuckians starting the 2011 season on MLB rosters below:

National League

  • RHP Aaron Cook — Born in Ft. Campbell — Colorado Rockies (15-day DL)
  • C A. J. Ellis — PLD — Los Angeles Dodgers
  • OF Corey Hart — Greenwood HS — Milwaukee Brewers (15-day DL)
  • 2B Dan Uggla — Born in Louisville — Atlanta Braves
  • RHP Joe Blanton — Franklin-Simpson HS, UK — Philadelphia Phillies
  • LHP Jonny Venters — Born in Pikeville — Atlanta Braves
  • RHP Sean Green — Male HS, UofL — Milwaukee Brewers
  • LHP Trever Miller — St. X HS — St. Louis Cardinals
  • RHP Tyler Clippard — Born in Lexington — Washington Nationals

American League

  • OF Austin Kearns — Lafayette HS — Cleveland Indians
  • RHP Brandon Webb — Paul Blazer HS, UK — Texas Rangers (15-day DL)
  • RHP Jon Rauch — Oldham Co. HS, Morehead St. — Toronto Blue Jays
  • RHP Josh Lueke — Scott HS, NKU — Seattle Mariners*
  • 3B Mark Reynolds — Born in Pikeville — Baltimore Orioles
  • RHP Nathan Adcock — North Hardin HS — Kansas City Royals*
  • LHP Scott Downs — PRP, UK — Los Angeles Angels (15-day DL)
  • RHP Shawn Kelley — Ballard HS — Seattle Mariners (60-day DL)

* — Lueke and Adcock are MLB rookies and will make their MLB debuts with first appearance in 2011.

Cox, Revere ranked among top prospects in organizations; Lueke likely will make MLB roster; Hustlers unveil schedule

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Zack Cox; University of Arkansas photo

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com ranks PRP alum Zack Cox the No. 2 prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
  • Mayo ranks Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere the No. 4 prospect in the Minnesota Twins organization.
  • Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA lists the University of Louisville among the weekend losers in college baseball.
  • Geoff Baker, columnist for The Seattle Times, writes Highland Heights native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke has probably done enough this spring to earn a spot in the Mariners’ bullpen and could possibly be considered for save opportunities if closer Brandon League falters.
  • Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb won’t get his wish of pitching in a B or minor league game this week and will instead pitch another batting practice session today.
  • The Lexington Hustlers have released the team’s 2011 summer schedule.
  • Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports no news has been good news concerning the rehab of Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook, who was born in Fort Campbell.

Strieby, Jones, Kipnis cut from respective MLB camps; Hageman gives WKU offensive boost; Cook injured again

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Ryan Strieby; Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • The Detroit Tigers have optioned former UK first baseman Ryan Strieby to AAA Toledo.
  • The Chicago White Sox have optioned Covington native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones to AA Birmingham.
  • Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA breaks down 25 teams outside of the PGSU top 25, noting the University of Louisville‘s poor offensive performance is the only thing keeping it out of the rankings. (Subscription required)
  • Nick Baumgardner of the Bowling Green Daily News reports Western Kentucky University received an unlikely offensive spark on Sunday from freshman Justin Hageman, who received his first at-bats of 2011 after spending the first three weeks of the season solely on the mound.
  • Jordan Bastain of MLB.com reports one-time UK outfielder turned second baseman Jason Kipnis was re-assigned to minor league camp by the Cleveland Indians.
  • The bad injury news continues for Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook, who was born in Fort Campbell, as Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports Cook will miss a few weeks after breaking his ring finger on his throwing hand when he accidentally slammed a door on it on Friday.
  • MLB.com columnist Mike Bauman writes Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb‘s return from injury has become a question of “when” not “if” following his strong throwing session over the weekend.

Littrell named SEC freshman of week; Ky. catchers named to Bench Award watch list; Webb hopes to pitch in May

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Corey Littrell; UK photo by Chet White

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • University of Kentucky freshman left-handed pitcher Corey Littrell was named the Southeastern Conference freshman of the week.
  • Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA includes the University of Louisville among his weekend college baseball winners. (Subscription required)
  • Western Kentucky University senior catcher Matt Rice, UofL senior catcher J. J. Ethel and Morehead State University junior catcher Taylor Davis have been named to the 2011 Johnny Bench Award watch list.
  • Aaron Fitt of Baseball America recaps UofL’s Friday win over Pepperdine, noting sophomore right-handed pitcher Matt Koch boasted a 90-92 mph fastball and 79 mph slider in his weekend start.
  • Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports the Colorado Rockies have re-assigned former EKU left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich to minor league camp.
  • Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb was impressive in throwing batting practice Sunday and hopes to be in the Rangers’ rotation by May.

UK players among those to watch from Houston tournament; Corey Hart growing frustrated with slow return from injury

College Baseball, Major League Baseball

Brian Adams; BluGrass Baseball photo

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA recaps last weekend’s Houston College Classic, giving the University of Kentucky a C+ grade. Rogers also lists UK junior right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer, sophomore outfielder Brian Adams and freshman right-handed pitcher Trevor Gott among the players to watch from the tournament. (Subscription required)
  • Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports Bowling Green native Corey Hart is growing more frustrated with his oblique injury.
  • Dave Krieger, a columnist for The Denver Post, writes the Colorado Rockies should take their time bringing back right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook, who was born in Fort Campbell.
  • Anthony Andro, writing for The Dallas Morning News, reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb is still on track to throw live batting practice today.
  • Baseball America has published its 2011 bat guide, including information about Louisville Slugger bats that meet new college and high school regulations.
  • I’ve posted a Eastern Kentucky University photo gallery from Tuesday’s game versus UK on the BluGrass Baseball Flickr page.

Zach Noonan named OVC player of the week; UofL ranked in latest coaches’ poll; Webb to pitch to hitters on Wednesday

College Baseball, Major League Baseball

Zach Noonan; BluGrass Baseball photo

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Murray State University senior outfielder and week four BluGrass Baseball hitter of the week Zach Noonan was named the Ohio Valley Conference player of the week.
  • The University of Louisville checked in at No. 21 in the latest ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.
  • UofL checked in at No. 4, but Western Kentucky University dropped out of the most recent College Baseball Daily mid-major top 25 poll.
  • UofL redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Justin Amlung and Lexington native and Cincinnati outfielder Justin Riddell were named to the Big East Conference weekly honor roll for their week four performances.
  • Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb is scheduled to throw against live batters for the first time this spring on Wednesday.
  • Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated tweets the Colorado Rockies were disappointed right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook, who was born in Fort Campbell, didn’t report to camp in playing shape and Cook will not start the season with the team.