Corky Miller

Top Reds’ prospects highlight Bats Opening Day roster

Minor League Baseball

The Louisville Bats have unveiled the team’s Opening Day roster, which is highlighted by five of the Cincinnati Reds’ top 10 prospects according to Baseball America. The Bats will also feature right-handed pitcher Matt Klinker, who spent some time at Madisonville North Hopkins High School before moving to Ohio. Check out the full roster below:

Pitchers

  • RHP — Scott Carroll — Kansas City, Mo. — 3rd Round (2007)
  • LHP — Tom Cochran — Wilmington, Del. — 20th round, Red Sox (2003)
  • RHP — Carlos Fisher — West Covina, Cal. — 11th round (2005)
  • RHP — Jerry Gil — San Pedro de Macoris, DR — FA, D’Backs (1999)
  • LHP — Daniel Ray Herrera — Odessa, Tex. — 45th round (2006)
  • LHP — Jeremy Horst — Cheyenne, Wyo. — 21st round (2007)
  • RHP — David Johnson — Los Angeles, Cal. — 15th round, Brewers (2004)
  • RHP — Matt Klinker — Peru, Ind. (Madisonville, Ky.) — 15th round (2007)
  • LHP — Joseph Krebs — Denton, Tex. — 14th round (2007)
  • RHP — Kyle McCulloch — Houston, Tex. — 1st round, White Sox (2006)
  • RHP — Chad Reineke — Defiance, Ohio — 13th round, Astros (2004)
  • LHP — Dontrelle Willis — Oakland, Cal. — 8th round, Cubs (2000)

Catchers

  • Devin Mesoraco — Dubois, Penn. — 1st round (2007)
  • Corky Miller — Yucaipa, Cal. — NDFA (1998)

Infielders

  • 1B — Yonder Alonso –Havana, Cuba — 1st round (2008)
  • SS — Zack Cozart — Memphis, Tenn. — 2nd round (2007)
  • 1B — Daniel Dorn — San Dimas, Cal. — 32nd round (2006)
  • 1B — Michael Griffin — Corpus Christi, Tex. — 14th round (2005)
  • SS — Kris Negron — Willingboro, N. J. — 7th round, Red Sox (2006)
  • 2B — Chris Valaika — Santa Monica, Cal. — 3rd Round (2006)

Outfielders

  • Brian Barton — Los Angeles, Cal. — NDFA (2004)
  • Todd Frazier — Point Pleasant, N. J. — 1st supp. round (2007)
  • Jeremy Hermida — Atlanta, Ga. — 1st round, Marlins (2002)
  • Dave Sappelt — Graham, N. C. — 9th round (2008)

Cowgill, Sappelt, Valaika, Balentien named to all-league teams

Minor League Baseball

Colling Cowgill; Photo: UK Athletics

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Lexington native and former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill was named to the All-Southern League postseason team. Current Louisville Bats outfielder Dave Sappelt was also selected to the team for his work for AA Carolina.
  • Bats second baseman Chris Valaika and outfielder Wladimir Balentien were selected to the All-International League postseason team.
  • First baseman Yonder Alonso, catcher Corky Miller and right-handed pitcher Carlos Fisher joined left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman as Bats promoted to Cincinnati with the September expansion of rosters.
  • Jason Stella of the Bats’ media relations department recently sat down for an interview with the newest Cincinnati Red: Yonder Alonso.
  • John Manuel of Baseball America breaks down the best prospects in the Arizona Fall League, including Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere.

MiLB Roundup: Bats, Legends win; Hot Rods lose; Shelby homers; Nidiffer, Shaffer have big nights

Minor League Baseball

John Shelby; Photo: UK Athletics

Highlights from Monday Kentucky MiLB action:

  • The Louisville Bats used big nights from first baseman Yonder Alonso and catcher Corky Miller en route to a 6-3 win over Indianapolis. Alonso tallied three hits, including a home run, and Miller homered and drove in three runs.
  • The Lexington Legends scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to earn a 8-6 come-from-behind win over Augusta. The first three batters in Lexington’s lineup combined to go 6-15 with five runs scored in the game.
  • Former UofL infielder Chris Dominguez was 2-5 with a run scored for Augusta.
  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods scored three runs in the ninth inning but couldn’t complete the comeback in a 6-4 loss to South Bend. Left-handed pitcher Kyle Lobstein took the loss after surrendering three runs in five innings.
  • Former UK outfielder John Shelby slugged his ninth home run of the season for AA Birmingham.
  • Former UK catcher and 2010 Astros NDFA Marcus Nidiffer was 3-4 with two runs scored for short-season Tri-City.
  • Former NKU outfielder Jake Shaffer was 2-5 with a double, three RBI and a run scored for high A High Desert.

MiLB Roundup: Bats win; Legends, Hot Rods lose; Coughlin, Cowgill homer for Mobile; Rusin wins second AA start

Uncategorized

Sean Coughlin; Photo by mwlguide via Flickr

Highlights from Sunday Kentucky MiLB action:

  • The Louisville Bats won their 11th consecutive home game and recorded their 15th win in the last 16 games with a 8-7 victory over Norfolk Sunday. Catcher Corky Miller was 3-4 with two doubles, three RBI and one run scored.
  • Lexington Legends closer Kirk Clark, the franchise saves record holder, blew just his sixth save of the season by surrendering two runs in the ninth inning in the Legends’ 2-1 loss to Delmarva. left-handed pitcher Luis Cruz surrendered just two hits in seven shutout innings while striking out four and walking three batters.
  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods wasted a strong starting performance from right-handed pitcher Albert Suarez in a 5-2 loss to Fort Wayne. Suarez surrendered just one hit in four innings and struck out four batters while walking none.
  • Former UK left-handed pitcher Chris Rusin earned his first AA victory after surrendering two runs in six innings for AA Tennessee. Rusin struck out four and walked none.
  • Former UK catcher Sean Coughlin was 3-3 with a home run, five RBI and two runs scored for AA Mobile.
  • In what turned out to be a big night for former Cats in Mobile, former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill slugged his 13th home run of the season for the BayBears.
  • Former UofL first baseman and 2010 Rangers draftee Andrew Clark was 3-4 with two RBI and a run scored for short-season Spokane.
  • Former WKU outfielder Chad Cregar slugged his 15th home run of the season for low A Greensboro and drove in three runs.
  • Former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones fell to 8-5 on the season for high A Winston-Salem after surrendering three runs in five innings.
  • Frankfort native and 2010 Royals draftee Cameron Conner was 3-6 with a triple, walk and run scored for the rookie-level AZL Royals.
  • Danville native and 2010 Tigers draftee Patrick Cooper suffered his worst professional start to-date but still escaped with a no decision despite surrendering six runs in two and two-third innings for low A West Michigan.

MiLB Roundup: Bats win; Legends, Hot Rods lose; Nidiffer homers; Adcock, Chowning, Sowers pick up wins

Minor League Baseball

Nathan Adcock; Photo by mwlguide via Flickr

Highlights from Sunday Kentucky MiLB action:

  • The Louisville Bats pounded out 11 hits behind recently demoted Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Micah Owings en route to an 8-3 win over Gwinnet. Owings surrendered just one run on one hit in three innings, and shortstop Zack Cozart, third baseman Juan Francisco, right fielder Daniel Dorn and catcher Corky Miller each homered for Louisville.
  • The Lexington Legends tallied seven hits but couldn’t score a run in a 3-0 loss to Savannah. Right-handed pitcher Tanner Bushue took the loss despite surrendering just two runs in six innings and striking out six batters.
  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods pitching was no match for the Cedar Rapids offense in a 7-2 loss to the Kernels. Third baseman Julio Cedeno was 2-4 with a run scored for the Hot Rods.
  • Former UK catcher and 2010 Astros NDFA Marcus Nidiffer slugged his eighth home run of the season, drove in three runs and scored twice for rookie-level Greeneville.
  • Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock earned his eighth win of the season after holding Dunedin scoreless for six innings on just two hits for high A Bradenton.
  • Louisville native and 2010 Astros draftee Jason Chowning picked up his first professional win with three scoreless innings of relief for short-season Tri-City.
  • Boyd County High School alum and 2010 Royals NDFA Tyler Gatrell earned his eighth save of the season for the rookie-level AZL Royals and still hasn’t surrendered an earned run in his professional career over 13 and one-third innings.
  • Former UK outfielder Antone DeJesus was 3-4 with a walk, run scored and one RBI for AA Springfield.
  • Former UofL infielder Chris Dominguez was 3-4 with a double, run scored and RBI for low A Augusta.
  • Former EKU infielder Neil Sellers was 3-4 with a double and two RBI for AAA Lehigh Valley.
  • Ballard High School alum Jeremy Sowers earned just his second win of the season for AAA Columbus with two scoreless innings of relief Sunday.
  • Paducah native and 2010 Rangers draftee Jonathan Roof was 2-5 with three RBI and one run scored for low A Hickory.

Louisville Bats May Awards

Minor League Baseball

We’ll run down the standouts from May for each of the Kentucky Minor League teams, starting with the Louisville Bats:

Hitter of the month: INF Drew Sutton

  • Stats: 25-66 (.379), 2 HR, 15 RBI, 12 R
  • Honorable Mention: Wladimir Balentein, Chris Valaika, Daniel Dorn, Luis Terrero, Corky Miller

Pitcher of the month: RHP Sam LeCure

  • Stats: 3-1, 2.21 ERA, 5 GS, 29 SO/6 BB, 36.2 IP
  • Honorable Mention: Travis Wood, Matt Maloney, Chad Reineke, Enerio Del Rosario

BluGrass Baseball Louisville Bats April Awards

Minor League Baseball

Each month of the minor league season we’ll name a hitter and pitcher of the month for the state’s three minor-league teams and for the group of Kentucky natives in the minors. Check out the Louisville Bats team awards below:

Hitter of the month: INF Chris Valaika

  • Stats: .329/.377/.457 — 6 RBI, 8 R
  • Valaika was one of the few bright spots for the Bats’ offense during the first month of the 2010 season. The infielder has yet to homer in 2010, but lead the team in batting average, on-base percentage and runs scored in the month.
  • Honorable Mention: OF Chris Heisey, OF Daniel Dorn, C Corky Miller

Pitcher of the Month: LHP Aroldis Chapman

  • Stats: 1-1, 1.29 ERA, 22 SO/12 BB, 21 IP
  • Chapman has been as advertised so far in 2010 and has dominated AAA competition at times while still showing some control problems that have kept him from a big-league callup. The Cuban defector leads Bats starting pitchers in ERA, batting average against and WHIP.
  • Honorable Mention: LHP Travis Wood, RHP Sam LeCure, LHP Matt Maloney

Louisville Bats 2010 Opening Day Roster

Uncategorized

The Louisville Bats are set to start play today and will feature two Kentucky natives in the lineup as well as several of the best prospects in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Check out the roster below via the Courier-Journal. I’ve included Baseball America prospect rankings for the Reds organization. Remember top prospects Juan Francisco and Mike Leake are starting the season with the Reds but might appear in Louisville at some point if they struggle, and Yonder Alonso is starting the season in AA but should earn a callup to Louisville early this season.

Pitchers

  • LHP Travis Wood (BA #7) (SP) — 2nd Round (2005)
  • RHP Sam LeCure (SP) — 4th Round (2005)
  • LHP Matt Maloney (BA #8) (SP) — Phillies 3rd Round (2005)
  • RHP Federico Baez — Cubs NDFA (2002)
  • RHP Jon Adkins — Athletics 9th Round (1998)
  • RHP Chad Reineke — 2005 Lexington Legend — Astros 13th Round (2004)
  • RHP Enerio Del Rosario (BA # 19) — NDFA 2005
  • LHP Lee Tabor — 30th Round (2006)
  • RHP Justin Lehr (SP) — Athletics 8th Round (1999)
  • LHP Pedro Viola (BA # 22) — NDFA (2005)
  • RHP Carlos Fisher — 11th Round (2005)
  • RHP Jared Burton — Athletics 8th Round (2002)
  • LHP Aroldis Chapman (BA #1A*) (SP) — Cuban FA (2009)

Catchers

  • Corky Miller — Amateur FA (1998)
  • Wilkin Castillo — NDFA 2002
  • Jake Long — 37th Round (2005)

Infielders

  • 2B — Chris Burke — St. X High School — Astros 1st Round (2004)
  • 3B — Michael Griffin — 14th Round (2005)
  • 3B — Drew Sutton — 2005 Lexington Legend — S/R — Astros 15th Round (2005)
  • 2B — Chris Valaika (BA #12) — 3rd Round (2006)
  • SS — Zach Cozart (BA #10) — 2nd Round (2007)
  • 3B/LF — Todd Frazier (BA #1B) — 1st Supp. Round (2007)

Outfielders

  • RF — Josh Anderson — Pulaski Co., EKU, 2004 Lexington Legend — 4th Round (2003)
  • LF/1B — Daniel Dorn — 32nd Round (2006)
  • LF — Chris Heisey (BA #4) — 17th Round (2006)
  • OF — Luis Terrero — D’Backs NDFA (1997)

* — Chapman signed after Baseball America released its Reds top 10 prospects list, but is ranked higher than No. 1 Frazier on the overall top 100 prospects list published by the magazine.

Monday Links: Major League Roundup

Major League Baseball

Corey HartJust a few quick major league box scores to get your Monday morning sta

  • Bowling Green native Corey Hart hit his 12th home run of the season for the Brewers.
  • Former Bat Edwin Encarnacion hit his ninth home run for Toronto.
  • Former Bat Kip Wells won for Cincinnati behind former Bat Corky Miller’s first home run.
  • Mark Reynolds Home Run Record Watch: 0-4, 1 SO