Edison Volquez

Kentuckians in MLB Playoffs

Major League Baseball

The playoffs are officially underway with the Texas Rangers up 4-0 on Tampa Bay at the time of this posting. The playoffs aren’t without plenty of Kentucky connections as every team except the Giants has a player with Bluegrass State connections. Check out the list of Kentucky natives and former minor league players participating in the playoffs below:

Cincinnati Reds (NL Central)

  • Edison Volquez — Louisville Bats (2010)*
  • Johnny Cueto — Louisville Bats (2007)
  • Aroldis Chapman — Louisville Bats (2010)
  • Logan Ondrusek — Louisville Bats (2008, 09, 10)
  • Bill Bray — Louisville Bats (2007, 08, 09, 10)
  • Homer Bailey — Louisville Bats (2007, 08, 09, 10)
  • Travis Wood — Louisville Bats (2009, 2010)
  • Joey Votto — Louisville Bats (2007)
  • Jay Bruce — Louisville Bats (2007, 08, 09)
  • Drew Stubbs — Louisville Bats (2008, 09)
  • Jonny Gomes — Louisville Bats (2009)
  • Ryan Hanigan — Louisville Bats (2003, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10)
  • Chris Heisey — Louisville Bats (2009)
  • Paul Janish — Louisville Bats (2007, 08)
  • Juan Francisco — Louisville Bats (2009, 10)

Philadelphia Phillies (NL East)

  • Joe Blanton — Franklin-Simpson HS (UK)

Atlanta Braves (NL Wild Card)

  • Jonny Venters — Born in Pikeville, Ky. (HS in Florida)
  • Brooks Conrad — Lexington Legends (2003)

Minnesota Twins (AL Central)

  • Jon Rauch — Oldham Co. High School (Morehead St.)

New York Yankees (AL Wild Card)

  • Austin Kearns — Lafayette High School

Tampa Bay Rays (AL East)

  • Ben Zobrist — Lexington Legends (2005)

Texas Rangers (AL West)

  • Josh Hamilton — Louisville Bats (2007)*

*– Volquez and Hamilton both played for Louisville only during rehab assignments.

MiLB Roundup: Volquez excels in rehab start for Bats; Legends, Hot Rods lose; Bertram, Duvall, McClanahan homer

Minor League Baseball

Edison Volquez; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Friday highlights from Kentucky MiLB baseball:

  • Cincinnati Reds rehabbing starting pitcher Edison Volquez allowed just one hit in seven innings in his third start for the Louisville Bats, who defeated the Toledo Mud Hens 3-0. Designate hitter Drew Sutton tallied two hits in the game.
  • Left-handed pitcher Luis Cruz earned his fourth win of the season for the Lexington Legends who defeated the West Virginia Power 4-1. Second baseman Jose Altuve and left fielder Jacob Goebbert each homered for the Legends.
  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods mustered just three hits in a 6-0 shutout loss to the Dayton Dragons. Right-handed pitcher Kirby Yates took the loss despite allowing just one run in five innings.
  • Former UK infielder Michael Bertram launched his tenth home run of the season for AA Erie.
  • Former UofL infielder Adam Duvall slugged his second professional home run for short-season Salem-Keizer.
  • Former UofL left-handed pitcher Justin Marks took a no decision for low A Cane County after allowing just two runs in five and two-third innings.
  • Former UofL second baseman Justin McClanahan was 2-5 with a home run and three RBI for high A Dunedin.
  • Former Morehead St. shortstop Drew Lee was 3-4 with a double for rookie-level Bristol.

MiLB Roundup: Bats, Legends win; Hot Rods lose; Rowland still streaking; Marks, Jones, Cooper with victories

Minor League Baseball

Richie Rowland; Photo: Campbellsville University

Highlights from Independence Day Kentucky MiLB action:

  • Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Edison Volquez earned his second win for the Louisville Bats since joining the team on a rehabilitation assignment in a 4-2 victory over the Indianapolis Indians. Volquez surrendered two runs in five innings.
  • The Lexington Legends started their homestand on the right foot with a 6-5 win over the Augusta GreenJackets. Outfielder J. D. Martinez was 3-4 with two runs scored.
  • Former UofL third baseman Chris Dominguez was 1-4 with a run scored in the game for Augusta.
  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods lost a slugfest 12-11 to Fort Wayne in game one of a three-game series. Right fielder Brett Nommensen was 2-6 with a home run, four RBI and one run scored.
  • Former Campbellsville catcher and 2010 non-drafted free agent Richie Rowland homered in his second consecutive game and extended his hitting streak to 11 games for rookie-level Missoula.
  • Former UofL first baseman Andrew Clark launched his first professional home run for short-season Spokane. He was 1-2 with a home run, one RBI, two walks and two runs scored.
  • Former UofL left-handed pitcher Justin Marks took the loss for low A Kane County despite allowing just two runs in six innings. He struck out nine and walked just one.
  • Former WKU outfielder Chad Cregar was 1-3 with a home run and two RBI for low A Greensboro.
  • Former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones earned his seventh win of the season for high A Winston-Salem. Jones surrendered one run on eight hits in five and one-third innings and struck out five.
  • Lafayette High School alum Chaz Roe took the loss for AAA Colorado Springs after surrendering five runs in four and two-third innings.
  • Danville native Patrick Cooper earned the win in his first start for shorts-season Connecticut after allowing just one run on two hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked two.

Minor League Roundup: Legends win; Bats, Hot Rods lose; Nidiffer goes deep twice; Bisson debuts

Minor League Baseball

Marcus Nidiffer, center; Photo: UK Athletics

Check out highlights from Kentucky-related Minor League play Tuesday with links taking you to game box scores:

  • Cuban phenom Aroldis Chapman blew his first save since moving to the bullpen in the Louisville Bats‘ 7-5 loss to the Durham Bulls. Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Edison Volquez surrendered two runs in six innings and struck out seven in his second rebah start with the Bats.
  • First baseman Aaron Bray tallied four hits and scored twice to lead the Lexington Legends to a 6-5 victory over the Hickory Crawdads. Right-handed pitcher Zachary Grimmett earned the win with four scoreless innings out of the Lexington bullpen.
  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods‘ offense was held in check by the Lansing Lugnuts in a 4-2 loss. Right-handed pitcher Kirby Yates took a no decision after surrendering two runs in five innings in his fourth start of the season.
  • Former UK catcher Marcus Nidiffer continued to make teams look foolish for not drafting him with a 3-7, double-header performance for the Greeneville Astros. Nidiffer launched his first two professional home runs and drove in four runs on the day. He’s batting .435 in his young career.
  • Former UK second baseman Chris Bisson made his professional debut for the short-season Eugene Emeralds with an 0-3 performance. He did walk, steal a base and score.
  • Former UofL left-handed pitcher and 2010 draftee Dean Kiekhefer has been promoted to the low A Quad City River Bandits where he made his debut with four scoreless innings of relief Tuesday.
  • Former NKU outfielder Jacob Shafer was 3-4 with a run scored Tuesday for the high A High Desert Mavericks and is 6-8 in his last two games with two runs scored.
  • Former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones moved to 6-2 on the season for the high A Winston-Salem Dash after allowing four runs in six and two-third innings Tuesday.
  • In his first start for the AA Akron Aeros former Union College right-handed pitcher Marty Popham took a no decision despite allowing just one run in six innings. He struck out six and walked none.
  • Boyd County native Tyler Gatrell recorded his first professional save by striking out two of the three batters he faced for the rookie-level AZL Royals.

Ali emerging from father’s shadow; Volques rehabs with Bats; Chapman to bullpen; Legends struggle in All-Star game

College Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Katya Cengel of the Courier-Journal profiles University of Louisville rising redshirt freshman catcher Asaad Ali and his relationship with his father, famed boxer Muhammad Ali.
  • Edison Volquez made a rehab start for the Louisville Bats Wednesday and hopes to make two more starts before rejoining the Cincinnati Reds, Michael Grant of the Courier-Journal reports.
  • Ben Badler of Baseball America breaks down the Reds’ decision to move Bats left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman to the bullpen in hopes of prepping him for a possible big-league callup.
  • The South Atlantic League All-Star game wasn’t kind to the Lexington Legends‘ representatives. Jose Altuve, Kody Hinze and J. D. Martinez combined to go 2-12 in the game. Reliever Kirk Clark surrendered two hits but no runs in one inning.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100621/FEATURES/6210304/1036/SPORTS07/Growing%20up%20with%20The%20Greatest%20%20Son%20of%20Ali%20talks%20about%20his%20famous%20dad?GID=OSHYw634BCxqk0x4e56QJSI3VZ4MqeMoUk/XtyRvbBE%3D

Saturday Links

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Dewayne Wise

Friday was a busy day for baseball in the Bluegrass.  Here are some morning links to start your weekend: