Mr. Ky. Baseball: Where are they now?

High School Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Austin Kearns; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

We did this last summer, but with Monday’s announcement that Western Hills shortstop J. T. Riddle had been named the 2010 Mr. Baseball it’s always fun to look back on previous Mr. Baseballs and see where they are today. Check out the list below with each player’s most recent baseball affiliation:

  • 2010: J. T. Riddle (Western Hills) — Riddle has signed to play college ball at the University of Kentucky in 2011 and was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 35th round of the 2010 MLB draft.
  • 2009: Luke Maile (Covington Catholic) — Maile is a rising sophomore at UK and was 7-25 with three home runs and six RBI in limited action as a freshman.
  • 2008: Zack Cox (Pleasure Ridge Park) — Spent 2010 as a sophomore at Arkansas where he was named an All-American by several outlets after batting .429. Cox was the first-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2010 MLB draft.
  • 2007: Ben Revere (Lexington Catholic) — Revere was the Minnesota Twins’ first round pick in 2007 and has done nothing but hit in his Minor League career. Revere is currently batting .307 with 21 stolen bases for the AA New Britain Rock Cats and was named the fifth best prospect in the Twins’ system by Baseball America prior to the 2010 season.
  • 2006: Nathan Adcock (North Hardin) — After three and one-half mediocre season in the Seattle Mariners’ organization Adcock was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009 as part of the Jack Wilson trade. Adcock is having his best season to date in 2010 for the high A Bradenton Marauders where he is 6-2 with a 2.99 ERA in 13 starts.
  • 2005: Chaz Roe (Lafayette) — Roe was the Colorado Rockies’ first-supplemental round pick in the 2005 MLB draft and has worked his way through the Minor Leagues to AAA. Last year was Roe’s best season to date when he went 7-3 with a 3.15 ERA for AA Tulsa, but he has struggled so far in 2010 to the tune of a 5-7 record and 5.86 ERA in hitter-friendly AAA Colorado Springs.
  • 2004: Collin Cowgill (Henry Clay) — Cowgill was a standout in his four seasons at UK and has continued to excel in professional baseball after the Arizona Diamondbacks took him with their fifth-round pick in 2008. Named the ninth best prospect in the D’Backs farm system by Baseball America prior to the 2010 season, Cowgill is batting .280 with five home runs and 43 RBI for AA Mobile this season.
  • 2003: Josh Ellis (Paul Laurence Dunbar) — While older brother A.J. Ellis has carved a niche for himself as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ backup catcher this season, Josh is still working his way through the Diamobacks system after the team selected him in the 11th round of the 2007 draft. Ellis is 1-0 with a  2.86 ERA in 18 relief appearances between AAA Reno and AA Mobile this season.
  • 2002: Brad Corley (Pleasure Ridge Park) — Corley was the Pirates second-round pick as an outfielder in 2005 and was named the tenth best prospect in the team’s system by Baseball America entering the 2008 season. Corely’s career stalled after that honor. and he hasn’t advanced past AA since. He was acquired by Colorado in 2009 and is currently playing for short-season Tri-City as he attempts to become a full-time pitcher.
  • 2001: Jeremy Sowers (Ballard) — Sowers was the Indian’s first-round pick in 2004 out of Vanderbilt University and has appeared in 72 games over parts of four season with the Indians. Sowers is 18-30 as a MLB starting pitcher, and he is currently struggling to the tune of a 1-4 record and 6.49 ERA as a left-handed reliever for AAA Columbus.
  • 2000: Spencer Graeter (Ballard) — Greater batted .307 with 14 home runs and 98 RBI in four seasons for UK from 2001-2004 but never appeared in affiliated ball.
  • 1999: Joe Blanton (Franklin-Simpson) — Blanton has appeared in two World Series and even earned a victory in game four of the Philadelphia Phillies World Series win in 2008. Blanton is just 2-5 with a 6.96 ERA in eight starts for Philadelphia this season, but is 65-59 with a 4.34 ERA in seven MLB seasons with the Oakland Athletics and Phillies.
  • 1998: Austin Kearns (Lafayette) — Kearns won a job as a reserve outfielder with the Cleveland Indians in Spring Training and has worked his way into a starting role. On the season Kearns is batting .288 with seven home runs an 32 RBI. In nine MLB seasons, Kearns has batted .258 with 112 home runs and 454 RBI with the Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and Indians.
  • 1997: Scott Hodges (Henry Clay) — Hodges was the Montreal Expos’ first-round pick in 1997 and spent nine seasons in the Minor Leagues appearing as high as AAA. In 2005 he was diagnosed with lymphoma, ending his career.
  • 1996: Aaron McGlone (Greenup Co.) — McGlone batted .345 with eight home runs and 51 RBI for UK in 2000, but never appeared in affiliated ball.
  • 1995: Brad Wilkerson (Apollo) — Wilkerson spent parts of eights season in the Major Leagues, batting .247 with 122 home runs and 399 RBI for the Expos, Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays. He retired in 2008 before briefly making a comeback with the Phillies during Spring Training this season only to announce his retirement for good.
  • 1994: Scott Downs (Pleasure Ridge Park) — Downs was the Chicago Cubs’ third-round pick in 1997 out of UK, and has spent parts of ten season in the big leagues. Over the past four seasons he has carved out a niche as one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2010 he is 2-5 with a 3.34 ERA in 34 games for the Blue Jays.
  • 1993: Dion Newby (Harrison Co.) — Newby played collegiately at North Alabama but never appeared in affiliated ball.
  • 1992: Shon Walker (Harrison Co.) — Walker was the Pirates first-round pick in 1992 and last appeared in affiliated ball in 1998 at High A Lynchburg.
  • 1991: Trever Miller (Trinity) — Miller’s long Major League career is still going strong as a left-handed reliever in the St. Louis Cardinals’ bullpen. Miller is 0-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 25 games for the Cardinals this season and is 18-16 with a 4.17 ERA over 12 MLB seasons. Miller was the Detroit Tigers’ first-round pick in 1991.
  • 1990: Darren Burton (Pulaski Co.) — Burton was the Royals’ fifth-round pick in 1990 and last appeared in affiliated ball at AA Altoona in 2001. He spent parts of six seasons in AAA.
  • 1989: Tab Brown (St. Xavier) — Brown was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1989 and spent at least two seasons in the Braves’ organization.

KHSAA State Tournament Day Three Roundup

High School Baseball

Recaps and awards from the two quarterfinals games from day three of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association state baseball tournaments:

  • Region 15 champion Pikeville High School earned a 10-0, mercy-rule, win over Region 16 champion Greenup County in Wednesday’s first quarterfinal game. Pikeville was led by eight-grade left-handed pitcher Jacob Hamilton, who earned the win after holding Greenup County scoreless for five and two-third innings. Pikeville sophomore shortstop Gavin Miller was 4-4 with three runs scored, and senior right fielder Patrick Keene was 3-3 with two runs scored and a walk.  Greenup County senior infielder Zach James was 2-3 in the game. (Box Score)
  • Region Six champion Butler High School scored an upset of Region 12 champion West Jessamine High School, the tournament’s highest ranked team at No. four in the KHSBCA poll, with a 2-1 win in Wednesday’s second quarterfinals game. Butler was led by junior starting pitcher Kyle Asher, who allowed just one unearned run on five hits in a complete-game performance. Asher struck out five batters and walked none. At the plate Butler senior first baseman Kyle McGrath was 2-3 with a run scored and one RBI. West Jessamine starting pitcher Gus Sherrow took the loss despite allowing just one earned run in five innings and striking out eight batters. West Jessamine designated hitter Jackson Deyer was 2-3 in the game. (Box Score)

Hitter of the day: SS Gavin Miller (Pikeville)

  • Stats: 4-4, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 3B
  • Honorable Mention: Patrick Keene (Pikeville), Stephen Layne (Pikeville), Zach James (Greenup Co.), Jackson Deyer (West Jessamine), Kyle McGrath (Butler), Ryan Jesse (Butler), Kyle Asher (Butler)

Pitcher of the day: Kyle Asher (Butler)

  • Stats: 1-0, 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Gus Sherrow (West Jessamine), Jacob Hamilton (Pikeville)

Day One State Tournament Roundup

High School Baseball

The first four games of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association state tournament are in the books. Check out brief recaps and awards from those games below and remember Lone Oak, LCA, Male, Warren Central, Hopkinsville, Daviess County, Harrison County and Clay County play their first-round games today.

  • Region 15 champion Pikeville High School came back from an early deficit and held off a late rally to defeat Region 14 champion Perry County Central High School in game one of the KHSAA state tournament. Pikeville junior second baseman Stephen Layne was 3-5 with one run scored and one RBI, and sophomore shortstop Gavin Miller was 2-4 with a home run, three RBI and one run scored. Junior starting pitcher Layne Cecil earned the win after surrendering six runs in five innings. Perry County senior left fielder Tyler Mullins was 2-4 with a run scored. (Box Score)
  • Region 16 champion Greenup County High School rode an outstanding pitching performance from senior starting pitcher Ethan Hardin en route to a 5-2 victory over Region Five champion Central Hardin High School. Hardin surrendered two runs on five hits in seven innings and struck out five while walking none. Greenup County senior left fielder Juan Staten was 3-4 with one run scored and one RBI. Five different Central Hardin batters recorded one hit in the game, and junior starting pitcher Dylan Schoffner took the loss despite allowing just two runs in four innings. (Box Score)
  • Region 12 champion West Jessamine High School, the highest ranked team in the tournament at No. 4 in the KHSBCA top 25, overcame an early 6-1 deficit to defeat Region Eight champion Shelby County High School 8-6 in its first-round game. West Jessamine reliever Alex Lester was almost unhittable as he allowed no runs on three hits in five and one-third innings for the win. Lester struck out 11 and walked none. Designated hitter Gus Sherrow was 3-4 with three runs scored, and third baseman Tyler West was 3-3 with two RBI and one run scored. Shelby County scored six runs in the first two innings with the help of five West Jessamine errors. Senior catcher John Hunter was 2-4 with a run scored. (Box Score)
  • Region Six champion Butler High School senior starting pitcher Kyle McGrath turned in the best pitching performance of the young tournament to lead Butler to a 7-2 win over Region Nine champion Boone County High School. McGrath struck out 16 batters in seven innings and allowed just two unearned runs on three hits. Butler junior left fielder Dwight Bigbee was 3-4 with a run scored, and senior shortstop Zach Lucas was 2-2 with two RBI and one run scored. Boone County sophomore starting pitcher Doug Teegarden took the loss after surrendering four runs in four and two-third innings but did strike out six batters. Chicago White Sox draft pick Ronald Cotton was 0-3 with a strikeout for Boone County. (Box Score)

Hitter of the day: SS Gavin Miller (Pikeville)

  • Stats: 2-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R
  • Honorable Mention: Stephen Layne (Pikeville), Tyler Mullins (Perry Co.), Juan Staten (Greenup Co.), Gus Sherrow (West Jessamine), Tyler West (West Jessamine), John Hunter (Shelby Co.), Zach Lucas (Butler), Dwight Bigbee (Butler)

Pitcher of the day: Kyle McGrath (Butler)

  • Stats: 1-0, 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 16 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Ethan Hardin (Greenup Co.), Dylan Shoffner (Central Hardin), Alex Lester (West Jessamine)

KHSAA State Tournament Schedule

High School Baseball

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association state baseball tournament is underway. I thought I’d pass along the schedule for the event with a few links to get you ready to crown the 2010 state champion:

Monday

  • GM 1 — Perry Central vs. Pikeville — 11 a.m.
  • GM 2 — Central Hardin vs. Greenup Co. — 1:30 p.m.
  • GM 3 — Shelby Co. vs. West Jessamine — 6 p.m.
  • GM 4 — Butler vs. Boone Co. — 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday

  • GM 1 — Hopkinsville vs. Daviess Co. — 11 a.m.
  • GM 2 — Male vs. Warren Central — 1:30 p.m.
  • GM 3 — Lone Oak vs. Lexington Christian — 6 p.m.
  • GM 4 — Harrison Co. vs. Clay County — 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday

  • Quarterfinal 1 — 6 p.m.
  • Quarterfinal 2 — 8:30 p.m.

Thursday

  • Quarterfinal 3 — 6 p.m.
  • Quarterfinal 4 — 8:30 p.m.

Friday

  • Semifinal 1 — 6 p.m.
  • Semifinal 2 — 8:30 p.m.

Saturday

  • Championship — 7 p.m.

Links

  • Mike Fields of the Lexington Herald-Leader writes pitching depth will be key to the tournament as teams face the new “Sweet Sixteen” format for the first time in his preview of the action.
  • Fields will also be live blogging the action all week on his “Fields Notes” blog.
  • You can visit KHSAA’s tournament hub here.

2010 KHSAA Regional Champions

High School Baseball

Last week we listed each of the KHSAA district baseball champions and now the state tournament has progressed through the regional round. With the new “Sweet 16” style state tournament set to start Monday, we’ll now look at each of the 16 regional champions:

  • Region 1 — Lone Oak
  • Region 2 — Hopkinsville
  • Region 3 — Daviess County
  • Region 4 — Warren Central
  • Region 5 — Central Hardin
  • Region 6  — Butler
  • Region 7 — Male
  • Region 8 — Shelby County
  • Region 9 — Boone County
  • Region 10 — Harrison County
  • Region 11 — Lexington Christian Academy
  • Region 12 — West Jessamine
  • Region 13 — Clay County
  • Region 14 — Perry County Central
  • Region 15  — Pikeville
  • Region 16 — Greenup County

Mr. Baseball: Where are they now?

College Baseball, High School Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball
Scott Downs; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Scott Downs; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

While browsing the Ky. High School Record Book I stumbled across the list of Kentucky Mr. Baseballs. Did you know that seven Mr. Baseball’s have appeared in the major leagues in the last two seasons? With that in mind I thought I’d update you on the status of the Mr. Kentucky Baseballs, their 2009 team or most recent baseball status is listed.

  • 1989 — Tab Brown — St. Xavier — Drafted 1989 Atlanta Braves
  • 1990 — Darren Burton — Pulaski Co. — Retired 2001 AAA Altoona (Pirates)
  • 1991 — Trever Miller — Trinity — St. Louis Cardinals
  • 1992 — Shon Walker — Harrison Co. — Retired 1998 High A Lynchburg (Pirates)
  • 1993 — Dion Newby — Harrison Co. — Played at North Alabama
  • 1994 — Scott Downs — PRP — Toronto Blue Jays
  • 1995 — Brad Wilkerson — Apollo — Retired 2008 (Rangers)
  • 1996 — Aaron McGlone — Greenup Co. — Last season at UK 2000
  • 1997 — Scott Hodges — Henry Clay — Retired 2005 AAA Edmonton
  • 1998 — Austin Kearns — Lafayette — Washington Nationals
  • 1999 — Joe Blanton — Franklin-Simpson — Philadelphia Phillies
  • 2000 — Spencer Graeter — Ballard — Graduated from UK 2004
  • 2001 — Jeremy Sowers — Ballard — Cleveland Indians
  • 2002 — Brad Corley — PRP — AA Tulsa (Rockies)
  • 2003 — Josh Ellis — PLD — Los Angeles Dodgers
  • 2004 — Collin Cowgill — Henry Clay — High A Visalia (D’Backs)
  • 2005 — Chaz Roe — Lafayette — AA Tulsa (Rockies)
  • 2006 — Nathan Adcock — North Hardin — High A Lynchburg (Pirates)
  • 2007 — Ben Revere — Lexington Catholic — High A Fort Meyers (Twins)
  • 2008 — Zack Cox — PRP — University of Arkansas
  • 2009 — Luke Maile — Covington Catholic — UK