Corey Hart to begin rehab assignment Tues.; Jon Rauch may stick as Blue Jays’ closer; Legends’ duo just misses record

Corey Hart; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports Bowling Green native Corey Hart will begin a rehab assignment with AAA Nashville on Tuesday.
LEX18-TV reports University of Kentucky football coach Joker Phillips singled out UK baseball sophomore outfielder Brian Adams as a wide receiver who has shown playmaking ability during spring football practice. Adams has been splitting time between football and baseball practice this spring.
Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com reports Louisville native and former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch may remain the Blue Jays’ closer even after Frank Francisco returns from the disabled list.
T. R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb is still 4-6 weeks away from pitching in the Major leagues.
John Park of MiLB.com recaps the Lexington Legends’ Sunday offensive outburst, noting teammates Chris Wallace and Telvin Nash finished the game one base shy of the South Atlantic League record for total bases by a duo in a game, and Wallace missed the SAL single-game RBI record by one.

Lueke struggles in debut; Rauch, Green have poor outings

Major League Baseball

Sean Green; Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Latest links and notes from around Kentucky baseball:

Highland Heights native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke surrendered four runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning in his MLB debut for the Mariners on Sunday.
David Lassen of The Press-Enterprise reports PLD alum A. J. Ellis was warming up in the bullpen Sunday but was saved from being used on the mound in mop-up duty when Lance Cormier recorded the final two outs of the game.
Oldham County HS alum and former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch surrendered one run in one inning in his first appearance for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Male HS alum and former UofL right-handed pitcher Sean Green surrendered two hits, walked two batters and surrendered one run in one inning of work for the Brewers.
Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA lists Western Kentucky University among the weekly college baseball losers. (subscription required)

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.

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.

Spring roundup: Rauch, Clippard post scoreless innings

Major League Baseball

Jon Rauch; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Stats and recaps from Saturday Kentucky Spring Training action:

Louisville native and former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch was credited with a win after surrendering one hit in a scoreless inning for the Toronto Blue Jays.
PLD alum A. J. Ellis appeared as a defensive replacement at catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers but did not record an at-bat.
After being added to the MLB roster for the game Paducah native Eric Roof appeared at catcher as a defense replacement for the Detroit Tigers.
Atlanta Braves left-handed pitcher Jonny Venters, who was born in Pikeville, surrendered one unearned run in one inning versus the Mets.
Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Tyler Clippard, who was born in Lexington, pitched a scoreless inning versus the Phillies.
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds, who was born in Pikeville, was 1-3 with a walk versus the Rays.

Spring roundup: AJ Ellis, Mark Reynolds, Dan Uggla homer; Sawyer Carroll, Chris Dominguez, Shawn Roof see action

Major League Baseball

A. J. Ellis; Photo by frankat1stbase3 via Flickr

Stats and highlights from Kentucky Spring Training action:

PLD alum A. J. Ellis was 1-2 with a home run, three RBI and one run scored for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Louisville native and former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch struck out one batter in a scoreless inning for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Lexington native Austin Kearns was 0-4 with one RBI for the Cleveland Indians.
Former UK outfielder Sawyer Carroll was added to the San Diego Padres’ roster for Thursday’s game and was 1-2 with one RBI.
Former UofL third baseman Chris Dominguez was added to the San Francisco Giants’ roster for Thursday’s game and struck out in his only at-bat.
St. Mary High School alum Shawn Roof was called up from Detroit Tigers minor league camp for Thursday’s game and appeared as a defensive replacement but did not get an at-bat.
Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Tyler Clippard, who was born in Lexington, struck out two batters in two scoreless innings.
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds, who was born in Pikeville, was 2-4 with a home run, one RBI, one walk and two runs scored.
Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, who was born in Louisville, was 1-3 with a home run, three RBI and one run scored.

Todd Wellemeyer considering retirement in wake of injury; Cory Wade appears odd-man out in Rays’ bullpen battle

Uncategorized

Todd Wellemeyer; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com reports Louisville native and former Bellarmine right-handed pitcher Todd Wellemeyer is unsure about his future after re-aggravating his hip injury. The Cubs assigned Wellemeyer to minor league camp on Tuesday, but Levine reports Wellemeyer may ask for his release and retire if the hip doesn’t improve.
Marc Tompkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports former Kentucky Wesleyan right-handed pitcher Cory Wade appears to have come up short in his quest to make the Tampa Bay Rays’ bullpen out of Spring Training.
Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com reports Louisville native and former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch will start the season as the Blue Jays closer but will likely relinquish that role to Frank Francisco when he is healthy.
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb canceled his live batting practice throwing session on Wednesday because he could not get loose and will see the Rangers’ team doctor before deciding the next step in his rehab.
Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com ranks former Bowling Green Hot Rods pitchers Matt Moore and Alex Colome among the top 10 prospects in the Tampa Bay Rays system.

Spring roundup: Jon Rauch, Trever Miller, Josh Lueke and Trystan Magnuson post scoreless innings

Uncategorized

Jon Rauch; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Stats and highlights from Sunday Kentucky Spring Training action:

Louisville native and former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch was credited with his first save of the spring after pitching a scoreless inning for the Blue Jays.
Louisville native Trever Miller pitched a scoreless inning for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Highland Heights native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke was credited with a hold after pitching a scoreless inning for the Seattle Mariners.
Former UofL right-handed pitcher Trystan Magnuson was credited with a save after pitching a scoreless inning for the Oakland Athletics.
Former UK right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton was charged with a loss after surrendering four runs on eight hits in six and one-third innings for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds, who was born in Pikeville, was 2-4 with one strikeout versus the Rays.
Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Tyler Clippard, who was born in Lexington, surrendered two hits and a walk in a scoreless inning versus the Tigers.
Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, who was born in Louisville, was 0-3 versus the Astros.

Legends among Astros’ top prospects; Webb wants to throw in game situation; Finwood, players shave heads for charity

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Jimmy Paredes; BluGrass Baseball photo

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com ranks 2010 Lexington Legends shortstop Jiovanni Mier, outfielder J. D. Martinez, right-handed pitcher Tanner Bushue and second baseman Jimmy Paredes among the top 10 prospects in the Astros’ organization. Likely 2011 Legends Delino DeShields Jr., Mike Foltynewicz and Austin Wates also are included on the list.
Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb feels he is ready to pitch in a game situation, but the Rangers have not decided what his next step will be.
David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez will start the season with a left-handed pitcher Jonny Venters, who was born in Pikeville, sharing the closer role with right-handed pitcher Craig Kimbrel.
Mike Rutsey of the Toronto Sun reports Louisville native and former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch has been a key mentor for some of the Blue Jays young pitchers this spring.
Nick Baumgardner of the Bowling Green Daily News reports Western Kentucky University head coach Chris Finwood and 11 player shaved their heads following their Friday win versus Middle Tennessee to benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation that supports the fight against childhood cancer.

Spring roundup: Miller, Rauch, Lueke post scoreless outings

Major League Baseball

Trever Miller; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Stats and highlights from Thursday Kentucky Spring Training action:

Louisville native Trever Miller struck out two batters in a perfect inning for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Louisville native and former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch struck out one batter in a perfect inning for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Highland Heights native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke surrendered three hits but did not give up a run in one and one-third innings for the Seattle Mariners.
Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere was 1-5 with one triple and one RBI for the Minnesota Twins.
Lexington native and former UK outfielder John Shelby made an appearance as a pinch runner and defensive replacement for the Chicago White Sox in a split-squad game.
Lexington native Austin Kearns was 0-3 with two strikeouts for the Cleveland Indians.
PLD alum A. J. Ellis was 0-1 for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, who was born in Louisville, was 1-4 with one double, one RBI and one run scored.