Jordan Newton

Adams balances time between two sports; Lueke could win spot in Mariners’ bullpen; Paxton to throw today

College Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Brian Adams; UK Athletics photo

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Walter Villa, writing for ESPN.com, profiles University of Kentucky sophomore outfielder Brian Adams, noting how the Cats’ speedster balances time between baseball and football.
  • Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch compares Louisville native Zack Cox with another former top Cardinals prospect, Brett Wallace.
  • Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports Highland Heights native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke is among those competing for the spot in the Mariners’ bullpen vacated by the injured David Aardsma.
  • Greg Johns of MLB.com reports former UK left-handed pitcher James Paxton will throw his first bullpen session on Friday.
  • Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports former WKU catcher Jordan Newton, who spend 2010 in the Pirates’ organization, has retired.

Kentucky in MiLB Playoffs

Minor League Baseball

Colling Cowgill; Photo: UK Athletics

League playoffs from across Minor League Baseball are set to begin this week. Last week we looked at the Kentucky alumni participating in rookie league playoffs, so I thought I’d do the same for the other minor leagues:

Pacific Coast League (AAA)

  • Tacoma Rainers — Josh Lueke

International League (AAA)

  • Louisville Bats — Matt Klinker
  • Columbus Clippers — Jeremy Sowers (DL)

Texas League (AA)

  • Springfield Cardinals — Antone DeJesus

Eastern League (AA)

  • New Hampshire Fisher Cats — Trystan Magnuson
  • Harrisburg Senators — Zach Dials

Southern League (AA)

  • Tennessee Smokies — Chris Rusin (DL)
  • Jacksonville Suns — Graham Taylor (DL)
  • Mobile BayBears — Collin Cowgill, Sean Coughlin, Josh Ellis

California League (High A)

  • Stockton Ports — Justin Marks
  • High Desert Mavericks — Jake Shaffer
  • Ranch Cucamonga Quakes — Jon Townsend

Florida State League (High A)

  • Dunedin Blue Jays — Justin McClanahan
  • Bradenton Marauders — Jordan Newton, Nathan Adcock

Carolina League (High A)

  • Winston-Salem Dash — Logan Johnson, Nathan Jones, Greg Paiml
  • Kinston Indians — Marty Popham

Midwest League (Low A)

  • Great Lakes Loons — J. B. Paxson
  • Quad City River Bandits — Dean Kiekhefer, Daniel Calhoun
  • Clinton Lumber Kings — Tyler Blandford (DL)
  • West Michigan Whitecaps — Wade Gaynor, Patrick Cooper

South Atlantic League (Low A)

  • Hickory Crawdads — Jonathan Roof

Northwest League (Short-Season)

  • Spokane Indians — Andrew Clark, Josh Richmond

Pioneer League (Rookie)

  • Great Falls Voyagers — Thomas Royse

MiLB Roundup: Bats, Legends, Hot Rods all win; Ross wins third straight; Newton, Shaffer each drive in four

Minor League Baseball

Jordan Newton; Photo by MWLguide via Flickr

Highlights from Thursday Kentucky MiLB action:

  • Louisville Bats right-handed pitcher Matt Maloney earned his third consecutive win in three starts after pitching seven shutout innings in Louisville’s 2-0 win over Charlotte. Maloney surrendered just two hits and struck out five batters while walking none.
  • Lexington Legends left-handed pitcher Luis Cruz struck out ten batters and surrendered just one run in seven and two-third innings to lead the Legends to a 4-1 win over Delmarva. Left fielder Jacob Goebbert was 2-4 with two doubles and three RBI in the win.
  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods finished the perfect night for Kentucky minor league teams with a 6-3 win over Dayton. Left fielder Cody Rogers and designated hitter Bennett Davis both homered for the Hot Rods.
  • LCA alum Robbie Ross picked up his third consecutive win for high A Baskersfield after surrendering two runs on three hits in seven innings. Ross struck out five and walked two.
  • Boyle County native and 2010 Tigers draftee Patrick Cooper was promoted to low A West Michigan where he took a no decision in his first start after surrendering one run in five innings.
  • Former UofL infielder Justin McClanahan slugged his third home run of the season for high A Dunedin.
  • Former WKU catcher Jordan Newton was 3-6 with four RBI for high A Bradenton.
  • Former NKU outfielder Jake Shaffer was 3-5 with a double and four RBI for high A High Desert.
  • Former Morehead St. shortstop and 2010 White Sox draftee Drew Lee extended his hitting streak to 11 games for rookie-level Bristol.
  • Paducah native and Shawn Roof was promoted to AAA Toledo where he went 2-4 in his debut.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=571576

MiLB Action: Bats, Legends, Hot Rods win; Dominguez, Cowgill, Ray, Wunderlich, Conner homer; Royse shines

Minor League Baseball

Chris Dominguez; UofL Photo

Highlights from Kentucky MiLB action:

  • The Louisville Bats recorded a 3-2 win over Gwinnet behind right-handed pitcher Matt Maloney, who surrendered just two runs in six and two-third innings. First baseman Todd Frazier was 2-3 with a run scored.
  • The Lexington Legends scored three runs in the bottom of the tenth inning to earn a come-from-behind 9-8 win over Savannah. Second baseman Jose Altuve was 4-5 with a run scored, and left fielder Jacob Goebbert drove home the winning run with a single.
  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods held off a late Cedar Rapids rally to earn a 5-3 win. Third baseman Bennett Davis was 2-3 with a run scored and two RBI.
  • Former UofL infielder Chris Dominguez was 3-4 with a home run, five RBI and two runs scored for low A Augusta.
  • Former UofL right-handed pitcher and 2010 White Sox drafteeThomas Royse took a no decision despite surrendering just one run on two hits in six innings for rookie-level Great Falls. Royse struck out six and walked none.
  • Former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill was 2-4 with his eleventh home run of the season, one RBI and one run scored for AA Mobile.
  • Former UK outfielder and 2010 Twins draftee Lance Ray slugged his second home run of the season for low A Beloit.
  • Former UofL infielder and 2010 Rays draftee Phil Wunderlich slugged his third professional home run for short-season Hudson Valley.
  • Former WKU catcher Jordan Newton slugged his first home run of the season since returning to affiliated ball with high A Bradenton.
  • Former Campbellsville catcher and 2010 Diamondbacks NDFA Richie Rowland was 3-4 with a double, walk and two RBI for rookie-level Missoula.
  • Frankfort native and 2010 Royals draftee Cameron Conner slugged his first professional home run for the rookie-level AZL Royals.
  • Danville native and 2010 Tigers draftee Patrick Cooper took a no decision after surrendering four runs in six innings for short-season Connecticut.

MiLB Roundup: Legends win; Hot Rods lose; Wunderlich, Gaynor have big nights; Ross loses in high A debut

Minor League Baseball

Jordan Newton; Photo by MWLguide via Flickr

Highlights from Monday Kentucky MiLB action:

  • The Lexington Legends scored seven runs in the ninth inning to defeat the West Virginia Power 12-8. Outfielder Jacob Goebbert blasted his fifth home run of the season and drove in three runs for Lexington.
  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods mustered just five hits in a 1-0 loss to the Lansing Lugnuts. Right-handed pitcher Tyree Hayes recorded his second straight scoreless appearance since joining the Hot Rods with two and two-third innings of five-hit ball.
  • The Louisville Bats were off for the AAA All-Star break.
  • Former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill was 0-2 for the South Division team in the Southern League All-Star game.
  • Former UofL infielder and 2010 draftee Phil Wunderlich had his best game to-date with a 4-5, one home run, two double, five RBI, two run scored performance for short-season Hudson Valley. Wunderlich has hits in eight straight games and is batting .358 on the season.
  • Former UofL infielder Logan Johnson was 2-4 with a home run and two RBI for high A Winston-Salem.
  • Former WKU catcher Jordan Newton extended his hitting streak to five games for high A Bradenton since being signed out of independent league ball by the Pirates last week. Newton was 2-4 with a double Monday and is 8-17 (.471) in five games.
  • Former WKU third baseman Wade Gaynor was 3-5 with four RBI for low A West Michigan.
  • LCA alum Robbie Ross made his debut for high A Bakersfield but took the loss after surrendering four runs, two of which were earned, in four and one-third innings.