Gaynor named Tigers’ all star; Nidiffer, Legends named Astros’ all stars; Reber homers in UK scrimmage

Jacob Goebbert; BluGrass Baseball photo

Latest links and highlights from around Kentucky baseball:

Ashley Marshall, writing for MLB.com, named former WKU third baseman Wade Gaynor to the Detroit Tigers organizational all-star team.
Josh Jackson, writing for MLB.com, named former UK catcher Marcus Nidiffer and 2010 Lexington Legends infielder Jose Altuve, outfielders J. D. Martinez and Jacob Goebbert, designated hitter Kody Hinze and starting pitcher Jose Cisnero to the Houston Astros organizational all-star team.
The University of Kentucky‘s Thursday scrimmage was highlighted by a three-run home run from freshman infielder Dallen Reber.
Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review lists Louisville native and former Bellarmine right-handed pitcher Todd Wellemeyer as a possible free-agent acquisition for the Pirates.
Former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke struck out two in a scoreless inning for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League.

End of season awards: Lexington Legends

The 2010 Minor League Baseball regular season is in the books for the state’s three minor league teams. Today we’ll start a series looking at the season’s best performances from each team and Kentucky alumni in the minors. In the first season awards post we’ll look at the Lexington Legends.

Hitter of the year: OF J. D. Martinez

Outfielder J. D. Martinez was selected as the South Atlantic League most valuable player, so picking him as the Legends best offensive player was a no brainer. Martinez batted .362 with 15 home runs, 64 RBI and 83 runs scored in just 88 games. Despite spending the final two months of the season in AA, Martinez still recorded enough SAL plate appearances to win the league batting title. He also led the league in slugging and on-base percentage.
Honorable Mention — Outfielder Jacob Goebbert set new Legends records with 98 RBI and 48 doubles…First baseman Kody Hinze also broke the previous team RBI record with 97 and slugged 19 home runs….Second baseman Jose Altuve was named All-league after batting .308 in 94 games.

Pitcher of the year: RHP Jose Cisnero

Right-handed starting pitcher Jose Cisnero led the Legends with eight wins, a 3.65 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 133 innings. Cisnero made 26 starts on the season and boasted a 1.29 WHIP. His 126 strikeouts ranked seventh in the South Atlantic League
Honorable Mention — Left-handed pitcher Luis Cruz fell just short of qualifying for the league ERA race but boasted a 3.61 mark with 88 strikeouts in 99 and two-third innings…Closer Kirk Clark set the Legends’ single-season and career saves record with 29…Right-handed pitcher Tanner Bushue led the team with 133 and two-third innings pitched.

August Awards: Lexington Legends

Minor League Baseball

In the second August monthly awards post, we’ll look at the best performances from the Lexington Legends for the month:

Hitter of the month: OF Jacob Goebbert

Stats: .390/.453/.520, 1 HR, 27 RBI, 24 R
Honorable Mention: Ben Heath, Jimmy Paredes, Kody Hinze, Jiovanni Mier

Pitcher of the month: RHP Tanner Bushue

Stats: 2-2, 2.64 ERA, 21 SO/11 BB, 30.2 IP, 5 GS
Honorable Mention: Jose Cisnero, Luis Cruz

MiLB Roundup: Bats lose; Legends, Hot Rods win; Shaffer streaking; Adcock gets no decision; Lueke gets save

Minor League Baseball

Nathan Adcock; Photo by mwlguide via Flickr

Highlights from Kentucky MiLB action:

Paducah native Shawn Roof and the Toledo Mud Hens sent the Louisville Bats to a 6-2 loss. Roof tallied three hits, one RBI and one run scored for the Mud Hens, and right fielder Wladimir Balentien homered for the Bats.
Lexington Legends pitchers surrendered just four hits in a 14-1 win over Hagerstown. First baseman Kody Hinze slugged his 17th home run of the season, right fielder Jacob Goebbert drove in five runs and right-handed pitcher Jose Cisnero surrendered one run in six innings.
Bowling Green Hot Rods pitchers surrendered just three hits in a 4-1 win over Fort Wayne. Catcher Mark Thomas was 2-4 with a double and two RBI.
Former NKU outfielder Jake Shaffer extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single for high A High Desert. Monday’s game was the first in the streak in which Shaffer didn’t have multiple hits.
Former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke recorded his 17th save of the season for AA Tacoma.
Former Murray St. left-handed pitcher Daniel Calhoun improved to 8-0 on the season after pitching two scoreless innings of relief for low A Quad Cities.
Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock took a no decision after surrendering two runs in five innings for high A Bradenton.
Louisville native and 2010 Astros draftee Jason Chowning earned his second professional win with three scoreless innings of relief for short-season Tri-City.

MiLB Roundup: Bats win 11th straight; Hot Rods, Legends lose; Rusin loses AA debut; Revere injured on HBP

Minor League Baseball

Chris Rusin; Photo: UK Athletics

Highlights from Monday Kentucky MiLB action:

The Louisville Bats extended their season-high winning streak to 11 games with a 4-3 victory in 12 innings over Columbus. Rehabbing Cincinnati Reds outfielder Chris Dickerson was 3-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored for the Bats.
The Bowling Green Hot Rods scored six runs in the fourth inning but still lost 9-6 to South Bend. Third baseman Julio Cedeno tallied three hits and shortstop Kyle Spraker slugged his third home run of the season.
The Lexington Legends outhit Hagerstown 12-7 but still suffered an 8-5 loss to the Suns. Designated hitter Kody Hinze was 3-4 with a home run, two RBI and one run scored.
Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere had to leave his game for AA New Britain after being hit in the face by a pitch.
Former UK left-handed pitcher Chris Rusin took the loss in his debut with AA Tennessee despite surrendering just one unearned run in five innings. Rusin struck out four and walked three.
Danville native and 2010 Tigers draftee Patrick Cooper took a no decision for low A West Michigan after surrendering two runs in eight hits in five innings.
Former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill was 3-5 with a double and RBI for AA Mobile.
Former UK first baseman/outfielder Lance Ray was 2-3 with his third home run of the season, three RBI and two runs scored for low A Beloit.
Former UofL infielder Chris Dominguez sent low A Augusta to victory with a walkoff home run in the bottom of the 15th inning.
Former NKU outfielder Jake Shaffer was 2-3 with his seventh home run of the season, one RBI and two runs scored for high A High Desert.
One game after snapping his 14-game hitting streak, former Morehead St. shortstop and 2010 White Sox draftee Drew Lee was 3-3 with a walk, double, RBI and run scored for rookie-level Bristol.

MiLB Roundup: Legends win; Hot Rods lose; Jones picks up eighth win; Wilson homers; Ray perfect at plate

Minor League Baseball

John Shelby; Photo: UK Athletics

Highlights from Monday Kentucky MiLB action:

The Lexington Legends pounded out 15 hits en route to a 9-4 win over Hagerstown. First baseman Kody Hinze was 2-5 with two doubles, one RBI and three runs scored.
The Lansing Lugnuts scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to send the Bowling Green Hot Rods to a 10-9 loss. First baseman Ryan Wiegand was 2-4 with a home run, double, three RBI and one run scored.
The Louisville Bats were off Monday.
Former NKU left-handed pitcher Jarrett Casey fell to 0-4 on the season for rookie-level Bristol despite surrendering just one run on three hits in six innings. Casey struck out six and walked just one.
Former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones earned his eighth win of the season with a quality start for high A Winston-Salem. Jones surrendered three runs on nine hits in six innings and struck out three.
Former UK outfielder John Shelby was 2-4 with a double, run scored and two stolen bases for AA Birmingham.
Former UK first baseman Lance Ray was 3-3 with a RBI and run scored for low A Beloit.
Former UofL infielder Phil Wunderlich tallied three hits and scored one run for short-season Hudson Valley.
Paducah native and 2010 Rangers draftee Jonathan Roof was 3-4 with a double, RBI and run scored for low A Hickory.
Covington native Neil Wilson slugged his fourth home run of the season for AAA New Orleans.
Louisville native and 2010 Giants draftee Stephen Shackleford picked up his first professional save with two scoreless innings for the rookie-level AZL Giants.
Former Morehead St. shortstop and 2010 White Sox draftee Drew Lee saw his 14-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-3 performance for rookie-level Bristol.

MiLB Roundup: Bats, Legends, Hot Rods all win; McClanahan, Curley homer; Lee’s streak hits 14

Minor League Baseball

Drew Lee; Morehead St. photo

Highlights from Sunday Kentucky MiLB action:

The Louisville Bats extended their season-high winning streak to 10 games with a 3-2 win over Charlotte. Left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman recorded his eighth win of the season with two scoreless innings of relief. In his last 10 games, Chapman is 3-0 with a 0.82 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 11 innings pitched.
The Lexington Legends broke a 2-2 tie with five runs in the seventh and eighth innings to earn a 7-2 win over Delmarva. First baseman Kody Hinze was 3-4 with two doubles, two RBI and one run scored.
The Bowling Green Hot Rods evened its series with Lansing at one win a piece with a 10-8 victory over the Lugnuts. Designated hitter Tyler Bortnick was 3-5 with two doubles, a triple, two RBI and three runs scored.
Former UofL infielder Justin McClanahan was 2-5 with a home run, four RBI and one run scored for high A Dunedin.
Former NKU outfielder Jake Shaffer tallied three hits in four at-bats for high A High Desert.
Former Morehead St. infielder and 2010 White Sox draftee Drew Lee extended his hitting streak to 14 games for rookie-level Bristol with a 1-4 performance.
Former Campbellsville outfielder Chris Curley slugged his second home run of the season for low A Rome.
Paducah native Daniel Webb took a no decision for short-season Auburn despite pitching five shutout innings. Webb struck out six and walked three in five innings.
London native Jon Townsend was 3-4 with a double, RBI and run scored for high A Ranch Cucamonga.

MiLB Roundup: Louisville high school alums no match for Bats; Legends win; Hot Rods lose; Lee, Revere streaking

Minor League Baseball

Ben Revere; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Highlights from Saturday Kentucky MiLB action with a few Friday highlights thrown in as well:

The Louisville Bats pounded out 17 hits en route to a 10-2 win over Columbus. First baseman Yonder Alonso was 3-5 with a home run, two doubles, four RBI and two run scored.
Louisville Butler High School alum Marty Popham, who was promoted to Columbus before the game, took the loss after surrendering six runs in four innings. Ballard High School alum Jeremy Sowers surrendered one run in three innings for Columbus in the game.
The Lexington Legends were outhit 12-10 but defeated Delmarva 7-6 Saturday. Left fielder Jacob Goebbert and first baseman Kody Hinze each homered for Lexington.
The Bowling Green Hot Rods tallied nine hits but still lost 11-5 to Lansing. Third baseman Julio Cedeno was 2-3 with two runs scored for the Hot Rods.
Former Morehead St. shortstop and 2010 White Sox draftee Drew Lee homered and extended his hitting streak to 13 games for rookie-level Bristol.
Former UK right-handed pitcher and 2010 Tigers draftee Matt Little picked up his first professional win after striking out four in two scoreless innings for low A West Michigan.
Former UofL first baseman and 2010 Rangers draftee Andrew Clark was 3-4 with a walk and four RBI for short-season Spokane.
Former UofL left-handed pitcher Justin Marks was promoted to high A Stockton where he took the loss after surrendering seven runs in four runs in his debut.
Former EKU left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich was activated from the disabled list by AA Tulsa but lasted only two and one-third innings in his return.
Former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke was promoted to AAA Tacoma where he pitched two scoreless innings in his debut.
Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere is 6-9 with three runs scored in two games and has an eight-game hitting streak.

MiLB Roundup: Bats, Legends, Hot Rods win; Strieby, Cowgill, Duvall, Rowland homer; Royse Struggles

Minor League Baseball

Ryan Strieby; Photo via Flickr by mwlguide

Highlights from Saturday Kentucky MiLB action:

The Louisville Bats scored a 2-0 shutout win over the Indianapolis Indians behind a strong pitching performance from right-handed pitcher Jesus Delgado, who surrendered just four hits in five innings. Right-handed reliever Carlos Fisher earned his first save of the season.
The Lexington Legends secured a series win against the Hickory Crawdads with a 4-1 victory. First baseman Kody Hinze was 3-5 with a run scored.
The Bowling Green Hot Rods salvaged one game of its three-game home series against the Fort Wayne TinCaps with a 6-4 victory. Right fielder Brett Nommensen was 2-5 with a home run.
Former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill was 2-4 with a home run, two RBI and one run scored for AA Mobile.
Former UK first baseman Ryan Streiby was 2-4 with a home run, one RBI and one run scored and has hits in his last four games for AAA Toledo.
Former UofL infielder and 2010 draftee Adam Duvall had his best professional game to-date and was 3-5 with a home run, RBI and run scored for short-season Salem-Keizer.
Former UofL third baseman Chris Dominguez was 3-6 with a double and run scored for low A Augusta.
Former UofL right-handed pitcher Thomas Royse struggled for the second consecutive start after allowing five runs in two innings for rookie-level Great Falls.
Former Morehead St. shortstop Drew Lee was 3-4 with a double and two runs scored for rookie-level Bristol.
Former Campbellsville catcher Richie Rowland hit his first professional home run to extend his hitting streak to ten games for rookie-level Missoula.
Boyd County native Tyler Gatrell picked up his third save for the rookie-level AZL Royals and hasn’t allowed a run in his first six professional innings.

Kentuckians among MiLB All-Stars

Uncategorized

Ben Revere; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

With today’s announcement of the AAA All-Star game rosters each of the full-season Minor Leagues has unveiled its All-Star roster. I’ve listed the Kentucky-related players below on each team with links to the full roster:

International League (AAA)