Dodgers option Ellis to AAA; Hart should return this week; UK, WKU catchers honored for academic work

A. J. Ellis; Photo by frankat1stbase3 via Flickr

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

Steve Dilbeck of The Los Angeles Times reports the Dodgers have optioned PLD alum A. J. Ellis to AAA Albuquerque to make room for previously injured catcher Dionner Navarro.
Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports Bowling Green native Corey Hart will return to the Milwaukee Brewers today, but may not be immediately activated from the disabled list.
Jason Grey of ESPN.com has posted an in-depth breakdown of Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb‘s rehab appearance in extended spring training on Monday
Michael Grant of the Courier-Journal profiles Louisville Bats outfielder Danny Dorn, who only committed to baseball full time after a shoulder injury ended his football career in high school.
John Fay, writing for Baseball America, reports the Reds are happy with Bats’ slugger Yonder Alonso‘s transition to left field so far but caution the transition will be slow going. (Subscription required)
University of Kentucky redshirt junior catcher T. J. Daugherty was named the UK male scholar athlete of the year at Monday’s Catspy Awards.
Former Western Kentucky University star pitcher Matt Ridings notes via Twitter that WKU senior catcher Matt Rice was named the school’s male scholar athlete of the year at a Monday banquet.

Meyer, Whittle earn conference pitcher of the week honors; Lueke optioned to AAA; UK announces scoring change

College Baseball, Major League Baseball

Alex Meyer; UK Athletics photo

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

University of Kentucky junior right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer was named the Southeastern Conference pitcher of the week following his complete-game win versus Arkansas.
Morehead State University sophomore left-handed pitcher Garrick Whittle was named the Ohio Valley Conference pitcher of the week after his 12-strikeout game versus Tennessee Tech.
Doug Miller of MLB.com reports the Seattle Mariners will option Highland Heights native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke to AAA Tacoma before Tuesday’s game. Lueke is 1-1 with a 17.05 ERA in eight games this season.
Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb threw two innings in an extended spring game on Monday.
PLD alum A. J. Ellis was at the center of a minor controversy over the weekend when he attempted to steal second base with the Dodgers up big late in their game versus the Cubs on Friday. Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune reports the stolen base attempt was the result of a missed sign, not a breach of baseball etiquette.
After conferring UK, Arkansas, the SEC and NCAA have decided to count the statistics from the unfinished sixth inning of the two teams’ Sunday finale. The scoring change means the final score of the game was 5-1 instead of 4-1.

Justin Hageman, Matt Harris earn conference pitcher of week honors; Corey Hart closer to returning to Brewers

College Baseball, Major League Baseball

Matt Harris; BluGrass Baseball photo

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

Western Kentucky University freshman right-handed pitcher Justin Hageman was named the Sun Belt Conference pitcher of the week.
Eastern Kentucky University junior right-handed pitcher Matt Harris was named the Ohio Valley Conference co-pitcher of the week.
Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports Bowling Green native Corey Hart has turned a corner in his rehab from an oblique injury and will take batting practice this week with hopes of returning in time for the Brewers’ next homestand on April 22.
Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA includes WKU among the weekend winners in college baseball and the University of Kentucky among the weekend losers.
Steve Dilbeck of The Los Angeles Times reports PLD alum A. J. Ellis was packing his bags after the Dodgers planned to send him to AAA to make room for starting pitcher John Ely on the roster but was saved by a last-minute injury to the team’s other backup catcher Hector Giminez.
The University of Louisville dropped to No. 25 in the latest NCBWA top 30 poll, and WKU was included in the “others receiving votes” category.
Don’t forget that 2010 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Harper will be playing in Lexington this weekend versus the Lexington Legends from Monday to Thursday.

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.

Adcock overcomes two hits in MLB debut; Friedrich excels in scrimmage; Ellis to serve as Dodgers’ primary backup

Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Nathan Adcock; Photo by mwlguide via Flickr

Latest links and notes from around Kentucky baseball:

Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock surrendered two hits in a scoreless inning in his MLB debut in the Kansas City Royal’s loss to the Angels on Opening Day.
Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com reports PLD alum A. J. Ellis will serve as the Dodgers’ primary backup catcher until Dioner Navarro returns from injury.
Barry Lewis of the Tulsa World reports former EKU left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich impressed Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy by throwing six shutout innings in a start against the big league team to end Spring Training.
John Fay, writing for Baseball America, profiles Louisville Bats outfielder Dave Sappelt, who impressed the Reds with a .564 batting average in Spring Training. (Subscription required)

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.

WKU loses to Belmont; Ellis to open season with Dodgers

College Baseball, Major League Baseball

A. J. Ellis; Photo by frankat1stbase3 via Flickr

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball with a recap from Wednesday’s lone college baseball game:

Western Kentucky University surrendered two runs in the top of the 10th inning and the team’s rally in the bottom of the inning fell just short in a 9-8 loss to Belmont. Freshman right-handed pitcher Justin Hageman took the loss after surrendering two unearned runs in one inning. Senior third baseman Casey Dykes was 3-4 with three RBI and one run scored, and senior designated hitter Matt Rice slugged his third home run of the season. Junior center fielder Kes Carter was 2-4 with three runs scored. (Box Score)
Quinn Roberts of MLB.com reports PLD alum A. J. Ellis won the last spot on the Dodgers roster after Jay Gibbons was forced to start the season on the disabled list.
Chuck Jones of The News-Enterprise reports Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock is “on top of the world” after being selected to open the season in the Kansas City Royals’ bullpen.
Nick Jones of the Northerner, the student newspaper of Northern Kentucky University, reports Bill Aker, the first baseball coach at NKU, died Saturday.

Spring roundup: Green finishes Spring Training with win

Major League Baseball

Sean Green; Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Stats and highlights from Kentucky players on the final full day of Spring Training:

Louisville native and former UofL right-handed pitcher Sean Green earned the win after striking out two batters in one scoreless inning for the Milwaukee Brewers and finished the spring at 3-0 with a 0.77 ERA.
PLD alum A. J. Ellis walked in his only plate appearance for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Coastal Carolina senior first baseman Rich Witten, a Danville High School alum, was 0-3 with one walk in an exhibition game versus the Texas Rangers.
Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Tyler Clippard, who was born in Lexington, struck out two batters in a scoreless inning versus the Mets.
Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, who was born in Louisville, was 1-3 versus the Minnesota Twins.
In that same game Braves left-handed pitcher Jonny Venters, who was born in Pikeville, struck out one batter in a scoreless inning.
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds, who was born in Pikeville, was 1-3 with one walk versus the Blue Jays.

Wade sent to MiLB camp; Ellis appears unlikely to make Dodgers roster; Adcock still in running for Royals’ bullpen

Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

A. J. Ellis; Photo by frankat1stbase3 via Flickr

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

Marc Tompkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports the Tampa Bay Rays have re-assigned former Kentucky Wesleyan right-handed pitcher Cory Wade to minor league camp.
Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports it appears the Los Angeles Dodgers will keep Hector Gimenez as the team’s backup catcher instead of PLD alum A. J. Ellis to start the season.
Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star reports Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock has a good shot to make the Royals’ bullpen if the team carries two long relievers, and the Royals must keep him on the MLB roster as a Rule 5 draft pick if the team wants to keep him.
Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb hopes to be back on the mound on Monday after a setback in his rehab set him back to long toss this week.
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports Webb will travel with the Texas Rangers when the team breaks camp and will continue his rehab in Arlington until he is ready to go on a minor league rehab assignment.
Murray St. alum Mark Riggins‘ tenure as the Chicago Cubs pitching coach hit its first speed bump this weekend when Carlos Silva criticized him for not being straight about Silva’s demotion and said Riggins “has to learn in the big leagues now.” Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports Cubs GM Jim Hendry and manager Mike Quade were quick to defend Riggins on Saturday and Silva was released in part because of his comments.
Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News previews the Cincinnati Reds’ season and notes the Louisville Bats will have so much talent that the AAA team might be able to finish third in the National League Central Division.