nathan adcock

Kelley cuts simulated game short; Hart struggling since return from DL; Webb remains confident he will return to MLB

Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Shawn Kelley; Photo by mwlguide via Flickr

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Greg Johns of MLB.com reports Louisville native Shawn Kelley, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, had to cut his simulated game short on Sunday due to tightness in his throwing elbow.
  • Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports there is nothing physically wrong with Bowling Green native Corey Hart contributing to his offensive struggles since returning from the disabled list.
  • Jack Magruder of Fox Sports Arizona reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb remains confident he will be a productive major leaguer again despite one scout’s proclamation that he is “done” following a rehabilitation appearance last week.
  • Mark Maloney of the Lexington Herald-Leader profiles Lexington Legends catcher Chris Wallace, who Legends manager Rodney Linares says probably deserves a promotion after his early-season performance.
  • Cash Kuth of MLB.com runs down some of the Kentucky major leaguers Kentucky Derby picks. Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere, North Hardin alum Nathan Adcock and St. X alum Trever Miller all missed on the winner, but Ballard alum Kelley appears to have picked the winner according to his Twitter account.

Twins add Ben Revere to MLB roster; Matt Rice, Ryan Wright named to midseason Golden Spikes Award watch list

College Baseball, Major League Baseball

Matt Rice bats for WKU: BluGrass Baseball photo

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • The Minnesota Twins have added Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere to the MLB roster after placing outfielder Jason Repko on the disabled list.
  • Western Kentucky University senior catcher Matt Rice and University of Louisville junior infielder Ryan Wright have been named to the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list. The award goes to college baseball’s best player and is administered by USA Baseball.
  • Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star reports the Royals may put Elizabethtown native and right-handed reliever Nathan Adcock in more high-pressure situations after his first MLB win.
  • Mark Maloney of the Lexington Herald-Leader catches up with some former Lexington Legends who are contributing at the MLB level with the Houston Astros.

Webb to throw simulated game; McDonnell apologizes for UofL play; Revere to open season with AAA Rochester

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Brandon Webb; Photo by SD Dirk via Flickr

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb felt good after throwing 65 pitches on Thursday and will likely throw a simulated game on Monday.
  • The Courier-Journal reports University of Louisville head coach Dan McDonnell apologized to fans for his team’s performance in a Friday loss to West Virginia.
  • Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock talks to the The News-Enterprise about his major-league debut.
  • Jim Mandelaro of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere will open the season with AAA Rochester barring any unforeseen trades or injuries with the Twins.
  • WAVE3-TV reports former University of Louisville baseball player Isaiah Howes will not face charges in the shooting death of former UofL football player Daniel Covington.

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.

Ijames, Davis earn conference weekly honors; Adcock wins Royal’s bullpen job; Downs, Hart hope for April returns

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Taylor Davis; Morehead St. photo

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • University of Louisville redshirt junior outfielder Stewart Ijames was named the Big East Conference player of the week.
  • Morehead State University junior catcher Taylor Davis was named the Ohio Valley Conference player of the week.
  • Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star reports Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock, a Rule 5 Draft pick, will open the season in the Kansas City Royals’ bullpen.
  • Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA lists the UofL and Western Kentucky University among the 25 teams to watch outside of the website’s top 25 ranking.
  • Mike DiGiovanna of The Los Angeles Times reports Louisville native and former UK left-handed pitcher Scott Downs threw off a mound on Monday for the first time since breaking his left big toe in March and hopes to return by mid-April.
  • Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports Bowling Green native Corey Hart hopes to return from his strained rib-cage muscle in time for the Brewers series versus the Cubs April 8-10.
  • Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb was pleased with his Monday bullpen session.
  • Jeff Schuler of The Morning Call profiles Louisville native Matt Anderson who hopes to continue his comeback with the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

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.

Spring roundup: Austin Kearns reaches base four times; Trever Miller, B. J. Rosenberg post scoreless outings

Major League Baseball

Austin Kearns; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Stats and highlights from Sunday Kentucky Spring Training action:

  • Lexington native Austin Kearns was 3-3 with one walk and one run scored for the Cleveland Indians.
  • Louisville native Trever Miller was credited with a hold after pitching a scoreless inning for the St. Louis Cardinals.
  • Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock was credited with a hold despite surrendering two runs in two innings for relief for the Kansas City Royals.
  • PLD alum A. J. Ellis was 0-1 for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
  • After being added to the MLB roster for the game former UofL right-handed pitcher B. J. Rosenberg pitched two scoreless innings for the Philadelphia Phillies.
  • Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, who was born in Louisville, was 0-2 versus the Phillies.
  • Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds, who was born in Pikeville, was 1-4 versus the Red Sox.