Nathan Jones

MiLB roundup: Hot Rods win; Bats, Legends lose; Strieby, Bynum homer; Rusin gets win in Opening Day start

Minor League Baseball
Chris Rusin; Photo by UK Athletics

Chris Rusin; Photo: UK Athletics

Check out the first daily summary of Kentucky MiLB action below. Links take you to the player’s MiLB.com page:

  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods opened the 2011 season with a 4-0 win over Dayton. Enny Romero surrendered one hit in five scoreless innings while striking out eight batters and walking one to earn the win. Former UofL third baseman Phil Wunderlich was 0-4 in his Hot Rods’ debut.
  • The Lexington Legends suffered a 6-1 loss in the team’s season opener versus Charleston. Eastern High School alum Jason Chowning struck out one batter in a scoreless inning in his Legends’ debut.
  • The Louisville Bats dropped their Opening Day game 11-6 to Toledo. Catcher Devin Mesoraco was 2-4 with one home run, one RBI and one run scored in the game.
  • Former UK first baseman Ryan Strieby was 1-5 with one home run, three RBI and one run scored for AAA Toledo.
  • Former UK left-handed pitcher Chris Rusin earned the win after surrendering three runs on four hits in five innings while striking out four batters and walking one for AA Tennessee in his Opening Day start.
  • Butler High School alum Seth Bynum was 2-4 with one home run, five RBI, one run scored and one double for AAA Syracuse.
  • Former UK infielder Michael Bertram was 2-3 with one double for AA Erie.
  • Former UK outfielder Sawyer Carroll was 2-3 for AA San Antonio.
  • Former UofL first baseman Andrew Clark was 2-4 with one run scored for low A Hickory.
  • Covington native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones struck out two batters in two scoreless innings for AA Birmingham.
  • Former Kentucky Wesleyan right-handed pitcher Cory Wade surrendered one hit in two scoreless innings for AAA Durham.
  • Louisville native and former Murray St. first baseman Wes Cunningham was 1-2 with one walk, one run scored and one stolen base for low A Fort Wayne.
  • PRP alum Zack Cox was 2-4 with one double for high A Palm Beach.

Strieby, Jones, Kipnis cut from respective MLB camps; Hageman gives WKU offensive boost; Cook injured again

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Ryan Strieby; Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • The Detroit Tigers have optioned former UK first baseman Ryan Strieby to AAA Toledo.
  • The Chicago White Sox have optioned Covington native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones to AA Birmingham.
  • Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA breaks down 25 teams outside of the PGSU top 25, noting the University of Louisville‘s poor offensive performance is the only thing keeping it out of the rankings. (Subscription required)
  • Nick Baumgardner of the Bowling Green Daily News reports Western Kentucky University received an unlikely offensive spark on Sunday from freshman Justin Hageman, who received his first at-bats of 2011 after spending the first three weeks of the season solely on the mound.
  • Jordan Bastain of MLB.com reports one-time UK outfielder turned second baseman Jason Kipnis was re-assigned to minor league camp by the Cleveland Indians.
  • The bad injury news continues for Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook, who was born in Fort Campbell, as Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports Cook will miss a few weeks after breaking his ring finger on his throwing hand when he accidentally slammed a door on it on Friday.
  • MLB.com columnist Mike Bauman writes Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb‘s return from injury has become a question of “when” not “if” following his strong throwing session over the weekend.

Spring roundup: Nathan Jones gets win for White Sox; Nathan Adcock, Trever Miller post scoreless apperances

Major League Baseball

 

Nathan Adcock; Photo by mwlguide via Flickr

Stats and highlights from Thursday Kentucky Spring Training action:

 

  • Covington native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones earned a win after surrendering one unearned run on two hits in two innings for the Chicago White Sox.
  • Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock pitched another scoreless inning for the Kansas City Royals and has not surrendered an earned run this spring.
  • Louisville native Trever Miller struck out both batters he faced in a relief appearance for the St. Louis Cardinals.
  • In that same game Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, who was born in Louisville, was 1-3 with one RBI.
  • Highland Heights native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke was credited with a blown save after surrendering two runs on one hit in one inning for the Seattle Mariners.
  • Former UK first baseman Ryan Strieby was 1-4 with one run scored for the Detroit Tigers.
  • Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere was 1-3 with a double for the Minnesota Twins.
  • Former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill struck out in his only at-bat for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
  • One-time UK outfielder turned second baseman Jason Kipnis was 0-1 for the Cleveland Indians.
  • Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Tyler Clippard, who was born in Lexington, surrendered four runs, three of which were earned, on three hits in one inning while striking out two batters and walking none.
  • Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds, who was born in Pikeville, was 0-4 with two strikeouts versus the Pirates.

Spring roundup: Nathan Adcock, Josh Lueke, Trever Miller post scoreless outings; A. J. Ellis is 2-2 at the plate

Major League Baseball

Nathan Adcock; Photo by mwlguide via Flickr

Stats and highlights from Monday Kentucky Spring Training action:

  • Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock surrendered two hits in two scoreless innings and struck out two batters for the Kansas City Royals. Adcock, a 2010 Rule 5 draft pick, has yet to surrender a run in three spring appearances.
  • PLD alum A. J. Ellis was 2-2 with one run scored and one RBI for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
  • Highland Heights native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke surrendered one hit in two scoreless innings and struck out one batter for the Seattle Mariners.
  • Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere was 0-2 with one RBI for the Minnesota Twins.
  • In that same game Louisville native Trever Miller recorded a hold after walking one batter and recording two outs in a scoreless appearance.
  • Covington native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones was credited with a blown save after surrendering two runs on three hits in one inning for the Chicago White Sox.
  • Lexington native and former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill was 0-3 in a start for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
  • Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds, who was born in Pikeville, was 1-3 with one double and one strikeout.

Spring roundup: Nathan Jones pitches scoreless inning

Major League Baseball

Ben Revere; Photo by Pat Neshek

Highlights and stats from Wednesday Kentucky Spring Training action:

  • Covington native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones struck out one batter in a scoreless inning for the Chicago White Sox.
  • Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere was 0-2 with one walk and one run scored for the Minnesota Twins.
  • PLD alum A. J. Ellis was 0-3 with one strikeout for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
  • One-time UK outfielder turned second baseman Jason Kipnis was 0-2 for the Cleveland Indians.
  • Former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill was 0-1 and is batting .222 on the young spring season for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
  • Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, who was born in Louisville, was 1-3 with one strikeout.

Kentuckians on MLB Spring Training rosters

Major League Baseball

MLB graphic

Pitchers and catchers have reported to Spring Training camps across Florida and Arizona. In addition to the 17 Kentuckians who appeared in the major leagues last season, several Kentucky minor leaguers are also in MLB camps this Spring. Check out the full list below, remembering that some other minor leaguers will see time during split squad games this Spring.

National League

  • RHP Michael Broadway — Born in Paducah, Ky. — Atlanta Braves*
  • 2B Dan Uggla — Born in Louisville, Ky. — Atlanta Braves
  • LHP Jonny Venters — Born in Pikeville, Ky. — Atlanta Braves
  • OF Corey Hart — Greenwood HS — Milwaukee Brewers
  • RHP Sean Green — Male HS, UofL — Milwaukee Brewers
  • 3B Zack Cox — PRP — St. Louis Cardinals
  • LHP Trever Miller — Trinity HS — St. Louis Cardinals
  • RHP Todd Wellemeyer — Eastern HS, Bellarmine — Chicago Cubs
  • OF Collin Cowgill — Henry Clay HS, UK — Arizona Diamondbacks*
  • C A. J. Ellis — PLD — Los Angeles Dodgers
  • RHP Tyler Clippard — Born in Lexington, Ky. — Washington Nationals
  • RHP Joe Blanton — Franklin Simpson HS, UK — Philadelphia Phillies
  • RHP Matt Anderson — St. X — Philadelphia Phillies*
  • RHP Matt Klinker — Madisonville, Ky. — Cincinnati Reds*
  • LHP Christian Friedrich — EKU — Colorado Rockies*
  • LHP Aaron Cook — Born in Fort Campbell, Ky. — Colorado Rockies

American League

  • LHP Scott Downs — PRP, UK — Los Angeles Angels
  • RHP Trystan Magnuson — UofL — Oakland Athletics
  • RHP Jon Rauch — Oldham Co. HS, Morehead St. — Toronto Blue Jays
  • 2B Jason Kipnis — UK — Cleveland Indians*
  • OF Austin Kearns — Lafayette HS — Cleveland Indians
  • RHP Josh Lueke — Scott HS, NKU — Seattle Mariners
  • RHP Shawn Kelley — Ballard HS — Seattle Mariners
  • RHP Chaz Roe — Lafayette HS — Seattle Mariners
  • 3B Mark Reynolds — Born in Pikeville, Ky. — Baltimore Orioles
  • RHP Brandon Webb — Boyd Co. HS, UK — Texas Rangers
  • RHP Cory Wade — Ky. Wesleyan — Tampa Bay Rays*
  • RHP Nathan Adcock — North Hardin HS — Kansas City Royals
  • 1B Ryan Strieby — UK — Detroit Tigers
  • OF Ben Revere — Lexington Catholic HS — Minnesota Twins
  • RHP Nathan Jones — Pendelton Co. HS, NKU — Chicago White Sox

* — Denotes a non-roster invitee.

Kentuckians included in BA Prospect Handbook

Minor League Baseball

In the opinion of this baseball writer there is not a more important annual publication that Baseball America‘s “Prospect Handbook.” The 2011 edition of the Handbook was mailed this week with mine arriving on Thursday. I cannot recommend the book highly enough if you are a baseball fan, especially one interested in identifying the next MLB stars before your friends. You can purchase the book from BA here. I’m going to list some basic Kentucky info from the book below but won’t give away the rankings or scouting reports in order to encourage you to buy a copy of the book yourself.

  • Four Kentucky school alumni were included in the already released top 10 prospect rankings for their respective organizations: Zack Cox, Jason Kipnis, Christian Friedrich and Ben Revere. PRP alum Cox was ranked the No. 2 prospect in the Cardinals organization, one-time UK outfielder Kipnis was ranked the No. 3 prospect in the Indians’ system, former EKU left-handed pitcher Friedrich was ranked the No. 4 prospect in the Rockies’ organization and Lexington Catholic alum Revere was ranked the No. 5 prospect in the Twins’ system.
  • Eleven other Kentucky school alumni were included in the 11-30 rankings for their respective organizations: former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke, former UK first baseman Ryan Strieby, former UofL third baseman Chris Dominguez, former UofL right-handed pitcher Thomas Royse, former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill, former LCA left-handed pitcher Robbie Ross, former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones, former UofL right-handed pitcher Trystan Magnuson, former WKU third baseman Wade Gaynor, former UofL outfielder Josh Richmond and former Ballard left-handed pitcher Richard Sullivan.
  • Three organizations had two Kentucky alumni in the top 30 lists: the White Sox, Rangers and Tigers.
  • The Cardinals, Indians, Rockies, Twins, Mariners, Giants, Diamondbacks, Athletics and Braves also had Kentucky alumni included in their respective top 30 rankings.
  • The University of Louisville had four alumni ranked on top 20 lists, the University of Kentucky had three alumni listed and Northern Kentucky University boasted former two players in the handbook.
  • Two players drafted straight out of Kentucky high schools were ranked on organization top 30s: Revere and Ross.

Kipnis cycle leads Columbus to IL title; Lueke, Rainiers clinch PCL title; Jones, Dash eliminated in finals loss

Minor League Baseball

Jason Kipnis; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball, including a cycle from one of Kentucky’s best minor league alumni:

  • One-time Kentucky outfielder Jason Kipnis, promoted to AAA Columbus for the International League finals, hit for the cycle to lead Columbus to a championship-clinching 13-2 win over Durham.
  • Former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke closed out AAA Tacoma’s Pacific Coast League championship clinching 10-6 win over Memphis with a scoreless inning.
  • Former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones took the loss despite surrendering just two runs in six innings in high A Winston-Salem’s 2-1 loss to Potomac. The Nationals clinched the Carolina League championship with the win.
  • Zachary Levine, writing for Baseball America, selected 2010 Lexington Legends outfielder J. D. Martinez the Astros’ best MiLB player. Levine named 2009 Legend Jordan Lyles the organization’s best pitcher and 2009 Legend Patrick Urckfitz “one to watch” in the system. (Subscription required)
  • Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere received his first MLB start for the Minnesota Twins Friday but went 0-3 with a walk in the leadoff spot.
  • Eric King of WLKY in Louisville reports former University of Louisville baseball player Isaiah Howes has been identified as the shooter that killed former UofL football player Daniel Covington. Police believe the shooting was in self-defense.

Kentucky MiLB Pitching Leaderboard

Minor League Baseball

In the second leaderboard post we’ll look at the top statistical pitching performers from around Kentucky MiLB action. Remember comparisons across leagues are difficult, so this leaderboard should be considered a starting point for examining the best performances from Kentucky minor leaguers this season.

ERA

  • Chris Rusin (AA Tennessee) – 3.11
  • Nathan Adcock (High A Bradenton) – 3.38
  • Robbie Ross (High A Bakersfield) – 3.58
  • Matt Klinker (AAA Louisville) – 3.79
  • Marty Popham (High A Kinston) – 4.05

Strikeouts

  • Matt Klinker (AAA Louisville) – 138
  • Justin Marks (High A Stockton) – 136
  • Chaz Roe (AAA Colorado Springs) – 115
  • Marty Popham (High A Kinston) – 113
  • Nathan Adcock (High A Bradenton) – 113

BA Against

  • Chris Rusin (AA Tennessee) – .240
  • Nathan Adcock (High A Bradenton) – .243
  • Matt Klinker (AAA Louisville) – .255
  • Justin Marks (High A Stockton) – .258
  • Robbie Ross (High A Kinston) – .267

Wins

  • Robbie Ross (High A Bakersfield) – 12
  • Nathan Jones (High A Winston-Salem) – 11
  • Nathan Adcock (High A Bradenton) – 11
  • Matt Klinker (AAA Louisville) – 11
  • Daniel Calhoun (Low A Quad Cities) – 10

Saves

  • Josh Lueke (AAA Tacoma) – 17
  • Tyler Gatrell (R GCL Royals) – 13 *
  • Steven Blevins (AA New Britain) – 10
  • Mike Perconte (High A Daytona) – 7
  • Three pitchers tied at 5

Innings Pitched

  • Matt Klinker (AAA Louisville) – 163.2
  • Chaz Roe (AAA Colorado Springs) – 158
  • Nathan Jones (High A Winston-Salem) – 152.1
  • Robbie Ross (AA Frisco) – 146
  • Nathan Adcock (High A Bradenton) – 141.1

MiLB Playoff Roundup: Bats within 1 game of 2nd round after game 2 win; Jones, Paiml help Winston-Salem to 2nd round

Minor League Baseball

Playoff highlights from Friday Kentucky MiLB action:

  • The Louisville Bats tallied just three hits but still earned a 2-1 win over Durham in the International League playoffs. One-time Madisonville resident Matt Klinker earned the win after surrendering one run in five and one-third innings.
  • Former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones took a no decision after surrendering one run on two hits in three and two-third innings in high A Winston-Salem’s series clinching 10-5 win over Kinston in the Carolina League playoffs. Dash shortstop Greg Paiml, born in Louisville, was 3-6 with a double and three RBI.
  • Former Murray St. left-handed pitcher Daniel Calhoun surrendered three runs in one inning in low A Quad Cities elimination loss to Kane County in the Midwest League playoffs.
  • Former WKU infielder Wade Gaynor was 2-3 with a walk and RBI in low A West Michigan’s elimination loss to Lake County in the Midwest League playoffs.