EKU unveils All-Century Team; Former Ky. major leaguer dies; Brandon Webb needs to step up in 2011

EKU All-Century Team; Photo by Chris Radcliffe

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

Eastern Kentucky University unveiled its All-Century Baseball team, which includes current minor leaguers Christian Friedrich, Jayson Langfels, Neil Sellers and Josh Anderson.
Tom Gage of The Detroit News reports Ewing native and 18-year MLB veteran Woodie Fryman died Friday in Lexington. Fryman was 70 years old. Fryman was 141-155 with a 3.77 ERAa in his MLB career.
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe lists former UK right-handed pitcher and Ashland native Brandon Webb among the players that need to step up for their teams in 2011.
John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer runs down some Reds’ questions entering Spring Training, including several that affect 2010 Louisville Bats. Reds general manager Walt Jocketty notes Bats pitchers Sam LeCure and Matt Maloney, who makes his offseason home in Louisville, are being groomed as depth behind the six starting rotation candidates, meaning they will likely begin 2011 with the Bats.

Murray State alum named Chicago Cubs pitching coach; Sellers signs minor-league deal with Marlins

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

BluGrass Baseball is back from a weekend hiatus with a rundown of the latest stories from around Kentucky baseball:

Former Murray State Univeristy pitcher Mark Riggins was named the MLB pitching coach of the Chicago Cubs.
Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports former EKU infielder Neil Sellers has signed a minor-league contract with the Florida Marlins. Sellers had spent the last three seasons in the Phillies’ organization.
Mike Fields of the Lexington Herald-Leader reports Bryan Station High School junior first baseman/pitcher Michael Bollmer has committed to play baseball at the University of Louisville.
Brent Ingram of the University of Kentucky media relations department has published a breakdown of UK’s Southeastern Conference opponents.

Kentucky Minor League Free Agents

Minor League Baseball

Wladimir Balentien; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Matt Eddy of Baseball America recently posted the complete list of Minor League free agents and several Kentuckians are on the list. I’ve copied the Kentucky MiLB free agents below with organization and 2010 team:

RHP Jesus Delgado — Cincinnati Reds — AAA Louisville Bats
RHP Jason Isringhausen — Cincinnati Reds — AAA Louisville
RHP Chad Reineke — Cincinnati Reds — AAA Louisville
C Wilkin Castillo — Cincinnati Reds — AAA Louisville
OF Wladimir Balentien — Cincinnati Reds — AAA Louisville
OF Sean Henry — Cincinnati Reds — AAA Louisville
OF Luis Terrero — Cincinnati Reds — AAA Louisville
RHP Matt Wilhite (WKU) — Colorado Rockies — AAA Colorado Springs
C Neil Wilson (Covington) — Florida Marlins — AAA New Orleans
RHP Cory Wade (Ky Wesleyan) — Los Angeles Dodgers — AAA Albuquerque
3B Neil Sellers (EKU) — Philadelphia Phillies — AAA Lehigh Valley
LHP Zach Jackson (UofL) — Toronto Blue Jays — AAA Las Vegas
RHP Zach Dials (UK) — Washington Nationals — AA Harrisburg

You can see the full MiLB free agent list here.

MiLB Roundup: Bats clinch division; Legends, Hot Rods win; Green, Kipnis, Dominguez, Sellers homer; Roe wins

Minor League Baseball

Luis Cruz; BluGrass Baseball photo

Kentucky highlights from the final day of regular season across MiLB:

The Louisville Bats clinched their third consecutive International League West Division title with a 6-3 win over Indianapolis. Left fielder Todd Frazier and center fielder Dave Sappelt each homered for Louisville.
Lexington Legends left-handed pitcher Luis Cruz was perfect through five innings and the Lexington bullpen held off a late rally to post a 6-5 win over Rome in its final game. Right fielder Renzo Tello was 3-3 with two doubles and three runs scored.
The Bowling Green Hot Rods finished the second half at 30-40 with a 7-1 win over Great Lakes in its final game. Left fielder Dustin Biell was 4-5 with a home run, double, RBI and two runs scored.
Former UK infielder Andy Green homered for the second consecutive game and sixth time this season for AAA Buffalo.
One-time UK outfielder Jason Kipnis was 3-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.
Former UofL infielder Chris Dominguez homered for the second consecutive game and 21st time this season for low A Augusta. Dominguez topped the 100-RBI plateau for the year.
Former UofL infielder Logan Johnson was 4-4 with a double, home run, three RBI and three runs scored for high A Winston-Salem.
Former EKU infielder Neil Sellers slugged his seventh home run of the season for AAA Lehigh Valley.
Former NKU outfielder Jake Shaffer was 3-5 with three doubles, three RBI and a run scored for High Desert and finished the season with a .336 batting average, tops among Kentucky minor leaguers.
Lafayette High School alum Chaz Roe earned his ninth win of the season after surrendering three runs in six innings for AAA Colorado Springs.

MiLB Roundup: Popham combines on no-no; Goebbert sets RBI record in Legends win; Bats, Hot Rods lose

Minor League Baseball

Henry Mabee; Photo by Wigstruck via Flickr

Highlights from Sunday Kentucky MiLB action:

Former Union College right-handed pitcher Marty Popham pitched the first seven innings of high A Kinston’s 10-inning combined no-hitter. Popham struck out eight and walked two.
The Louisville Bats suffered a 5-3 loss to Indianapolis after a former Florence Freedom pitcher Chris Jakubauskas surrendered three runs in five innings for the Indians. Third baseman Eric Eymann was 2-4 with a run scored for Louisville.
The Lexington Legends used a five-run third inning to record a 9-3 win over Rome. Left fielder Jacob Goebbert set the Legends single-season RBI record with a 3-4, two double, two RBI, three-run-scored performance.
The Bowling Green Hot Rods suffered their second straight loss to Great Lakes with a 5-2 defeat. No Hot Rod recorded multiple hits in the game.
Former UK outfielder Lance Ray reach based four times for low A Beloit with two singles, two walks and a run scored.
Former UofL infielder Chris Dominguez slugged his 20th home run and 99th RBI for low A Augusta.
Former UofL catcher and 2010 Giants draftee Jeff Arnold slugged his third home run of the season for short-season Salem-Keizer.
Former EKU infielder Neil Sellers slugged his sixth home run of the season for AAA Lehigh Valley.
Former NKU right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones posted a quality start after surrendering three runs in six innings for high A Winston-Salem but still suffered a loss.
Former Murray St. left-handed pitcher Daniel Calhoun improved to 10-0 on the season with a win in his third straight appearance for low A Quad Cities.
Former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Henry Mabee improved to 4-6 on the season after pitching two and two-third scoreless innings.
Danville native and 2010 Diamondbacks draftee Blake Perry mad his professional debut with a scoreless inning for rookie-level Missoula.
Paducah native Daniel Webb earned his first win for low A Lansing after surrendering one run in six and two-third innings.

MiLB Roundup: Bats, Legends win; Hot Rods lose; Rusin injured; Green returns to mound; Holland gets win

Minor League Baseball

Chris Rusin; Photo: UK Athletics

Very late highlights from Thursday Kentucky MiLB action:

Catcher Devin Mesoraco launched his second grand slam in as many games to lead the Louisville Bats to a 6-2 win over Syracuse. Third baseman Juan Francisco also homered.
The Lexington Legends scored four runs in the seventh inning to earn a come-from-behind 5-2 win over Greenville. Right-handed pitcher Jose Cisnero took a no decision despite surrendering just two runs in six innings.
Lake County scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the Bowling Green Hot Rods to a 5-4 last at-bat loss. Right fielder Brett Nommensen and first baseman Kyle Wiegand each homered for the Hot Rods.
Former UK left-handed pitcher Chris Rusin surrendered two unearned runs in two innings before leaving with an injury, thought the Cubs have since said it was a precautionary move.
Former UK catcher and 2010 Astros NDFA Marcus Nidiffer slugged his 14th home run of the season for short-season Tri-City.
Pitching for the first time this season former UK right-handed pitcher Scott Green struck out two in a scoreless inning on a rehab assignment for the rookie-level GCL Tigers.
Former UK catcher Sean Coughlin was 3-4 with two RBI for AA Mobile.
Former UofL right-handed pitcher and 2010 Nationals draftee Neil Holland earned his third win of the season with three scoreless innings for short-season Vermont.
Former EKU infielder Neil Sellers slugged his fifth home run of the season for AAA Lehigh Valley.

MiLB Roundup: Bats win; Legends, Hot Rods lose; Arnold homers twice; Nidiffer, Sellers also go deep

Minor League Baseball

Chad Reineke; Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Highlights from Saturday Kentucky MiLB action:

Right-handed pitcher Chad Reineke led the Louisville Bats to a 5-2 win over Norfolk. Reineke surrendered just four hits and struck out four in six innings to move to 8-7 on the season.
Delmarva scored eight runs over the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to blow open the game en route to a 9-1 win over the Lexington Legends. Right-handed pitcher Jose Cisnero fell to 6-6 on the season despite surrendering just three runs on three hits in six innings.
The Bowling Green Hot Rods scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning but surrendered three runs in the bottom half of the inning to suffer a 6-5 loss to Fort Wayne. Shortstop Tyler Bortnick slugged his seventh home run of the season.
Former UofL catcher and 2010 Giants draftee Jeff Arnold was 3-4 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored for short-season Salem-Keizer.
Former UK catcher Marcus Nidiffer homered for the second straight game and for the tenth time this season for rookie-level Greeneville.
Former UofL first baseman and 2010 Rangers draftee Andrew Clark tallied three hits and scored twice for short-season Spokane.
Former WKU infielder and 2010 Phillies draftee Matt Payton was 3-5 with a run scored for the rookie-level GCL Phillies.
Former EKU infielder Neil Sellers slugged his fourth home run of the season for AAA Lehigh Valley.
Former Kentucky Wesleyan right-handed pitcher Cory Wade earned his third win of the season for AAA Albuquerque.
Former Union College right-handed pitcher Marty Popham earned his fifth win for high A Kinston after striking out 10 in five scoreless innings.
Boyd County native and 2010 Royals NDFA Tyler Gatrell earned his ninth save of the season for the rookie-level AZL Royals.

MiLB Roundup: Bats win; Legends, Hot Rods lose; Nidiffer homers; Adcock, Chowning, Sowers pick up wins

Minor League Baseball

Nathan Adcock; Photo by mwlguide via Flickr

Highlights from Sunday Kentucky MiLB action:

The Louisville Bats pounded out 11 hits behind recently demoted Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Micah Owings en route to an 8-3 win over Gwinnet. Owings surrendered just one run on one hit in three innings, and shortstop Zack Cozart, third baseman Juan Francisco, right fielder Daniel Dorn and catcher Corky Miller each homered for Louisville.
The Lexington Legends tallied seven hits but couldn’t score a run in a 3-0 loss to Savannah. Right-handed pitcher Tanner Bushue took the loss despite surrendering just two runs in six innings and striking out six batters.
The Bowling Green Hot Rods pitching was no match for the Cedar Rapids offense in a 7-2 loss to the Kernels. Third baseman Julio Cedeno was 2-4 with a run scored for the Hot Rods.
Former UK catcher and 2010 Astros NDFA Marcus Nidiffer slugged his eighth home run of the season, drove in three runs and scored twice for rookie-level Greeneville.
Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock earned his eighth win of the season after holding Dunedin scoreless for six innings on just two hits for high A Bradenton.
Louisville native and 2010 Astros draftee Jason Chowning picked up his first professional win with three scoreless innings of relief for short-season Tri-City.
Boyd County High School alum and 2010 Royals NDFA Tyler Gatrell earned his eighth save of the season for the rookie-level AZL Royals and still hasn’t surrendered an earned run in his professional career over 13 and one-third innings.
Former UK outfielder Antone DeJesus was 3-4 with a walk, run scored and one RBI for AA Springfield.
Former UofL infielder Chris Dominguez was 3-4 with a double, run scored and RBI for low A Augusta.
Former EKU infielder Neil Sellers was 3-4 with a double and two RBI for AAA Lehigh Valley.
Ballard High School alum Jeremy Sowers earned just his second win of the season for AAA Columbus with two scoreless innings of relief Sunday.
Paducah native and 2010 Rangers draftee Jonathan Roof was 2-5 with three RBI and one run scored for low A Hickory.

MiLB Roundup: Bats, Legends, Hot Rods lose; Marks loses despite strong effort; Darnell debuts; Shaffer has big night

Minor League Baseball

Logan Darnell; UK Athletics wallpaper

Highlights from Wednesday Kentucky MiLB action:

The Louisville Bats tallied just four hits in a 2-1 loss to Charlotte. Left-handed pitcher Ben Jukich surrendered just one unearned run in five innings and struck out eight while walking four.
Just one Lexington Legends pitcher didn’t surrender a run in a 9-5 loss to Rome. Right-handed pitcher Juan Minaya took the loss after surrendering six runs in four and two-third innings.
The Bowling Green Hot Rods tallied eight hits but couldn’t score a run in a 10-0 shutout loss to Quad Cities. Right-handed pitcher Kirby Yates suffered through his worse start of the season after surrendering eight runs in four and two-third innings for the Hot Rods.
Former UofL left-handed pitcher and 2010 Cardinals draftee Dean Kiekhefer recorded two shutout innings for Quad Cities and struck out five Hot Rods.
Former UofL left-handed pitcher Justin Marks took the loss for low A Cane County despite surrendering just two runs in seven innings. Marks struck out six and walked one.
Former NKU outfielder Jake Shaffer was a single shy of the cycle for high A High Desert. Shaffer finished the game 3-4 with a double, triple, home run, three RBI and one run scored.
Former UK infielder Andy Green was 3-4 with two doubles and two runs scored for AAA Buffalo.
Former UK left-handed pitcher and 2010 Twins draftee Logan Darnell made his professional debut by retiring two of the three batters he faced for rookie-level Elizabethton.
Former UofL outfielder and 2010 Rangers draftee Josh Richmond slugged his first professional home run for short-season Spokane.
Former WKU infielder Terrence Dayleg was 3-4 with a double and two RBI for low A Greensboro.
Former EKU infielder Neil Sellers was 2-2 with two walks and three runs scored for AAA Lehigh Valley.
Lafayette High School alum Chaz Roe fell to 6-11 on the season after surrendering five runs in five innings for AAA Colorado Springs.
Paducah native Daniel Webb fell to 0-3 for short-season Auburn after surrendering five runs in three innings in his seventh professional start.

MiLB Roundup: Bats win; Legends, Hot Rods lose; Friedrich injured; Nidiffer streak hits 11 with homer; Ross wins

Minor League Baseball

Marcus Nidiffer, center; Photo: UK Athletics

Highlights from Sunday Kentucky MiLB action:

The Louisville Bats scored four runs in the first inning and held off a late Lehigh Valley rally to earn a 5-4 win over the IronPigs. Shortstop Zach Cozart was 3-4 with a home run, double, two RBI and two runs scored. Starting pitcher Sam LeCure surrendered just two runs in seven innings and struck out 13 while walking none.
Former EKU infielder Neil Sellers was 1-4 in the game for Lehigh Valley.
Hickory Crawdads starting pitcher Jacob Brigham held the Lexington Legends to just one run in a complete game performance to lead Hickory to a 6-1 win over Lexington. Legends right-handed pitcher Robert Donovan took the loss despite surrendering just two runs in six innings and striking out six.
The Bowling Green Hot Rods tallied just six hits in a 9-0 shutout loss to Peoria. Designated hitter Gabe Cohen was 3-4 in the game.
Former EKU left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich was forced to leave his start for AA Tulsa without recording an out after being hit under the left elbow with a line drive. Friedrich surrendered two runs on four hits. Check back to BluGrass Baseball for updates of Friedrich’s condition later as he is scheduled to be re-examined today.
Former UK catcher and 2010 Astros NDFA Marcus Nidiffer extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a 2-6, one home run performance. Nidiffer drove in two runs and scored twice. He is batting .356 with six home runs and 13 RBI in 24 games for rookie-level Greeneville.
LCA alum Robbie Ross picked up his first win for high A Bakersfield after surrendering four runs, only one of which was earned, in seven innings. Ross struck out eight and walked just one.
Former UofL first baseman and 2010 Rangers draftee Andrew Clark was 3-4 with a stolen base, walk, RBI and run scored for short-season Spokane.
Former UofL infielder Chris Dominguez was 2-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI for high A Augusta.
Former UofL right-handed pitcher Trystan Magnuson picked up his fifth save for AA New Hampshire with three scoreless innings.
Former WKU outfielder Chad Cregar slugged his 11th home run of the season for low A Greensboro.
Lexington native Jeremy Shelby was 3-6 with a double, RBI and run scored for rookie-level Greensboro.
Trinity High School alum Tyler Kuhn slugged his third home run of the season for AA Birmingham.