Robert Donovan

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.

MiLB Roundup: Legends, Hot Rods win; Bats lose; Nidiffer, Mosby, Ashbrook homer; Shelby streaking

Minor League Baseball

Marcus Nidiffer, center; Photo: UK Athletics

Highlights from Sunday Kentucky MiLB action:

  • Check out our recap from the MLB Futures Game in the All-Star Game links post below.
  • The Columbus Clippers scored two runs in the top of the tenth inning to defeat the Louisville Bats 7-5. Bats designated hitter Daniel Dorn launched his sixth home run of the season, and right-handed pitcher James Avery surrendered just three runs in six innings in his Bats’ debut.
  • Lexington Legends outfielder J. D. Martinez continued his torrid hitting with an eighth inning home run to send the Legends to a 3-2 win over the West Virginia Power. Right-handed pitcher Robert Donovan took a no decision despite surrendering just two runs in five and one-third innings.
  • The Bowling Green Hot Rods scored four runs in the first inning and held off a Lansing Lugnuts rally to record a 6-4 win. Left-handed pitcher Kyle Lobstein earned his sixth win of the season after allowing two runs in six innings and striking out seven batters.
  • Former UK catcher Marcus Nidiffer homered for the second consecutive game for rookie-level Greeneville and was 3-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
  • Former UofL infielder Phil Wunderlich was 3-6 with two doubles, one RBI and one run scored for low A Hudson Valley.
  • Former Morehead St. outfielder J. D. Ashbrook slugged his first professional home run for rookie-level Bristol.
  • Paducah native Daniel Webb took a no-decision for short-season Auburn after allowing two runs in five and one-third innings. Webb struck out five and walked none.
  • Lexington native Jeremy Shelby followed his monster performance from Saturday with a 2-5 performance Sunday and has multiple hits in each of his last six starts to raise his batting average to .417 in 12 games.
  • Hawesville native Michael Mosby launched his first professional home run for rookie-level Bluefield.
  • Danville native Patrick Cooper fell to 1-1 on the season after surrendering five runs in five innings in his third professional start for short-season Connecticut.
  • Former UK left-handed pitcher Chris Rusin took a no decision for high A Daytona after surrendering four runs in five innings.

Lexington Legends June Awards

Minor League Baseball

In the next June awards post we’ll look at the Lexington Legends:

Hitter of the month: 1B Aaron Bray

  • Stats: 25-64 (.391), 16 RBI, 10 R
  • Honorable Mention: Jacob Goebbert, Miguel Arrendell, Jose Altuve, J. D. Martinez

Pitcher of the month: RHP Zachary Grimmett

  • Stats: 1-0, 1.80 ERA, 7 G, 28 SO/5 BB, 20 IP
  • Honorable Mention: Luis Cruz, Wander Alvino, Jose Trinidad, Robert Donovan

Lexington Legends May Awards

Minor League Baseball

May awards for the Lexington Legends:

Hitter of the month: OF J. D. Martinez

  • Stats: 27-109 (.339), 5 HR, 22 RBI, 24 R
  • Honorable Mention: Kody Hinze, Jose Altuve, Miguel Arrendell

Pitcher of the month: RHP Robert Donovan

  • Stats: 3-1, 1.50 ERA, 5 GS, 10 SO, 23 IP
  • Honorable Mention: Arcenio Leon, Jose Trinidad, Wander Alvino, David Duncan, Kirk Clark

BluGrass Baseball Lexington Legends April Awards

Minor League Baseball

The second of our monthly awards posts will look at the low A Lexington Legends. Lexington was 11-12 in April and sits in fourth place in the South Atlantic League Southern Division. Check out the BluGrass Baseball April awards for the team below:

Hitter of the Month: OF J. D. Martinez

  • Stats: .365/.419/.521 — 2 HR, 19 RBI, 21 R
  • Martinez leads the Legends in batting average, on-base percentage, runs scored and OPS. The 2009 20th-round pick out of Nova Southeastern University was one of three Legends to play in all 23 games in April.
  • Honorable Mention: 1B Kody Hinze, 3B Jonathan Meyer, 2B Jose Altuve

Pitcher of the month: RHP Tanner Bushue

  • Stats: 1-1, 2.81 ERA, 5 GS, 26 SO/11 BB, 25.2 IP
  • Bushue entered 2010 as the Legends’ most highly touted pitcher and has done nothing to disappoint so far this season. He led Lexington starters in ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched in April.
  • Honorable Mention: RHP Robert Donovan, RHP Arcenio Leon

2010 Lexington Legends Opening Day Roster

Minor League Baseball

The Lexington Legends have announced their 2010 Opening Day roster after the parent club Houston Astros confirmed Minor League player assignments Sunday. The team will be headlined by 2009 first-round pick shortstop Jiovanni Mier, ranked the No. 2 prospect in the Astros’ organization by Baseball America. Fourteen of the new Legends were 2009 draft picks. Pitchers David Duncan, Arcenio Leon and Jose Trinidad, infielder Kody Hinze and infielder-outfielder Andy Simunic each spent part of 2009 with the Legends and catcher Jonathan Fixler was a Legend in 2008. Four Opening Day Legends were ranked by Baseball America as one of the top 30 prospects in the Astros’ organization, and I’ve included their rankings in parentheses when applicable. Each pitcher is listed by throwing arm, and batters’ information is listed bats/throws. (Numbers have not yet been assigned.)

Pitchers

  • RHP — Bushue, Tanner (BA #7) — 2nd round (2009)
  • RHP — Cisnero, Jose — NDFA (2007)
  • RHP — Clark, Kirk —  FA (2009)
  • RHP — Donovan, Robert — 23rd round (2009)
  • LHP — Duncan, David — 5th round (2008)
  • RHP — Leon, Arcenio (BA #19) — NDFA (2005)
  • RHP —  MacDonald, James — 18th round (2009)
  • RHP — Minaya, Juan — NDFA (2008)
  • LHP —  Pitkin, Colton —  41st round (2007)
  • RHP — Sarisky, Daniel — 40th round (2009)
  • RHP — Schurz, Michael — 44th round (2009)
  • RHP — Trinidad, Jose — NDFA (2006)
  • RHP — Walker, Brandt — 8th round (2009)

Catchers

  • Fixler, Jonathan — R/R — 19th round (2007)
  • Garcia, Rene — R/R — 35th round (2008)

Infielders

  • Altuve, Jose  — R/R — NDFA (2006)
  • Arrendell, Miguel — L/R — NDFA (2006)
  • Bray, Aaron — L/R — 27th round (2009)
  • Hinze, Kody — R/R — FA 2008
  • Meyer, Jonathan (BA #18) — S/R — 3rd round (2009)
  • Mier, Jiovanni (BA#2) — R/R — 1st round (21st overall pick) (2009)
  • Simunic, Andrew — R/R — 17th round (2008)

Outfielders

  • Goebbert, Jacob — L/L — 13th round (2009)
  • Hogue, Grant — S/R — 35th round (2009)
  • Kemp, Brian — R/R — 19th round (2009)
  • Martinez, Julio — R/R — 20th round (2009)