Todd Wellemeyer retires after nine MLB seasons

Todd Wellemeyer; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Louisville native and former Bellarmine right-handed pitcher Todd Wellemeyer announced his retirement today, effective immediately, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports. Wellemeyer signed a minor-league contract with the Chicago Cubs in the offseason and entered Spring Training with a chance to earn one of the team’s open starting rotation spots. Wellemeyer pitched well in the spring, posting a 1-2 record an 4.50 ERA in three games, but was slowed by a hip injury. Wellemeyer made his only appearance of the season on Thursday for AAA Iowa, surrendering four runs on eight hits in three and two-third innings while striking out two batters and walking two.

Wellemeyer ends his MLB career with a 32-34 record and 4.83 ERA in 208 games over parts of nine seasons. Wellemeyer struck out 459 batters and walked 305 in 614 and two-third MLB innings. He mad 75 starts in his career. The right-handed pitcher’s best season came in 2008 when he was 13-9 with a 3.71 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 32 starts for the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs selected Wellemeyer in the 4th round of the 2000 draft out of Bellarmine. He made his MLB debut on May 15, 2003. The Cubs traded Wellemeyer to the Florida Marlins on March 28, 2006, and the Royals claimed Wellemeyer off waivers in June of that same season. Wellemeyer joined the Cardinals in 2007 then signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants before the 2010 season. He made 13 appearances for the world-champion Giants last season, before the team released him in August. He returned to the Cubs on a minor-league deal in January.

Webb’s velocity down during rehab appearance; Miller struggling; Wellemeyer to return to action this week

High School Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Brandon Webb; Photo by SD Dirk via Flickr

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb was at 78 to 81 mph during the first two innings of his latest extended spring training appearance.
Jason Frakes of the Courier-Journal runs down the high school top 25 matchups at this week’s Louisville Invitational Tournament.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Louisville native Trever Miller has been struggling recently as the Cardinals’ only left-handed reliever. Miller has not recorded an out in his last five appearances.
Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports Louisville native and former Bellarmine right-handed pitcher Todd Wellemeyer is scheduled to pitch this week for AAA Iowa.
Thomas Harding and Nick Kosmider of MLB.com reports Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook, who was born in Ft. Campbell, will throw a simulated game on Wednesday as he rehabs from a broken finger.
Mike Fields of the Lexington Herald-Leader profiles 16-0 Madison Central High School in his most recent high school notebook.
Herald-Leader columnist Mark Story also talked to me this week about BluGrass Baseball for his latest column.

Lueke eagerly awaits MLB debut; Kearns to platoon in left

Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Austin Kearns; Photo by Scott Ableman via Flickr

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

Greg Johns of MLB.com talks with Highland Heights native Josh Lueke about his impending MLB debut, and Lueke reminisces about attending Reds’ games as a teenager.
Jordan Bastian and Zack Meisel of MLB.com reports Lexington native Austin Kearns will split time in left field with Travis Buck until Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore returns from injury.
Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reports the Phillies have released Louisville native Matt Anderson, who was attempting to make a comeback with the team after several years away from professional baseball.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Cardinals are not rushing Louisville native Zack Cox, who might have been able to handle AA in his first full professional season.

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.

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.

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.

Spring roundup: Nathan Adock surrenders three runs in start

Major League Baseball

Nathan Adcock; Photo by mwlguide via Flickr

Stats and highlights from Thursday Kentucky Spring Training action:

Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock‘s scoreless spring came to an end after he surrendered three runs on four hits in two innings for the Kansas City Royals.
Louisville native Trever Miller surrendered two runs on one hit in one inning for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Offseason Louisville resident Matt Maloney pitched a scoreless inning for the Cincinnati Reds.
Atlanta Braves left-handed pitcher Jonny Venters, who was born in Pikeville, struck out two batters in a scoreless inning versus the Marlins.
In that same game Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, who was born in Louisville, was 0-3 with two strikeouts.
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds, who was born in Pikeville, was 0-3 and is batting just .196 this spring.

Cox, Revere ranked among top prospects in organizations; Lueke likely will make MLB roster; Hustlers unveil schedule

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Zack Cox; University of Arkansas photo

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com ranks PRP alum Zack Cox the No. 2 prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Mayo ranks Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere the No. 4 prospect in the Minnesota Twins organization.
Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA lists the University of Louisville among the weekend losers in college baseball.
Geoff Baker, columnist for The Seattle Times, writes Highland Heights native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke has probably done enough this spring to earn a spot in the Mariners’ bullpen and could possibly be considered for save opportunities if closer Brandon League falters.
Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com reports Ashland native and former UK right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb won’t get his wish of pitching in a B or minor league game this week and will instead pitch another batting practice session today.
The Lexington Hustlers have released the team’s 2011 summer schedule.
Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports no news has been good news concerning the rehab of Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook, who was born in Fort Campbell.

Spring roundup: Jon Rauch, Trever Miller, Josh Lueke and Trystan Magnuson post scoreless innings

Uncategorized

Jon Rauch; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Stats and highlights from Sunday Kentucky Spring Training action:

Louisville native and former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch was credited with his first save of the spring after pitching a scoreless inning for the Blue Jays.
Louisville native Trever Miller pitched a scoreless inning for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Highland Heights native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke was credited with a hold after pitching a scoreless inning for the Seattle Mariners.
Former UofL right-handed pitcher Trystan Magnuson was credited with a save after pitching a scoreless inning for the Oakland Athletics.
Former UK right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton was charged with a loss after surrendering four runs on eight hits in six and one-third innings for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds, who was born in Pikeville, was 2-4 with one strikeout versus the Rays.
Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Tyler Clippard, who was born in Lexington, surrendered two hits and a walk in a scoreless inning versus the Tigers.
Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, who was born in Louisville, was 0-3 versus the Astros.

Spring roundup: Miller, Rauch, Lueke post scoreless outings

Major League Baseball

Trever Miller; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Stats and highlights from Thursday Kentucky Spring Training action:

Louisville native Trever Miller struck out two batters in a perfect inning for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Louisville native and former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch struck out one batter in a perfect inning for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Highland Heights native and former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke surrendered three hits but did not give up a run in one and one-third innings for the Seattle Mariners.
Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere was 1-5 with one triple and one RBI for the Minnesota Twins.
Lexington native and former UK outfielder John Shelby made an appearance as a pinch runner and defensive replacement for the Chicago White Sox in a split-squad game.
Lexington native Austin Kearns was 0-3 with two strikeouts for the Cleveland Indians.
PLD alum A. J. Ellis was 0-1 for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla, who was born in Louisville, was 1-4 with one double, one RBI and one run scored.