Kentucky Minor League Free Agents

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.

Kipnis named Indians’ MiLB player of year; Louisville Bats standouts selected to Reds MiLB all-star team

Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Jason Kipnis; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Latest links and notes from around Kentucky baseball:

Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports the Cleveland Indians named one-time UK outfielder Jason Kipnis, who transferred to Arizona State, the organization’s minor league player of the year.
Kipnis’ cycle in the AAA playoffs for the Columbus Clippers is nominated for the MiLB AAA game of the year award. You can vote here.
PRP alum and St. Louis Cardinals’ 2010 first-round pick Zack Cox was 2-5 with a double and two RBI for the Surprise Rafters of the Arizona Fall League.
Former UofL right-handed pitcher B. J. Rosenberg pitched a scoreless inning and struck out two for the Mesa Solar Sox of the AFL.
Louisville Bats catcher Devin Mesoraco was 2-4 with a run scored for the Peoria Saguaros of the AFL.
While no Kentucky player will suit up for the World Series beginning tomorrow the San Francisco Giants wouldn’t have made it there without contributions from a variety of players, including Louisville native Todd Wellemeyer, Chris Haft of MLB.com writes.
Josh Jackson, writing for MiLB.com, selected Bats catcher Devin Mesoraco, third baseman Juan Francisco, outfielder Dave Sappelt, outfielder Wladimir Balentien and designated hitter Luis Terrero to the Cincinnati Reds’ organizational all-star team.

End of season awards: Louisville Bats

Minor League Baseball

Wladimir Balentien; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

The Louisville Bats were eliminated from the International League playoffs by Durham Sunday, bringing the team’s 2010 season to an end. The Bats used a late-season rally to finish at 79-65 on the season and win the IL West Division. In the third end of season awards post we’ll look at the best 2010 performances from the Cincinnati Reds’ AAA affiliate.

Hitter of the month: OF Wladimir Balentien

Bats outfielder Wladimir Balentien was one of the few Louisville batters to spend the whole season with the team. Balentien batted .282 with 25 home runs 78 RBI and 71 runs scored. The outfielder also stole 12 bases in 13 tries, boasted a .337 on-base percentage and .536 slugging percentage.
Honorable Mention — Infielder Chris Valaika led the team with a .304 batting average…First baseman Yonder Alonso batted .296 with 12 home runs in 101 games after a May promotion from AA…Outfielder Todd Frazier, shortstop Zach Cozart and third baseman Juan Francisco each slugged at least 17 home runs.

Pitcher of the month: LHP Matt Maloney

Left-handed starting pitcher Matt Maloney made 23 starts for Louisville on the season and led the team with 10 wins, a 3.34 ERA and 134 and two-third innings pitched. Maloney struck out 104 batters and walked just 28 on the season.
Honorable Mention — Left-handed pitcher Travis Wood boasted a 3.06 ERA in 16 games…Cuban phenom Aroldis Chapman won nine games, saved eight and led the team with 125 strikeouts in 39 games between the bullpen and starting rotation…Right-handed pitcher Ben Jukich won seven games and struck out 103 in 115 and one-third innings.

August Awards: Louisville Bats

Minor League Baseball

Wladimir Balentien; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

We’ll begin the final monthly awards series with a look at the best August performances from the Louisville Bats:

Hitter of the month: OF Wladimir Balentien

Stats: .394/.440/.663, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 16 R
Honorable Mention: Chris Valaika, Yonder Alonso, Juan Francisco, Drew Sutton, Chris Denove, Todd Frazier

Pitcher of the month: LHP Aroldis Chapman

Stats: 2-0, 1.35 ERA, 7 SV, 24 SO/4 BB, 13.1 IP
Honorable Mention: Chad Reineke, Ben Jukich, Justin Lehr, Frederico Baez, Micah Owings

Cowgill, Sappelt, Valaika, Balentien named to all-league teams

Minor League Baseball

Colling Cowgill; Photo: UK Athletics

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

Lexington native and former UK outfielder Collin Cowgill was named to the All-Southern League postseason team. Current Louisville Bats outfielder Dave Sappelt was also selected to the team for his work for AA Carolina.
Bats second baseman Chris Valaika and outfielder Wladimir Balentien were selected to the All-International League postseason team.
First baseman Yonder Alonso, catcher Corky Miller and right-handed pitcher Carlos Fisher joined left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman as Bats promoted to Cincinnati with the September expansion of rosters.
Jason Stella of the Bats’ media relations department recently sat down for an interview with the newest Cincinnati Red: Yonder Alonso.
John Manuel of Baseball America breaks down the best prospects in the Arizona Fall League, including Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere.

MiLB Roundup: Bats lose; Legends, Hot Rods win; Shaffer streaking; Adcock gets no decision; Lueke gets save

Minor League Baseball

Nathan Adcock; Photo by mwlguide via Flickr

Highlights from Kentucky MiLB action:

Paducah native Shawn Roof and the Toledo Mud Hens sent the Louisville Bats to a 6-2 loss. Roof tallied three hits, one RBI and one run scored for the Mud Hens, and right fielder Wladimir Balentien homered for the Bats.
Lexington Legends pitchers surrendered just four hits in a 14-1 win over Hagerstown. First baseman Kody Hinze slugged his 17th home run of the season, right fielder Jacob Goebbert drove in five runs and right-handed pitcher Jose Cisnero surrendered one run in six innings.
Bowling Green Hot Rods pitchers surrendered just three hits in a 4-1 win over Fort Wayne. Catcher Mark Thomas was 2-4 with a double and two RBI.
Former NKU outfielder Jake Shaffer extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single for high A High Desert. Monday’s game was the first in the streak in which Shaffer didn’t have multiple hits.
Former NKU right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke recorded his 17th save of the season for AA Tacoma.
Former Murray St. left-handed pitcher Daniel Calhoun improved to 8-0 on the season after pitching two scoreless innings of relief for low A Quad Cities.
Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock took a no decision after surrendering two runs in five innings for high A Bradenton.
Louisville native and 2010 Astros draftee Jason Chowning earned his second professional win with three scoreless innings of relief for short-season Tri-City.

MiLB Roundup: Bats win; Legends, Hot Rods lose; Langfels, Cunningham, Townsend homer; Mabee gets win

Minor League Baseball

Wes Cunningham: BluGrass Baseball photo

Highlights from Tuesday Kentucky MiLB action:

The Louisville Bats opened their seven-game homestand with a 5-1 win over Indianapolis. Right fielder Wladimir Balentien was 3-4 with two home runs, four RBI and two runs scored.
The Lexington Legends blew a 4-0, eighth inning lead in an eventual 5-4 loss to Augusta. Right-handed pitcher Jose Cisnero took a no decision despite facing the minimum 21 batters through seven shutout innings. Cisnero surrendered one hit and struck out four.
The Bowling Green Hot Rods failed to secure a series split against South Bend with a 3-2 loss Tuesday. Center fielder Ty Morrison was 2-4 with two RBI.
Former EKU third baseman and 2010 Rockies draftee Jayson Langfels slugged his fourth home run of the season for short-season Tri-City.
Former NKU outfielder Jake Shaffer was 3-5 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored for high A High Desert.
Former Murray St. first baseman and 2010 Padres draftee Wes Cunningham slugged his fourth home run of the season for short-season Eugene.
Former Morehead St. right-handed pitcher Henry Mabee earned his third win of the season with two shutout innings for AA Birmingham.
London native Jon Townsend slugged his sixth home run of the season for high A Rancho Cucamonga.

MiLB Roundup: Legends catcher hits three HRs in loss; Cooper defeats Hot Rods; Bats lose; Rusin, Marks win

Minor League Baseball

Chris Rusin; Photo: UK Athletics

Highlights from Friday Kentucky MiLB action:

The Louisville Bats snapped their eight-game winning streak with a 12-4 loss to Columbus. Designated hitter Wladimir Balentien was 2-4 with a triple, home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
The Lexington Legends blew an 8-2 sixth inning lead in an eventual 10-8 loss to West Virginia. Catcher Ben Heath posted one of the best performances of the season, going 3-4 with three home runs, seven RBI and three runs scored.
Danville native and 2010 Tigers draftee Patrick Cooper held the Bowling Green Hot Rods scoreless for six and one-third innings in a 4-2 West Michigan win. Cooper surrendered just two hits in the start.
Former UK left-handed pitcher Chris Rusin won his second consecutive start for AA Tennessee after surrendering two unearned runs in six innings. Rusin struck out six and walked one.
One-time UK outfielder Jason Kipnis was 2-5 with a home run, two RBI and one run scored for AA Akron.
Former UK catcher and 2010 Astros NDFA Marcus Nidiffer was promoted to short-season Tri-City of the New York-Penn League where he went 1-3 in his debut.
Former UK outfielder Sawyer Carroll slugged his seventh home run of the season for AA San Antonio.
Former UofL infielder Chris Dominguez slugged his 18th home run and drove in four runs for low A Augusta.
Former UofL left-handed pitcher Justin Marks picked up his second consecutive win after surrendering one run in six innings for high A Stockton.
Former NKU left-handed pitcher and 2010 White Sox draftee Jarrett Casey surrendered just five hits in 10 shutout innings but still took a no decision for rookie-level Bristol.

MiLB Roundup: Bats move into first with win; Legends, Hot Rods lose; Adcock almost unhittable; Bynum homers

Minor League Baseball

Nathan Adcock; Photo by mwlguide via Flickr

Highlights from Thursday Kentucky MiLB action:

The Louisville Bats moved into first place in the International League’s West Division with a 10-4 win over Toledo. Outfielder Wladimir Balentien and second baseman Chris Valaika each tallied four hits in the game.
Former UK infielder Michael Bertram was 2-4 with a double and RBI for Toledo in the game.
Left-handed pitcher Brad Dydalewicz walked two batters and hit one without recording an out in the sixth inning to send the Lexington Legends to a 4-2 loss to West Virginia. Right-handed starting pitcher Juan Minaya surrendered two runs on six hits in six innings and struck out five while walking one.
The Bowling Green Hot Rods lost their second straight game to West Michigan with a 4-1 loss Thursday. Left-handed pitcher Kyle Lobstein lost his sixth game of the season despite surrendering three runs on six hits in six and one-third innings.
North Hardin alum Nathan Adcock improved to 9-7 on the season for high A Bradenton after surrendering just three hits in six shutout innings. Adcock struck out six and walked one.
Former EKU left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich took a no decision for AA Tulsa after surrendering four runs on nine hits in six innings.
Louisville native Seth Bynum was 3-5 with a home run, double, two RBI and one run scored for AAA Syracuse.
One-time UK outfielder Jason Kipnis was 3-5 with a triple, run scored and RBI for AA Akron.
Former UK outfielder John Shelby was 3-5 with a double, run scored and RBI for AA Birmingham.

MiLB Roundup: Bats, Legends, Hot Rods all win; Ross, Darnell earn victories; Dominguez reaches base 5 times

Minor League Baseball

Logan Darnell; BluGrass Baseball photo

Highlights from Tuesday MiLB action:

The Louisville Bats extended their winning streak to six games with an 8-7 win over Toledo. Designated hitter Wladimir Balentien was 3-5 with two doubles, a run scored and five RBI.
The Lexington Legends offense gave right-handed pitcher Tanner Bushue plenty of run support but he didn’t need it in the team’s 10-3 win over Delmarva. Bushue surrendered just one unearned run on six hits in six innings, and three different Legends tallied three hits in the game.
The Bowling Green Hot Rods scored six runs after the sixth inning to earn a come-from-behind 9-5 win over Fort Wayne. Right fielder Brett Nommensen was 3-5 with two triples, five RBI and one run scored.
Former UK left-handed pitcher and 2010 Twins draftee Logan Darnell picked up his first career win for rookie-level Elizabethton with five scoreless innings in his second professional start.
Former UofL infielder Chris Dominguez was 4-5 with a walk for low A Augusta.
Lexington native Robbie Ross picked up his 12th win of the season after surrendering two runs on five hits in five innings for high A Bakersfield. Ross struck out five and walked one.
Former UofL left-handed pitcher and 2010 Cardinals draftee Bob Revesz picked up his first career save for rookie-level Johnson City.
Frankfort native and 2010 Royals draftee Cameron Conner tripled and drove in three runs for the rookie-level AZL Royals.