Woodie Fryman

Rockies invite Christian Friedrich to Spring Training; Ben Revere may contribute for Twins in 2011

College Baseball

Christian Friedrich; Photo by Matt McGee via Flickr

Latest links from around Kentucky baseball:

  • Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports the Colorado Rockies have given former EKU left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich a non-roster invitation to Spring Training.
  • Kelly Thesier of MLB.com lists Lexington Catholic alum Ben Revere among the “prospects to watch” for possible contributions with the Minnesota Twins in 2011.
  • Garry Barker of The Flemingsburg Gazette has the obituary for Ewing native and former MLB veteran Woodie Fryman.
  • Brad Stephens of the College Heights Herald reports the Bowling Green Hot Rods and Western Kentucky University have discuss hosting a future Sun Belt Conference tournament or NCAA regional at Bowling Green Ballpark in addition to the two series they will host there this season.
  • I will be at the University of Kentucky‘s baseball media day this afternoon so check back later and follow us on Twitter for updates from coach Gary Henderson and a few of his players.

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

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

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.

Kentucky All-Star Game Facts and Figures

Major League Baseball

Pee Wee Reese baseball card

Bowling Green native and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Corey Hart introduced himself to casual baseball fans last night with his impressive home run derby first-round, but he’ll look to add to his reputation tonight when he starts the MLB All-Star game for the National League. Tonight marks Hart’s second all-star selection putting him in an exclusive club of Kentuckians with multiple all-star appearances. Check out that state and others below in an All-Star edition of facts and figures:

  • In total, 16 players born in Kentucky have been selected as MLB all-stars.
  • Just 11 have been selected to multiple all-star teams.
  • Hall-of-famer Pee Wee Reese leads all Kentuckians with 10 all-star selections.
  • Ashland native and Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb leads active Kentuckians with three selections.
  • Florida Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla, born in Louisville, and Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Aaron Cook, born in Fort Campbell, are the other active Kentuckian all-stars.
  • Former MLB outfielder David Justice, who was born in Cincinnati but attended high school in Covington and college at Thomas More was selected to three all-star games.
  • Webb (UK), Justice and Paul Derringer (Georgetown College) are the only alumni of Kentucky colleges to be selected as all-stars.

Check out the full list of all-stars born in Kentucky with number of appearances below with active players in italics:

  • Pee Wee Reese — 10
  • Jim Bunning — 9
  • Paul Derringer — 6
  • Travis Fryman — 5
  • Stan Spence — 4
  • Gus Bell — 4
  • Brandon Webb — 3
  • Dan Uggla — 2
  • Mike Greenwell — 2
  • Woodie Fryman — 2
  • Corey Hart — 2
  • Aaron Cook — 1
  • Len Barker — 1
  • Jay Buhner — 1
  • Vern Bickford — 1
  • Paul Byrd — 1

* Stats are via Baseball-Reference.com

BluGrass Baseball Record Book: Strikeouts

Major League Baseball

Jim BunningIn the second pitching category of the record book we’ll look at strikeouts. Once again the single-season record book is pretty one-sided, but Brandon Webb has a chance to crack it in the coming years if he rebounds from shoulder surgery. Remember we’re using the “Lincoln Rule” which limits the record book to players born in Kentucky.

Career Strikeouts Leaders

  1. Jim Bunning — 1955-1971 — 2855
  2. Gus Weyhing — 1887-1901 — 1665
  3. Woodie Fryman — 1966-1983 — 1587
  4. Paul Derringer — 1931-1945 — 1507
  5. Don Robinson — 1978-1992 — 1251

Single-Season Strikeouts Leaders

  1. Bunning — 1965 — 268
  2. Bunning — 1967 — 253
  3. Bunning — 1966 — 252
  4. Bunning — 1964 — 219; Weyhing — 1891 — 219
  5. Weyhing — 1889 — 213

Notes: Sen. Bunning and Weyhing are the only Kentucky-born pitchers to record 200 strikeouts in a season. In addition to the six seasons above, Bunning also struck out 201 batters in 1959 and 1960 (he lead the league both seasons), and Weyhing struck out 204 in 1888 and 202 in 1892.  Brandon Webb is the only other Kentucky-born pitcher to record 1,000 strikeouts in a career, and he struck out 194 in 2007. Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton also has a chance to crack the 1,000 strikeouts plateau with 364 more K’s.