Baseball in Fort Wayne

Archive for August, 2007

From MLB.com:

“This is an exciting day for all of us,” said general manager Josh Byrnes. “Any time you draft a player and bring him in here, we get excited about the future.”

The right-hander out of Norwell (Ind.) High School received a $2.1 million signing bonus. He was named the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year after going 12-0 with a 0.10 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 70 innings.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder, who has drawn comparisons to the Astros’ Roy Oswalt, has tried to take inspiration from another right-hander that is not big in stature but has had Major League success.

“I think I’ve tried to model myself after Tim Lincecum this year,” said the 18-year-old. “He’s another supposedly undersized righty.”

Parker’s fastball sits at 93-94 mph, but he can dial it up to 98 mph when he needs to due to what scouts term “quick arm action.”

[tags]Jarrod Parker[/tags]

A handful of Fort Wayne and NE Indiana headlines to share today:

• D-backs ink top Draft pick Parker: Local high school standout and first round pick is now a professional baseball player
• Notes: Bush needs elbow surgery: Former Wizard shortstop and pitcher; past number one overall pick needs Tommy John surgery.
• Notes: Wedge expressing frustration: In light of recent swoon, Wedge is considering major lineup changes if offensive struggles continue.
• Defenders go deep for win: Former area high school standout, Simon Klink hit go-ahead home run with one out in the top of the 13th Wednesday to top the Double-A Akron Aeros, 3-2.

[tags]Jarrod Parker, Eric Wedge, Simon Klink, Matt Bush, Fort Wayne Baseball[/tags]

Former Wizards pitcher, Jack Cassel, was called up from Triple-A on Friday, August 10th to join the parent club Padres. He debuted after coming in for the starter, Wil Ledezma, in the third inning.

Plans call for Cassel to pitch in long relief for the Padres after putting together a resume that earned him a Triple-A All-Star spot for the Portland Beavers this season. He was 7-11 with a 3.54 ERA in 24 games (21 starts). Cassel, who turned 28 on Wednesday, leads the Pacific Coast League in complete games with 3, ranks fourth in ERA and third in strikeouts (108) and innings pitched (139.2).

Cassel was drafted in the 25th round of the 2000 draft and was released in 2006 before resigning with the Friars as a free agent. He appeared in Fort Wayne over three seasons (2000-2002), plyaing in 74 games and logging over 200 total innings pitched while compiling 148 strikeouts.

[tags]Jack Cassel, Fort Wayne Wizards, Padres[/tags]