Baseball in Fort Wayne

Several local standouts have taken their games to the college level. Recently, some of their names have appeared on the web:

Ball State’s baseball team boasts a handful of represenatives from Northeast Indiana. A recent game against Southern Illinois University featured two of them. In the contest, junior catcher Zach Dygert (Angola) drove in three runs and reached base four times. In that same game, junior right fielder Ryan Chenoweth (Homestead) collected a double in his last at-bat to bring the game-tying run to the plate. Unfortunately, the Cardinal’s bid to come from behind fell short.

In another close contest, Kreigh Williams (Norwell) scored the game tying run for Rose-Hulman to take the game into extra innings. The team fell short and lost 4-3. Ryan Fuller (Elmhurst) also tossed two scoreless innings for Rose-Hulman in the game.

FanGraphs recently reviewed the Arizona Diamondbacks’ farm system. And of course, no analysis of the D-backs’ system would be complete without mentioning of Jarrod Parker:

Jarrod Parker is the system’s best prospect but some of the enthusiasm that saw him get drafted ninth overall has been tempered. He is no longer viewed as a future No. 1 stud starter, but more of a solid and reliable No. 2 or 3 starter. He allowed 113 hits in 117 A-ball innings in 2008. Parker also posted rates of 2.52 BB/9 and 8.95 K/9. The right-hander has four solid pitches, including a mid-90s fastball, curveball, slider and change-up. At the age of 20, Parker will likely begin the year in High-A ball but could taste Double-A by the end of the year.

Speaking of Jarrod Parker, I recently got to thinking about an intersting tidbit that I don’t think many people have realized yet.

As you may recall, Jarrod Parker pitched the final game in Memorial Stadium. By all accounts, it was the first time in the sixteen year history of the park that a local product appeared in a game there (if you know of any others, please correct me). It took a decade and a half to get a local product on the field at Memorial Stadium.

It might take one day to achieve the same feat at Parkview Field.

Last year, Kyle Day (Snider) was taken in the 12th round by the Cincinnati Reds. He signed and played in 31 games with the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer (Rookie) League. I’m not sure how the Reds run their minor league system, but I would think that given his experience from last season and that he has college experience, he may start the season with the Red’s Single-A Midwest League affiliate, the Dayton Dragons.

Take a look at the TinCaps’ schedule. Who do they play on Opening Day at Parkview Field? That’s right, the Dayton Dragons.

Then agian, since he has college ezperience, he may get started at High-A Sarasota. I’ve searched around for information on Day’s 2009 outlook and have come up empty thus far. Anyoen have any insight?