Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘Felix Carrasco’

• Kyle Blanks, the 6-foot-6, 270-pound former Wizards first baseman went 5-for-7 for the Double-A San Antonia Missions on Wednesday. He tied a career high with six RBIs and had run-scoring singles in the first and fourth before hitting a two-run shot in the sixth. In the eighth, he doubled (his 20th of the season). Then, he slugged his second home run of the game in the bottom of the 12th to give lead the Missions to a 14-12 win.
• Josh Bard returned to the Padres from the DL on Friday. To make room on the 25-man roster, former Wizards catcher, Luke Carlin, was optioned to Triple-A Portland. Carlin made his MLB debut earlier in the season and was hitting .154 in 91 at-bats on the season.
• Torii Hunter still feels strange when facing the Twins, the team with whom he spent the first 15 years of his career.”Hunter’s connection to the Twins can still be felt by the way he speaks about the organization. But with his team chasing the top record in the American League, Hunter wants to pull off as many victories over the Twins as he can right now. Still, he said he’s hoping that the two clubs might perhaps meet up again in the playoffs.”
• Lots of Wizards related news over at MadFrairs.
  • John Conniff interviews one of my personal favorites, Felix Carrasco and Brad Chulk (subscription required).
  • Padres minor league field coordinator, Tom Gamboa, and Padres vice president of scouting and player development, Grady Fuson, talk about the Padres’ prospects – which include many current and former Wizards players. (subscription required)
• Speaking of prospects, Padres’ front-office executive, Paul Depodesta talks about this year’s draft picks – both that were signed and those who were not. Hopefully we’ll be seeing many of them come through Fort Wayne real soon (seventh rounder, Adam Zornes is already here).

Felix Carrasco is starting to turn more than a few heads with his play for the Fort Wayne Wizards. But last night, he made everyone stand up and take notice. The switch hitting first baseman powered out 11 in the first round, seven the second and three in the final round to defeat Clinton’s Ian Gac — who is the league’s home run leader.

Carrasco used the right field scoreboard as target practice and hit several shots off of it during the competition. But he was doing more than aiming for it.

“I was trying to hit it over the scoreboard,” joked the 21-year-old Carrasco, whose 12 homers are tied for second in the league after not hitting a ball out of the yard in 101 at-bats between the Rookie-level Arizona League and Class A Short-Season Northwest League in 2007. “The hard work is really paying off. I didn’t feel tired” [source: MiLB.com]

I’m checking my history, but I don’t beleive Carrasco is the first Wizards player to win the contest. I’ll provide an update once I know. If you happen to recall any, please comment below.

Photo by Chad Gramling (taken earlier int he 2008 season).

Three Fort Wayne Wizards will represent the Midwest League’s Eastern Division team during the league’s All-Star Game on Tuesday, June 17th at Dow Diamond in Midland, Michigan; which is the home of the Great Lakes Loons.

Second baseman Andrew Parrino was named a starter for the squad, while first baseman Felix Carrasco was named a reserve infielder and right-hander Derek McDaid was named to the pitching staff.

Parrino enters tonight’s game between the Wizards and the Loons hitting .276 with four doubles, three home runs, 15 runs batted in and six stolen bases. Carrasco, hitting .255, leads the Wizards with nine home runs and 37 RBI, while also collecting 10 doubles. McDaid is 3-0 with one save and a 2.52 earned run average in 21 relief appearances. In 25 innings of work, he has allowed 23 hits, walked only seven and struck out 15. [source: MadFriars]

In Wizards Alumni News: Wade LeBlanc has earned Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week honors for May 26 through June 1.

There’s no doubt it’s been a struggle for LeBlanc this season. In his first nine starts, he allowed 40 earned runs in 40 2/3 innings. However, the 6-foot-2 lefty’s performance last week should help him forget his early season woes. His turnaround began Tuesday against the Sacramento River Cats. LeBlanc, out of the University of Alabama, allowed one hit, struck out five and walked three in five shutout innings. After picking up his fourth win of the season, the second-round pick by the San Diego Padres in 2006 wanted more. Against the Las Vegas 51′s on Sunday, LeBlanc tossed five more strong innings, yielding two hits and one earned run while fanning eight and walking one for his fifth victory of the year. [source: MiLB.com]

Photos: Top, Andy Parrino; Bottom, Felix Carrasco – both by Chad Gramling