Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘Jon Huber’

Former Wizards Pitcher, Jon Huber has signed a deal with the Atlanta Braves and will report to Triple-A Gwinnett County. Huber has some limited Major League experience and had been pitching with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League prior to the signing.

Former Wizards right-hander, Cory Doyne has signed with the Nationals and joins Triple-A Syracuse. Doyne has spent the past two seasons in the Baltimore Orioles organization.

Former Wizards outfielder, Will Venable has returned to the Padres after starting the season at Triple-A Portland. I recently got Will’s autograph. Glad to see him back in the big leagues.

As expected, former Wizards catcher, Chad Moeller was designated for assignment when Matt Wieters was called up. He cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A norfolk.

The TinCaps will have four representatives at this year’s Midwest League All Star game. Congratz to INF James Darnell, OF Sawyer Carroll, and right-handers, Brad Brach and Anthony Bass. If you’d like to help former Wizard Kyle Balnks make the Triple-A All-Star game, you can cast a ballot similar to the MLB version.

MLB.com takes a look at some of the Padres’ recent draft picks as we near the 2009 Amateur Entry Draft. Those picks include 2009 TinCaps Jaff Decker, Allan Dykstra, Nick Schmidt as well as former Wizards, Matt Antonelli,  Wynn Pelzer and Kyle Blanks.

ESPN’s Peter Gammons notes that Jarrod Parker is one of the up and comers who are going to be the future cornerstones for the Dieamondbacks’ pitching staff. No news flash here, but it’s pretty impressive that Gammons is taking note of a local product.

The Lancaster Barnstormers (Indy League) feature two former Wizards, L.J. Biernbaum and Jon Huber. Both helped the team to recently polish off their seventh straight win.

Speaking of Indy Leagues, former Wizards catcher, Justin Pickett is now playing with the Florence Freedom of the Frontier League. He recently collected his first hit in a walk-off win. pickett played last season in the Texas Rangers’ system. Not like there weren’t a load of other catchers blocking him there!

One blogger is pretty excited about doing some work on an upcoming TinCaps commercial.

Former Wizard, Mike Baxter is emerging as an offensive force. the San Antonio Missions outfielder was awarded Texas League Player of the Week honors

His hitting played a big part in helping the Missions win 13 of 18 games, including a 9-3 victory at Frisco on May 23. On May 22, he went 5-for-5 with a double, driving in four runs and scoring a pair to help the Missions extend their winning streak to five games. The next day, he went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. By week’s end he’d hit safely in 14 of 15 games to elevate is batting average from .308 to .353 (No. 3 in league), having collected 18 RBIs, 10 of his 18 doubles and 14 runs scored in that span. “He’s the guy really doing the damage right now,” manager Terry Kennedy told the San Antonio Express-News.

Freddy Guzman has been signed to a Minor League deal by the Boston Red Sox. he had been with Seattle in Spring Training but was released after not making the team.

In case you missed it, I recently had a letter to the editor published.

Tickets for the TinCaps home opener at Parkview Field sold out in 28 minutes. In actuality, there were still a few lawn section tickets available, but all the fixed seat tickets sold out fast. Glad I got mine. The new on-lien ordering system is great.

Another blogger to watch this season is Anna Lynch McClaryMc. I suspect we’ll be seing some great shots of the TinCaps and Parkview Field once the season gets underway.

Hot-Prospects has a nice little write-up on Blake Tekotte, who is likely to be among the innagural TinCaps squad:

The speedy U of Miami alum had a power outbreak in 2008 belting 13 HR with the Hurricanes prior to being drafted in the 3rd round by the Padres . . . is a scrappy player who gets the most out of his skills and strives to refine every aspect of his game.

Fort Wayne Native and current Gulf Coast Community College player, Mike Morrison is battling a sore back that has had him out of several games lately. He’s a key component of the Commadore’s offense, which has been struggling since he’s been on the mend:

“That’s a huge loss for us,” (Mike) Kandler said. “He’s a middle-of-the-lineup guy and not easily replaced.”

According to Baseball America, former Wizards Pitcher, Jon Huber has signed a Minor League deal with the Detroit Tigers:

Huber, 27, appeared poised to earn a place in the Mariners’ bullpen following a breakout 2006 campaign at Triple-A Tacoma. But a strained forearm—sandwiched between 44 ineffective innings in Triple-A and the majors—cut short his ’07 follow-up. Another shaky season with Tacoma in ’08 preceded his first foray into minor league free agency. The Tigers (and their flimsy bullpen) seem like a suitable landing place for Huber, who despite a lofty ERA and WHIP figures in Triple-A (5.60 and 1.55, respectively) has managed a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk (122-to-40) ratio in 144 2/3 innings. That, coupled with a four-pitch mix (his curve and change are vestiges of his early career as a starter), could spell back of the bullpen material.

The Times and Democrat (Orangeburg, SC) has a wonderful article about former Wizards pitcher, Wynn Pelzer. Pelzer was a lot of fun to watch at the Castle last season – and to listen to during his guest appearances on the Bear. A lot of folks don’t know that Pelzer came to Fort Wayne pretty fresh off a significant leg injury:

A line-drive shattered his knee cap, causing him to spend part of last offseason with a cast running from the top of his hip down his leg. There was nothing wrong with that arm, and for most pitchers that’s a good thing. But Pelzer generates his fastball with his base. So when it was time to head to Peoria, Ariz., last year and start doing some professional pitching in spring training, Pelzer didn’t know exactly what to expect from his body.

There’s also some good video of the interview here.

Another Major Leaguer with Fort Wayne ties – one that many don’t realize – is Boston hurler, Justin Masterson:

His father was a youth pastor in Fort Wayne, Indiana, before taking the post as Dean of Students at Jamaica Theological Seminary (where he had once been a foreign exchange student).

If I remember correctly, during their time in Indiana, the Masterson family lived in or around Bluffton.