Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘Lance Zawadzki’

After waiting a couple days since being called up, former Fort Wayne Wizard, Lance Zawadzki made his MLB Debut. Slotted for eighth in the starting lineup, Zawadzki came to the plate in the bottom have of the third inning and singled to shallow right in his first Major League at-bat. A garland bunt sacrifice moved the former Wizard to second. He then scored on a Tony Gwynn Jr. triple.

He grounded out to third in his second at-bat, which came in the next inning. In the fifth, Zawadzki was intentionally walked with two outs to get to the pitcher, Garland, who promptly ended the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Zawadski popped out to right center to end the inning with fellow former Wizard, Will Venable on second.

Joining Zawadzki in the Padres lineup, in addition to Venable, were former Wizards Chase Headley, Kyle Blanks and Chase Headley. From the visitors’ dugout, the Brewers lineup included former Wizards catcher, George Kottaras, and relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins.

Yeah. That’s a game that included seven who played A-ball in Fort Wayne. Not too shabby.

Photo by Chad Gramling, autograph obtained in person at Memorial Stadium on June 29, 2008.

Related BBIFW Lance Zawadzki Posts:

• Pauley to M’s, Padres Invite Several Former Wizards/TinCaps
• Latos, Zawadzki and Luebke Honored by Baseball America
• Baseball America’s Top Padres Prospects
• Fort Wayne Wizards 2008 Postseason Awards

The San Diego Padres have called up former Fort Wayne Wizards infielder, Lance Zawadzki. The move was made possible when the Padres placed Evereth Cabrera on the disabled list and moved another former Wizard, Matt Antonelli to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster.

In 17 games with Triple-A Portland, Zawadzki is hitting .162 on the season with 8 runs on 11 hits.He was with the Padres in Spring Training this year, appearing in 18 games were he hit .308 with 8 hits and 5 RBI over 26 at-bats.

With the Wizards in 2008, he appeared in 119 games, hitting .273 with 66 runs, 7 dingers, 58 RBI and 54 walks. He also swiped a career high 28 bases.

Zawadski is not in the starting lineup tonight, but I’ll keep a watch  and recap his debut when/if he makes it.

Related BBIFW Lance Zawadzki Posts:

• Pauley to M’s, Padres Invite Several Former Wizards/TinCaps
• Latos, Zawadzki and Luebke Honored by Baseball America
• Baseball America’s Top Padres Prospects
• Fort Wayne Wizards 2008 Postseason Awards

Three former Fort Wayne Wizards/TinCaps have been select as Mid-Season Minor League All-Stars by Baseball America.

Mat Latos: One of the minors’ most electric arms, Latos already has jumped to Double-A in his first year in full-season ball.

Lance Zawadzki: A switch-hitter with the fine plate discipline typical of a Padres prospect, Zawadzki has hit .371/.459/.543 since being promoted to San Antonio in late May.

Cory Luebke: The Padres tried to put Luebke on the fast track after drafting him in the supplemental first round in 2007 out of Ohio State. He wasn’t ready, and had to go back to the Midwest League last year, but he’s returned to form this year, earning his way to Double-A after going 8-2, 2.34 in the Cal League.

Following the final game at Memorial Stadium on August 28, the team’s 2008 post-season awards were presented as determined by the Fort Wayne Wizards’ coaching staff, front office personnel and the Times Group Community Publications following the final regular season game at Memorial Stadium on August 28, 2008.

2008 Wizards Postseason Awards Recipients

Infielder Lance Zawadzki was named the Physicians Health Plan Player of the Year. Right-handers Jeremy Hefner and Wynn Pelzer were named the Co-Most Valuable Starting Pitchers and closer Jackson Quezada earned Relief Pitcher of the Year honors. Infielder Zach Brown was named Teammate of the Year and outfielder Brad Chalk received the Community Outreach Player of the Year.

On May 17, Zawadzki was hitting .201 on the season. Since then, he has raised his average nearly 70 points, hitting .279 with seven home runs, 57 runs batted in and a team-best 27 steals in 30 chances entering the game on Thursday. His 27 steals are second-best in the San Diego Padres minor league system.

Hefner and Pelzer have nearly identical stats across to pitching staff. Hefner leads the staff with 10 victories to go with a 3.33 earned run average in 29 games, including 24 starts. He has allowed 117 hits, walked 41 and struck out 144, second best on the staff and in the Padres organization. Pelzer entered his start on Thursday with a 9-5 record, along with a staff-best 2.84 ERA among the starting pitchers with at least 10 starts. In 28 games, including 22 starts and 114 innings, Pelzer had allowed 107 hits, walked 28 and struck out 97. His ERA is second-best within the Padres organization.

Quezada, named to the Midwest League Post Season All-Star team, leads the league and is tied atop the Padres system with 26 saves, converting 26 of 29 opportunities to secure a Wizards victory. He recorded his first save on April 29 and after allowing four runs in his first outing the season on April 4, Quezada has allowed only 15 additional runs.

Brown, who has played a platoon role at first base for the Wizards, earned the Teammate of the Year by his display of sportsmanship and leadership both on and off the field. After helping with a in-game promotion with national entertainment act, Myron Noodleman on Saturday, August 16, Brown promptly went out and hit a pair of home runs against the Lansing Lugnuts.

Chalk jumped right into community of Fort Wayne, making appearances at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School to visit with the fourth grade classes during their IDEARC Media Reading Club program, opening day events at area little leagues, signing autographs for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts during their annual overnight events and helping at the annual Wizards Little League clinics.

Today, the Wizards also made an announcement about their new record number of former Wizards to reach the Majors. Somebody should keep track of that stuff. Thanks again for another wonderful season Wizards!

If the Padres have begun to make “wholesale changes” in the big league lineup, it will undoubtedly have impact on the farm clubs as well. We saw the first of those changes earlier in the week, and now they have made some moves to the Wizards roster as well.

Right handed pitcher, Steve Delabar was released from Padres organization and infielder, Lance Zawadzki was placed on disabled list. These moves made room for infielder Ray Stokes, who was promoted from extended spring training and right handed pitcher, Bryan Oland, who was also promoted from extended spring training

Delabar was 2-1 witha 5.27 ERA for the Wizards this season. He had given up 8 runs over 13.2 inning pitcher and appeared in 11 games.

Before joining Fort Wayne, Stokes was hitting 255 in 18 games. in 55 at-bats, he has 14 hits with 17 runs and 9 stolen bases. (Just what the Wizards need . . . more speed!!!). In his first game with the Wizards last night, he went 1-3 with a run, a hit and a strikeout. He was a 16th Round (483rd overall) pick by the Padres in the 2006 amateur entry draft. He appeared in one game with Fort Wayne in the 2007 season.

Bryan Oland has a 6+ ERA over 16 games and 20 innings pitcher this season. He joined the Wizards last night and pitched one shutout inning with one strikeout. He was a 24th Round (747th overall) pick by the Padres in the 2007 amateur entry draft.

Lamond Pope also updates the status of Mat Latos:

Mat Latos was placed on the disabled list Thursday with a left intercostal strain. Wizards manager Doug Dascenzo didn’t have a timetable for his return.

“He’s probably going to be a little bit longer (than seven days),” Wizards manager Doug Dascenzo said. “We just want to make sure he’s 100 percent before he gets back.”

Latos is the No. 3 rated prospect in the San Diego organization, according to Baseball America.

Update: Infielder, Brian Joynt also joined the Wizards today. Ooutfielder, Brad Chalk was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to Wednesday, May 21. Joynt was selected by the Padres in the 29th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. He has split time between the Eugene Emeralds of the Northwest League and the Arizona League Padres. Joynt hit a combined .195 in 41 games, with seven doubles, 15 runs batted in and three stolen bases. [source: OurSports Central]