Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘MLB’

Paul McAnulty was selected in round twelve (355th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2002. In 2005, he made his Major League Debut with the Padres and saw Big League action in each of the next three seasons. In 2009, he played at the Triple-A level for both the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies.

With the Fort Wayne Wizards in 2003, McAnulty appeared in 133 games. He hit .273 with 7 homers and 73 RBI while mostly manning the first base and designated hitter roles.

McAnulty is one of five position players from the 2003 squad to reach the Majors. Shortstop Luis Cruz, catchers Colt Morton and Luke Carlin and outfielder Drew Macias being the others. Pitchers, Dale Thayer, David Pauley (who recently made it back with the Mariners) and Jon Huber also made the Majors, for a total of eight from the 2003 Wizards team that lost in the first round of the playoffs.

In 90 games for Triple-A Pawtucket, he hit .233 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 48 RBI. In 20 games for Triple-A Colorado Springs, he hit .182 with three doubles, two home runs and six RBI.

In the offseason, McAnulty signed with the LAA Angels. He’s appeared in 29 games for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, hitting .360 with eight doubles, four dingers and 26 RBI. In 44 games with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers, he hit .331 with three doubles, a triple, 14 home runs and 27 RBI.

Today, McAnulty was recalled by the Angels, seeing Big League action for the first time since 2008:

“These guys have been around,” Scioscia said. “They have a little Major League experience, they’ve been playing in Triple-A for a long time. They’re really veteran-type players. Both can swing the bat and that’s something that we need a little depth in right now.”

Related BBIFW Paul McAnulty Posts:

• Padres Roster Moves and a Former Padre on the Move
• McAnulty Demoted, Rincon Promoted
• Padres Announce Opening Day Roster; Includes Former Wizards
• More on McAnulty
• McAnulty Looking to Rebound, Earn Spot
• Former Wizard, McAnulty on Verge of Big League Roster

The Indiana High School Baseball Coaches rated 3A Leo number 3; just 2 points behind number 2 Brebeuf. They also received a first place vote.

Last week, Leo wrapped up the ACAC conference championship, going undefeated at 7-0. They are 18-2 overall on the season. Senior pitcher Brandon Alger, who is an Indiana Tech signee, is currently 6-1-1 with an earned run average of .4, 80 strikeouts to just 11 walks and WHIP of .688. Junior Jordan Baer is 5-0 with an ERA of 1.56 and 42 strikeouts, and Junior Luke Pepple is 3-0 with an ERA of 1.50 and 27 K’s.

The offense has 4 players batting over .400 (Andrew Suciu, Alger, Mitchell Kumle, and Baer) and four others batting over .300 (Kyle Miller, Drew Adams, Pepple, and Cortlin Simpson). RBI leaders are Suciu and Baer with 21, Simpson 19, Adams 15, and Alger & Pepple 13.

Speaking of Indiana Tech…

Indiana Tech alum, Jush Judy has been promoted to the Cleveland Indians’ Triple-A affiliate in Columbus. The move comes following the Tribe’s trade of reliever Saul Rivera to the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash considerations.

Note: Special thanks to Brad Alger for submitting the information on Leo.

Okay, I’m a bit slow. But here goes:

AL East – Red Sox

AL West – Mariners

AL Central – Twins

AL Wild – Yankees

NL East -Phillies

NL West – Giants

NL Central – Brewers

NL Wild – Cardinals

World Series – Red Sox over Phillies in 6

Cy Young – AL: Felix Hernandez   NL: Roy Halliday

MVP – AL: Joe Mauer  NL: Prince Fielder

ROY – AL: Wade Davis  NL: Jason Heyward

Surprises – The Pirates. Kyle Blanks will Shock the World. Halliday will win 20 games. Somebody will lug 50 HR’s.

After playing more than a decade in Minor League Baseball without so much as a cup of coffee in the Majors, former Fort Wayne Wizard Todd Donovan, is calling an end to his baseball playing career. Donovan’s extra innings will now ba as a scout with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In his scouting role, he’ll be monitoring the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays on the major league level, and Pawtucket, Rochester, New Britain and New Hampshire as part of his minor league assignment.

Donovan played in more than 800 professional games, collecting 800+ hits and a whopping 346 stolen bases. In 2005, the aggressive and speedy Donovan swiped 62 bags while with the Jacksonville Suns of the (AA) Southern League.

The eighth round selection (number 292 overall) of the San Diego Padres in the 1999 Amateur Draft, Donavoan appeared in 53 games with Fort Wayne in 2000. He hit .284 with 58 hits, 12 doubles and runs batted in. He also walked 25 times in 204 at-bats and compiled a .370 on base percentage. He swiped 18 bases and was caught stealing 9 times.

Related Posts:

• Todd Donovan Signs with Blue Jays
• Former Wizards Likely to Debut in 2009 – Part III
• Fort Fragments (Wizards): Donovan, Hunter, Condrey, Pierzynski, Soria, Perez

Until this season, Randy Ready was the winningest manager in the Fort Wayne franchise’s history. Since that time, he’s managed at all levels in the Sand Diego Padres system except for the Major Leagues. During the offseason last year, he interviewed with the Seattle Mariners after being named by Baseball America as the minor league manager who is most ready to take on a big league gig.

During the 2009 season, the Padres promoted Ready to hitting coach, but I am sure they knew it is only a matter of time before Ready is managing a Major League club – either in San Deigo or elsewhere. So it comes as no surpise that Randy Ready is one of 10 candidates on the Houston Astros’ list.

It has been confirmed that they have asked for and were granted permission to talk to Ready. He’ll interview with the Astros on Thursday.

“It’s nice to be wanted,” Ready said. “The last two months with the Padres were great. I think the veteran hitters —- Adrian (Gonzalez) and Kouz (Kevin Kouzmanoff) established themselves. And the young kids stepped up. I think the Padres are in a great position heading into 2010.

“But I have to pursue this opportunity. I’ve been grooming myself for a major-league job, and this is a great chance.

The Astros are replacing Cecil Cooper, who was fired on September 21. good luck Randy

Though I have not seen any official transaction details yet, it appears that former Wizards, pitcher Ernesto Frieri and outfielder Luis Durango may soon be joining the MLB roster in San Diego. Reportedly, they were informed of their new assignments following the (Double-A) San Antonio Missions exit from the playoffs.

An overwhelmed Frieri bounced from handshake to handshake, on the brink of tears, all but speechless at the announcement of the news. Durango stood bewildered in front of his locker, quietly accepting congratulations from teammates and staff.

The duo join Cesar Ramos, who recently joined the team, as they await their first opportunities at the big league level.

Frieri appeared in one game with the Wizarads in 2006. He returned in 2007, where he appeared in 40 games, compiling a 1-2 record with a 2.64 ERA and striking out 65 while walking 23 over 64.2 innings piched.

Durango played most of the 2008 season in Fort Wayne with the Wizards, where he appeared in 93 games. He hit .305 with 56 runs and 14 stolen bases. This season wiht San Antonia, the speedy Durango swiped 44 bags.

Wilton Lopez became the 84th former Fort Wayne Wizard/TinCap to ascend to the Big Leagues on August 29th when he entered the game slated for long relief of starter Yorman Bazardo in the third inning for the Houston Astros. 

Probably a day he’ll always remember, but one that he may want to forget. He entered his first Major League appearance with an inherited runner on second and no outs. The Diamondback’s Brandon Allen singled, moving the runner to third before Alex Romero hit a three-run homer. Lopez also yielded a solo shot to Miguel Montero and rookie John Hester, which was his first Major League hit.

Overall, Lopez was tagged for six runs on eight hits, giving up three homers in four innings of work.

“I thought the kid did pretty well, considering the circumstances,” [Astro's manager Cecil] Cooper said. “It was a tough situation to put him in, but I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. He has a chance to be pretty good in the Major Leagues.”

Lopez is the eighth former Wizard/TinCap to debut in the MLB this year. He is the first from the 2007 squad.

Wow. This has got to be up there in terms of the strangest of MLB debut scenarios for former Fort Wayne Wizards. Catcher, Jose Lobaton was called up from Triple-A Portland due to Henry Blano being inured. For those following at home, the Padres primary catcher is former WizardJose Lobaton, who is also on the DL. Lobaton’s debut comes one year and one day after Hundley’s.

But here’s where it gets strange. Having played the catcher position throughout his entire eight season minor league career, Lobaton entered the game at second base, having lost David Eckstein due to injure in the twelfth inning. The play involving Eckstein ended the bottom of the twefth, so Lobaton entered at second in the top of the thirteenth. Los Angeles would score in that inning. Former Wizard Kyle Blanks struck out to make the third out in the bottom of the inning and Lobaton therefore did not get an at-bat.

With the Wizards in 2006, Lobaton hit .279 with 17 hits in 61 at bats. Over 20 games, he collected three doubles, one homer and 11 runs batted in. He also drew 12 bases on balls. He’s got a great arm, handles the staff well and tends to hit in streaks (ending his Wizards run with an eight game hitting streak). He also appeared in 9 games with the Wizards the year before.

Lobaton is the 82nd former Wizards to make his MLB debut and hte sixth this season. In case you are wondering, we are one ahead of last year’s record-setting pace.

Former Wizards first baseman and designated hitter, Kyle Blanks because the fifth former Wizard on the season to make his Major League debut last night. He is the the eighty-first overall.

Blanks entered the game in the bottom of the ninth as a pinch hitter for another former Wizard, Mike Ekstrom. Blanks struck out looking.

According to Baseball America:

Baseball America has learned the Padres have promoted their No. 1 prospect, first baseman/left fielder Kyle Blanks, to the big leagues. A corresponding move regarding the 40-man roster was not yet announced.

Blanks, 22, was hitting .283/.393/.485 at Triple-A Portland in the Pacific Coast League, with 12 home runs, nine doubles and 38 RBIs. The 6-foot-6, 285-pounder has shifted in part to left field this season, playing parts of 15 games in left while still primarily playing first base.

From MLB.com:

Blanks, a first baseman and outfielder with Triple-A Portland, is expected to have his contract purchased by the Padres on Friday when he will be added to the 40-man roster.

The left-handed-heavy Padres open a three-game series against the Oakland A’s on Friday and will be facing three lefty starting pitchers in the series. The Padres are hitting .215 as a team against left-handers this season.

Blanks, the Padres 2008 Minor League Player of the Year and Texas League Player of the Year, is a right-handed hitter and was hitting .283 with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs for Portland.

More Blog Chatter:

• The Callup: Kyle Blanks (FantasyBaseball365)
• Matsui, Ortiz expected to lose at-bats (ESPN)
• Hot Prospect: Kyle Blanks (Advanced Fantasy Baseball)

Related BBIFW Posts:

• Lots of Former Wizards in Camp
• Wizards Watch: Former Wizards Contribute to 30-0 Rout
• Goldstein Discusses Futures of Former Wizards
• Plenty of Wizards in MadFriars’s Top 20
• Kyle Blanks the Hottest Prospect in Baseball
• Baseball America’s Top Padres Prospects
• Padres Non Roster Invitees
• Former Wizards Likely to Debut in 2009 – Part II
• Former Wizards I’m Watching Heading into 2009
• Fill the Triple-A All-Star Game with Wizards