Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘Peter Ciofrone’

The Padres started trimming spots in Spring Training camp today by optioning two players to Double-A San Antonio and sending five to their Minor League camp. Former Wizards Ernesto Frieri and Wilton Lopez were sent to Double-A San Antonio. Right-handed pitchers Mat Latos, Gabe DeHoyos, Will Inman, Oneli Perez and left-hander Nick Schmidt to their Minor League camp. Latos, DeHoyos and Schmidt are former Wizards. Sounds like Latos is slated to start the year at Lake Elsinore.

Jaun Rincon is having a good start to the Spring camp with the Tigers as a non-roster invitee:

“I thought he threw the ball extremely well with some late movement,” Leyland said. “Threw a couple four-seamers in. Threw some high fastballs that had some late tail to them, actually ran like a cutter.

Josh Geer is vying for one of two open rotation spots:

“It feels really good to know that there are two spots open for the starting rotation,” Geer said. “It gives everyone a good chance of making the team. I feel real confident that I can be one of those guys.”

Cesar Ramos also wants one of those spots. Today was not a good day for either of them.

Hot-Prospects has the dish on laster year’s standout Wizards pitcher, Jeremy Hefner:

The Oral Roberts alum increased his stock significantly with an excellent showing at Low-A Fort Wayne last season going 10-5 with a 3.33 ERA and 43 BB/150 K in 145 IP.  Hefner controls his three pitches quite well, an 89-91 MPH fastball, a sweeping slider, and a heavy changeup that he uses effectively against . . .

Lake Elsinore recently interviewed Peter Ciofrone.

Greg Burke has a good chance to make the Padres’ roster sometime this year, if not breaking camp with the Big League squad:

despite being 26, Burke is considered one of the Padres’ top advanced arms in their system, especially after a breakout season with Double-A San Antonio in 2008 as well as a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League.

This is the second in a three part series on former Fort Wayne Wizards that I think will debut in Major league Baseball during the 20009 season. In part one, I presented the “sure things” who I think will break camp with their parent clubs or get called up relatively early. Today, I present the “warning track” players who are knocking on the door. All it will take is some good play early in the season and an opportunity at the big league level:

Jon Link (White Sox)

The San Diego Padres drafted pitcher Jon Link in the 26th round of the 2005 draft. Link was traded to the White Sox for Rob Mackowiak in 2007. The 24 year-old spent last season at Double-A Birmingham, where he compiled a 3.02 ERA, struck out 66 batters and collected 35 saves. With the Wizards in 2006, Link appeared in 53 games with a 4.91 EAR while striking out 57 over 62.1 innings pitched to go with a 5-5 record. Link will undoubtedly be assigned to Triple-A to start the season, but I suspect he is being groomed as the closer of the future. While he’s a more sure bet for 2010, he’s knocking on the door and we may get to see him a bit this year.

For more on Link, see also:

• Prospects Could Be Late-Round Steals
• Link & Loman – 2 Longshots to Make the White Sox

Peter Ciofrone (Padres)

Peter Ciofrone started 2008 at AA and ended at Triple-A. During that stint in Portland, he impressed. He was named Pacific Coast League Batter of the Week for May 19-25. During that span, he batted .429 (12-for-28) with four homers, three doubles, 10 RBIs, 10 runs scored and a .964 slugging percentage in seven games.

With Fort Wayne in 2005, he hit .301 with 20 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 59 runs batted in over 104 games. He also drew 50 walks and compiled a .391 OBP.

As one BBIFW commenter suggested, Ciofrone should have been a September call-up last season. I’m not sure where he’ll start the year, though I suspect it will be Triple-A. He’ll get a shot this year as long as he stays healthy and continues to put on a show. Just don’t know when.

Says Geoff at Ducksnorts:

The 24-year-old Ciofrone has decent on-base skills and some pop (although probably not as much as he’s showing this year), and can play multiple positions. The latter skill may eventually get him to the big leagues. Ciofrone exhibits no appreciable platoon splits and has improved his numbers as the season has progressed, which is always a good sign. He’s not a future star, or even a future regular, but he could have a career.

For more on Ciofrone, see also:

• Prospect of the Month: Peter Ciofrone (25 Years of Baseball)

Kyle Blanks (Padres)

For Blanks, it is probably not a matter of “if” but “when”. The dude can flat out hit and was one of my favorites to watch at the Castle while he was there. He will start the year at Triple-A Portland after spending all of 2008 in Double-A.

With Fort Wayne in 2006, Blanks appeared in 86 games. He hit .292 with 10 home runs and 52 runs batted in while drawing 36 bases on balls. His production really took off in 2007 and continued to develop in 2008.

If he didn’t have Adrian Gonzalez blocking him cheaply at first base in San Diego, I’d say they would bring him up mid-season. But barring an out-of-the-ordinary trade or injury, that won’t happen. Probably a September call-up.

For more on Blanks, see also:

• Kyle Blanks the Hottest Prospect in Baseball
• Kyle Blanks 1b (Paddletales)

Greg Burke (Padres)

When it became apparent that Trevor Hoffman was not returning to San Diego, I boldly predicted that Greg Burk would take on the closer’s role. I’m probably a year or two ahead of things, but I still think he’ll get there.

He’s been used mostly as a middle relief guy except for last season, when he saved 23 games for Double-A San Antonio. With the Wizards in 2006, Burke appeared in 24 games where he compiled a 3.57 ERA with 87 strike out sin 121 innings pitched. He had an ERA above 5.00 over two combined stints with Lake Elsinore. But something must have clicked when he got into the closers role, where he drastically lowered that to 2.24 on the year.

“I felt this was do-or-die coming into last season,” Burke said. “I needed to show someone something, I needed to shock people to make the Double-A team and open eyes.”

I see him coming up sometime during the 2009 campaign to soak up some innings for injured middle relief Friars.

For more on Burke, see also:

• Batting Around with Greg Burke

Cesar Ramos (Padres)

In seven games with Fort Wayne in 2005, Cesar Ramos put together a 3-2 record with a 4.19 ERA and 32 strike outs. He progressed in each area during stops stop of Lake Elsinore and Double-A San Antonio over the next two years. Last year didn’t go so well. He posted a 9-11 record with a 5.15 ERA over 149.2 innings pitched at Triple-A Portland. To make the show, he’s going to have to come back big in 2009. He may get a spot start near the tail end of the season like Dirk Hayhurst did before getting the heave-ho out of the organization.

Brett Dowdy (Padres)

Brett Dowdy will be entering his seventh minor league season; having played in Fort Wayne in 2005. He’s hardly a prospect, but he’s progressed through the system, splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A each of the last two season. He’s got a career .269 batting average with 23 home runs and 168 runs batted in over more than 1,700 at-bats. 2009 is a make or break year for Dowdy. He’s probably a dark horse of this bunch, but you never know.

In part three, I’ll present the “outside shot” and more “dark horse” candidates.

It’s been kind of intersteding to observe some bloggers who are hoping for the possible signing of some former Wizards free agents (many of whom have yet to really make a mark in the Majors) or the moving up the ladder to earn roster spots. Here’s a quick breakdown…

Tenth Inning Stretch Sees Dory Doyne as a Diamond in the Rough:

RHP, 27. Career 3.31 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 8.74 K/9, 1.94 K/BB. Was the closer for the Norfolk Tides (International League) in 2007 producing a great season with 2.23 ERA and 0.88 WHIP. Had rotator cuff surgery last year and came back fine producing a 3.43 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 11.57 K/9 and 3.86 K/BB in 21 innings in 4 levels. Another potential steal, he very likely be a middle reliever in the majors next year.

Bleeding Blue and Teal Thinks Peter Ciofrone is a bagain:

The 25 year old Ciofrone did very well for himself after being promoted to AAA Portland.  He put up a very impressive .314/.389/.519 line in 97 games with the Beavers, smacking 18 homers and showing slightly above average plate discipline from the left side of the plate.  The power is a new addition to Ciofrone’s game, but if he can keep it up he could be a nice bargain for Seattle.

Corey Brock Dishes on the Chances of Kyle Blanks Getting Moved:

The Padres think very highly of Blanks, but with first base in the capable hands of All-Star and Gold Glove winner Adrian Gonzalez, there is always the possibility he could get moved in a deal.

Rays Index suggests that Tampa Bay’s decision to add Dale Thayer to the 40-man roster will mean loosing Eddie Morlan in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.

A quick look at the numbers shows Dale Thayer (2.82 tRA, 10.0 K/9 at AAA) was much stronger than Morlan (4.40 tRA, 8.62 K/9 at AA) this past season. Of course Thayer will be 28 next season and Morlan will only be 23. Morlan is only one season removed from being one of the best relief pitcher prospects in baseball. Still, Thayer is more likely to help a major league club in 2009. So if it is Thayer versus Morlan for one spot, we would have understood either choice.

Three Rivers Sports thinks Luis Cruz has the potential to become the best young middle infielder in the Pirate’s organization.

He is a little more than a year younger than Bixler as well, and while his numbers after being called up in September weren’t good, they at least demonstrated the ability to cope with major league pitchers, as he struck out just twice in 67 at-bats, and his OPS was far superior to Bixler at .547

STLToday ranks David Freese as the 5th best prospect in the Cardinals organization. Methinks he’ll be starting the season at 3B for the Cardinals. Fresse was also named by Scout.com as the Cardinals’ Minor League Player of the Year.

Several mini-news items that I have not been able to keep up on as of late. Here’s a quick recap with links:

• Back to traditional rotation (LaMond Pope: May 23) – The Wizards officially pulled the plug on the 8-man (piggy-back) rotation and went back to the traditional 5-man rotation. The setup had its critics and its champions, but I think everyone – players and fans – are pleased with the return to normalcy so-to-speak.
• Scott Woodward makes All-Big South (Bluffton News Banner: 5/23) – “Coastal Carolina freshman third baseman Scott Woodward, a 2007 Norwell graduate, was named to the first team of the 2008 Big South Conference baseball team. Woodward also was Freshman of the Year. Woodward ranked first in the Big South in the regular season with 35 stolen bases, 42 walks, a .513 on-base percentage and 25 hit-by-pitches. He also ranks seventh in batting average (.352) and second in runs scored (64). In Big South games, he was third with a .405 batting average and was first in stolen bases, walks and on-base percentage, while ranking second in runs scored. He also was among the top 10 in slugging percentage in overall and conference games. Nationally, he is 10th in the country in stolen bases and fifth in hit-by-pitches.”
• Billy Hogan Plays for the Atlantic City Surf (The New Ottowa Rapidz Blog) – Former Fort Wayne Wizard, Billy Hogan was selected by the Padres in the 5th round in 2003. He’s suiting up for the Atlantic City Surf of the CanAm League.
• IPFW: Knowling Named Summit League First Team (NCAA: 5/27) – IPFW junior Brandon Knowling was named to the Summit League’s First Team in voting conducted by conference coaches. The lefty was third in the league in ERA with the 2.91 mark and fourth in the conference in batting average by opponents at .249. He was tied for fifth in wins (7), and ninth in strikeouts per nine innings with 6.75. Senior center fielder, Jared Davis, was selected to the conference’s second team. His slugging percentage of .574 and doubles mark of 36 are also school records.
• I want this interview, in fact, I’m begging for it (ScoutAbout: 5/18) – Scout was inspired by a TV segment that featured former Fort Wayne Daisies player, Pat Scott. “I realized, I want an interview like that. I want to interview someone who played in the AAGPBL and I want to be able to reflect on the memorabilia and the memories. Yeah, I’m a sentimental softie, but I’m a sentimental softie who loves sports and how they were able to make the history books not by records but by paving ways and creating opportunities for people to succeed who otherwise wouldn’t have been given a chance.” Might I suggest Isabel Alvarez?
• Peter Ciofrone Named Pacific Coast League Batter of the Week (The Raw Feed: 5/28) – Ciofrone, 24, batted .429 (12-for-28) with four homers, three doubles, 10 RBIs, 10 runs scored and a .964 slugging percentage in seven games played during the week. It was enough to earn him the award; the second Portland Beavers player to earn it this season. Maybe he’ll be part of the big changes coming to the Padres later this summer.
• Pinto: Soria deal makes sense for Royals (The Sporting News: 5/21) – David Pinto weighs in on why the extension of the former Wizards pitcher makes sense for the Kansas City Royals.
• Former Wizard, Michael Cuddyer isn’t worried about power, but he did lead the Twins to an extra inning win.
• Hardball Capital not posting latest stories (Fort Wayne Observed: 5/28) – Mitch Harper points out that Fort Wayne Wizards’ owners, Hardball Capital have been a bit lax in posting news stories to their website as of late. Hmmmm….
• Jake Peavy Resumes Throwing (Friar John’s Blog: 5/27) – The former Wizards pitcher and current Padres’ ace, is on the disabled list because of an elbow strain. He rested the elbow and was to resume throwing last Saturday, but soreness persisted so the second MRI was ordered. That came up clean and he’ll begin throwing again.