Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘Randy Ready’

• Geoff spotlights San Antonio at Ducksnorts. Lots of former Wizards here, including; Kyle Blanks, Chad Huffman, Sean Kazman and others.
• John Conniff interviews current Wizard Lance Zawadzki for Mad Friars. Even though he was a late round pick, he still has a rather high ceiling. Subscription required.
• Paul Depodesta talks about Luis Durango’s recent promotion to Lake Elsinore and also talks about former Wizards, Manny Ayala and Jon Ellis.
• Michael Cuddyer still hopes to return from injuries this season, despite dealing with a freak injury on top of the rash of other injuries that have plagued him this season.
• Former Wizards skipper and current Portland Beavers manager, Randy Ready, was named the Pacific Coast League’s “Best Manager Prospect” in Baseball America’s annual “Best Tools” survey that was featured in the publication’s Aug. 25-Sept. 7 issue. Former Wizard, Wade LeBlanc was said to have the “Best Control” among league pitchers and former Wizard, Will Venable, earned “Best Strike Zone Judgment” honors. Chase Headley was chosen as the “Best Batting Prospect” in the PCL this season – though he has been playing at the MLB level for quite a while now.

Last week, former Wizards player, Michael Cuddyer and the Minnesota Twins agreed to a $2.75 million signing bonus in addition to salaries of $5 million this year, $6.75 million in 2009 and $8.5 million in 2010. Minnesota also has a $10.5 million club option for 2011. The signing comes on the heels of a 2007 season where Cuddyer emerged as a dependable run producer in the middle of the lineup. In 2006, he hit .276 with 16 homers and 81 RBIs. He led the AL with 19 outfield assists.

Through his career, he has bounced around from second base to third base, and even played a little at first, before settling in at right field two years ago. However, with the departure of another former Wizards alumnus, Torii Hunter, the Twins may use Cuddyer to fill the void in the center if prospects, Denard Span and Jason Pridie, don’t prove they are ready

Michael Cuddyer was a first round draft choice of the Minnesota Twins in 1997, going ninth overall. As a Wizards player in 1998, he compiled batted .276 with 82 runs and slugged a team best 12 home runs. He had 81 RBI’s and swiped 16 bases.

Baseball America declared him the Twins top prospect and he represented the Wizards at the Midwest League All-Star Game that year. Cuddyer is featured on page 59 of Baseball in Fort Wayne.(Photograph courtesy of the Fort Wayne Wizards)

This week also saw other Wizards alumni make news as they earned organizational honors from the Sand Diego Padres. 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner, Jake Peavy, received the Clyde McCullough Award as the club’s top pitcher in 2007. Chase Headley took the Minor League Player of the Year Award, while Josh Geer was named the Pitcher of the Year.

Geer was selected by San Diego Padres in 3rd Round (98th overall) of 2005 amateur entry draft. While in Fort Wayne over parts of two seasons (2005 & 2006), he compiled a 7-3 record in 17 games; striking out 69 batters and walking 22. He tossed a complete game shutout during the 2006 campaign.

Former Wizards skipper, Randy Ready, who led the San Antonio Missions to the Texas League championship in his first season, was selected as the Jack Krol Award winner for contributions in player development. [Read More at MLB.com]

[tags]Baseball America, Baseball in Fort Wayne, Chase Headley, Jake Peavy, Josh Geer, Michael Cuddyer, Midwest League, Randy Ready, Wizards[/tags]