Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘Wynn Pelzer’

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.

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!

• Michael Cuddyer, the lone Twins player from the Wizards affiliation with Minnesota is likely done for the season after a line drive pegged him during a minor league rehab game. It’s unfortunately because he was expected to provide a boost to the Twin’s playoff run.
• Oliver Perez continues to befuddle and confuse. He’s always been assocated with unrealized potential, but Oliver Perez has become known as “Big Game Ollie” and seems to come up big when it counts. It just so happens that every game counts right now, and since June 29, Perez is 3-2 with a 1.71 ERA in eight starts. He’s also 7-0 with a 2.28 ERA in games against above-.500 teams.
• Wade LeBlanc and Kellen Kulbacki are the subjects of a rising star update at Friar Forecast.
• Angel Mercado hit the first home run of the Wizards’ season. He now leads the Northwest League in dingers while playing with Eugene. Alex Gabriel has a nice (subscriber only) for MadFriar’s profile of the slugger who is also near the top of the team in total bases and slugging percentage.
• Speaking of MaFriars, John Conniff has posted his interviews with Andy Parrino and Jackson Quezada.
• Wynn Pelzer and Kellen Kulbecki have been honored by the Padres organization as Pitcher and Player of the Month (hat tip to Friar John).
• Finally, Geoff from Ducksnorts spotlights Lake Elsinore; which includes many former Wizards.

As some of you may have noticed, MadFriars.com’s John Conniff has been posting interviews he conducted with Wizards players while he was in Fort Wayne a few weeks ago. His latest include; Jeremy Hefner, Luis Durago, and Robert Perry. (Note: these are links to subscriber-only content).

Also, Ryne Sandberg has some good things to say about Wynn Pelzer.