Crawdads Alumni Report September 29
Sunday, September 29
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY:
Andrew McCutchen ('06, OF/ Pittsburgh) and Neil Walker ('05, C/ Pittsburgh) each hit a solo HR in the third inning to help send the Pirates to an 8-3 win over Cincinnati. McCutchen finished 2-for-5, including his 21st homer of the season. Walker added a solo blast in the fifth and now has 16.
BIRTHDAYS:
Doug Hogan ('09, C) turns 29. The native of Columbia, S.C was the Rangers 18th round pick in 2008 out of Clemson University. In 68 games with the Crawdads, Hogan batted .241 with 15 doubles, three triples, 16 homers and 43 RBI. The 2009 South Atlantic League all-star played the next season at high-A Bakersfield and then was released.
Mark Roberts ('96-'97, P) turns 38. The native of Tampa, FL was the White Sox fourth round pick in 1996 out of South Florida. He joined the Crawdads immediately after being drafted and went 4-6 in 13 starts with a 4.66 ERA. Roberts then made four starts with Hickory in 1997 before his promotion to high-A Winston-Salem, where he spent two seasons. He pitched for AA-Birmingham (1999-2000) and AAA- Charlotte (2000), but a final turn at AAA- Calgary (Florida) in 2001. Overall, Roberts went 4-8 with a 4.60 ERA. In 94 innings, Roberts struck out 76, walked 33, and allowed 54 runs (48 earned) on 93 hits.
Dave Keller ('95, hitting coach) turns 54. The University of Northern Colorado product was the Crawdads hitting coach in 1995 as a part of Mike Rojas' staff. Keller has been a part of the Chicago Cubs organization since 2004 and managed their high A affiliate at Daytona this season, where his team won the Florida State League championship.
TEXAS RANGERS AFFILIATES:
LA Angels 4 Texas 7: Robbie Ross ('10, P/ Texas) 1 IP, 1 BB, 2 K.
MAJOR LEAGUES
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Boston Baltimore: Nate McLouth ('01, OF/ Baltimore) 0-0, R; Steven Pearce ('06, 1B/ Baltimore) 2-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI.
Cleveland 5 Minnesota 1: Ryan Doumit ('01-'02, C/ Minnesota) 1-4, R, 2 K; Alex Presley ('07, OF/ Minnesota) 1-4.
Kansas City Chicago White Sox: Leury Garcia ('09-'10, SS/ Chicago White Sox) 0-2, 2 K.
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Chicago Cubs 2 St. Louis 6: Justin Grimm ('11, P/ Chicago Cubs) 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K.
Pittsburgh 8 Cincinnati 3: Bryan Morris ('08, P/ Pittsburgh) 1 IP, 1 BB, 2 K; Tony Watson ('07, P/ Pittsburgh) 1 IP, 1 K/ Zach Duke ('03, P/ Cincinnati) 1 IP.
MINOR LEAGUES:
ATLANTIC LEAGUE (INDEPENDENT) CHAMPIONSHIP:
Long Island 1 Somerset 2 (16 innings): Ray Navarrete ('01, IF/ Long Island) did not play/ Jorge Cortes ('03, OF/ Somerset) did not play. Somerset and Long Island are tied 2-2 in the best-of-five series.
Saturday, September 28
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY:
Ryan Doumit ('01-'02, C/ Minnesota) and Alex Presley ('07, OF/ Minnesota) each had two hits for the Twins during their 12-6 loss to Cleveland. Doumit also scored a run, while Presley knocked in two.
BIRTHDAYS:
Chris Demaria ('04, P) turns 33. The native of Torrance, CA was the Pirates 17th round pick in 2002 out of Long Beach State. In 40 games out of the bullpen during the Crawdads SAL championship run, Demaria went 8-3 with ten saves and a 2.94 ERA. He struck out 102 batters, walked 20 and allowed 29 runs (26 earned) on 62 hits in 79.2 innings. The highlight of his season came on 7/26/04 when he combined with starter Brian Holliday on a no-hitter. Demaria was taken in the "Rule 5" draft by Kansas City during the ensuing off-season. Starting the 2005 season at high A-High Desert, Demaria made it all the way to the big leagues by season's end and debuted with the Royals on 9/9/05. An off-season trade sent him to Milwaukee and he split the 2006 with the Brewers and their AAA affiliate at Nashville. It turned out to be his final season in baseball.
Tony Mansolino ('05-'06, UT) turns 31. The native of Clovis, CA was the 26th round pick in 2005 of the Pirates out of Vanderbilt University. He played in eight games for Hickory at the end of 2005 and then spent all of 2006 with the club. In 114 games overall, Mansolino batted .232 with 13 doubled, a triple, eight homers and 51 RBI. He spent parts of two seasons at high A-Lynchburg before the Pirates released him in 2008. He then played with the Phillies chain at high A-Clearwater and AA- Reading before finishing up with St. Paul in the independent American Association. In 2009, he returned to St. Paul, then played with Schaumburg in the Northern League. Mansolino returned to the A-A in 2010, this time with Wichita, before calling it a career as a player. He is currently a hitting coach in the Cleveland Indians minor league chain, as he spent this season at low A-Lake County.
Randol Rojas ('11-'12, P) turns 23. The native of Caracas, Venezuela was signed by the Rangers in 2008 as an international free agent. He pitched in nine games for Hickory in 2011 before an injury cut short his season. Rojas returned in 2012 for the first month before a promotion sent him to high A-Myrtle Beach, where he also pitched this season. Overall with the Crawdads, Rojas went 6-1 in 13 games (five starts) with a 2.82 ERA. In 51 innings, Rojas struck out 36, walked 16 and allowed 19 runs (16 earned) on 46 hits.
TEXAS RANGERS AFFILIATES:
LA Angels 3 Texas 5: Jurickson Profar ('11, SS/ Texas) 0-1.
MAJOR LEAGUES
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Boston 12 Baltimore 3: Nate McLouth ('01, OF/ Baltimore) 0-4, K; Steven Pearce ('06, 1B/ Baltimore) 0-0, BB.
Tampa Bay 3 Toronto 6: Josh Lueke ('10, P/ Tampa Bay) 2/3 IP.
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Pittsburgh 4 Cincinnati 1: Andrew McCutchen ('06, OF/ Pittsburgh) 0-3, 2 BB, R, K; Neil Walker ('05, C/ Pittsburgh) 0-4, HBP.
MINOR LEAGUES:
ATLANTIC LEAGUE (INDEPENDENT) CHAMPIONSHIP:
Long Island 4 Somerset 5: Ray Navarrete ('01, IF/ Long Island) did not play/ Jorge Cortes ('03, OF/ Somerset) did not play. Long Island leads the best-of-five series 2-1.
Friday, September 27
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY:
Jurickson Profar ('11, SS/ Texas) hit a pinch-hit, walk-off home run (6) in the ninth inning to give the Rangers a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
BIRTHDAYS:
Job Garland ('98, P) turns 34. The native of Granada Hills, CA was acquired by the White Sox in a trade from the Chicago Cubs in July, 1998. In five starts with the Crawdads after the trade, Garland went 1-4 with a 5.40 ERA. He struck out 19, walked 13, and allowed 20 runs (16 earned) in 26.2 innings. Garland debuted with the White Sox on 7/4/2000 and was the American League's youngest player when he did so. The highlights of his Sox career came in 2005 when he made the AL all-star team and went on to pitch that fall for the World Series champs. He stayed with Chicago through 2007 before a trade sent him to the LA Angels in 2008. Garland split time with Arizona and the Dodgers in 2009, and then pitched for the Padres in 2010. After an injury-plagued season with the Dodgers in 2011, he sat out the 2012 season before pitching briefly at Colorado this season.
Andy Prater ('99, P) turns 36. The native of Florissant, MO was the second round pick of the White Sox in 1996 out of McCluer North High School in Florissant. In 15 games, including 12 starts, Prater went 2-3 with a 5.80 ERA. He struck out 52, walked 18 and allowed 46 runs (41 earned) on 71 hits in 63.2 innings.
Johan Yan ('10, P) turns 25. The native of San Pedro de Macoris, D.R. was signed as an international free agent by the Rangers in 2006. Yan went 0-2 in 22 bullpen appearances with two saves and a 2.70 ERA. In 40 innings, Yan struck out 36, walked 12 and allowed14 runs (12 earned) on 28 hits. He pitched at High A-Myrtle Beach in 2011, at AA-Frisco for parts of two seasons and spent this season at AAA- Round Rock.
TEXAS RANGERS AFFILIATES:
LA Angels 5 Texas 6: Robbie Ross ('10, P/ Texas) 2/3 IP.
MAJOR LEAGUES
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Cleveland 6 Minnesota 5: Ryan Doumit ('01-'02, C/ Minnesota) 3-5, R, RBI; Alex Presley ('07, OF/ Minnesota) 2-3, 3B, BB, HBP, 2 R.
Toronto 2 Baltimore 3: Steven Pearce ('06, 1B/ Baltimore) 1-2, 2B.
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Arizona 2 San Diego 3 (11 innings): Robbie Erlin ('10, P/ San Diego) 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR.
MINOR LEAGUES:
ATLANTIC LEAGUE (INDEPENDENT) CHAMPIONSHIP:
Somerset 2 Long Island 3: Jorge Cortes ('03, OF/ Somerset) 0-1/ Ray Navarrete ('01, IF/ Long Island) did not play. Long Island leads the best-of-five series 2-0.
Thursday, September 26
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY:
Martin Perez ('09, P/ Texas) kept the Rangers in the playoff hunt with a strong seven-inning start on Wednesday. He allowed three runs on six hits and struck out eight to improve to 10-5 for the season.
BIRTHDAYS:
Aja Barto ('09, OF) turns 27. The native of Houston TX was signed by the Rangers as a non-drafted free agent out of Tulane University. In 15 games, Barto batted .190 with a double, a homer and four RBI. He was released after the season.
Jon Benick ('04, 1B) turns 34. The native of Nanticoke, PA was signed by the Pirates as a free agent out of the San Diego Padres organization. Benick had a huge season at the plate to help lead the Crawdads to the SAL championship. In 130 games, he batted .328 with 29 doubles, two triples, 32 homers and 104 RBI. Benick holds the club's single-season record with 289 total bases and is tied for first in RBI. He is second in homers and slugging pct. (.592), fifth in hits (160), eighth in batting avg. and ninth in on base pct. (.396). Benick played in 2005 at high A-Lynchburg, then after his release from the Pirates, spent one season at Winnipeg in the independent Northern League.
Yurendell DeCaster ('01, 3B) turns 34. The Curacao native was drafted in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft out of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization. He batted .290 with 17 doubles, four triples, 19 homers and 74 RBI. DeCaster stayed in the Pirates system through 2007, which included a short stint with the Pirates in 2006 from May 21 to June 7. He then played in the Nationals (2008) and Yankees (2009) chains before spending the past four seasons in the Mexican League and with various independent league teams. He split time this season at Monclova (Mexican) and Winnipeg (American Association-Ind.). DeCaster has also represented the Netherlands in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, and in the World Baseball Classic in 2006, 2009 and 2013.
A.J. Johnson ('05, OF) turns 30. The native of Jacksonville, FL was a sixth round draft pick by the Pirates in 2004 out of Tallahassee (FL) Community College. He batted .227 with 12 doubles, two triples, nine homers and 44 RBI. Johnson split time with the Pirates Gulf Coast rookie league and short-season Williamsport in 2006 before his release. In 2007, he played with Kalamazoo in the independent Frontier League, then with Amarillo (United League) in 2008.
Aaron Myette ('97-'98, P) turns 36. The native of Surrey, B.C. Canada was the first round pick of the White Sox in 1997. In 22 starts, Myette went 12-5 with a 2.15 ERA. He struck out 130, walked 41 and allowed 49 runs (32 earned) on 103 hits in 133.2 innings. Myette debuted with the White Sox on 9/7/99 and spent parts of two years with the team. He went on to play for the Rangers (2000-2001), Indians (2003) and had one game with the Reds (2004). Myette played in Japan in 2005 and then attempted a comeback in 2008 with York in the independent Atlantic League.
MAJOR LEAGUES
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Chicago White Sox 2 Cleveland 7: Leury Garcia ('09-'10, SS/ Chicago White Sox) 1-4, 2 K.
Detroit 1 Minnesota 0: Ryan Doumit ('01-'02, C/ Minnesota) 0-2, 2 BB; Alex Presley ('07, OF/ Minnesota) 0-3, BB, K.
Toronto 5 Baltimore 9: Rajai Davis ('02-'03, OF/ Toronto) 0-5, 3 K/ Nate McLouth ('01, OF/ Baltimore) 1-4, 2B, BB; Steven Pearce ('06, 1B/ Baltimore) 2-3, solo HR (4) in the 4th, BB.
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Milwaukee 4 Atlanta 0: Paul Maholm ('04, P/ Atlanta) 7 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 7 K, 1 HR, loss (10-11), 0-2, K.
Pittsburgh 2 Chicago Cubs 4: Andrew McCutchen ('06, OF/ Pittsburgh) 0-3, BB, K; Neil Walker ('05, C/ Pittsburgh) 1-4; Bryan Morris ('08, P/ Pittsburgh) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K / Justin Grimm ('11, P/ Chicago Cubs) 1 IP, 2 K, hold (3).
Washington 1 St. Louis 4: Adam LaRoche ('08, 1B/ Washington) 1-3, BB, K.
MINOR LEAGUES:
ATLANTIC LEAGUE (INDEPENDENT) CHAMPIONSHIP:
Somerset 3 Long Island 4: Jorge Cortes ('03, OF/ Somerset) 0-4, K/ Ray Navarrete ('01, IF/ Long Island) did not play. Long Island leads the best-of-five series 1-0.
Wednesday, September 25
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY:
Nate McLouth ('01, OF/ Baltimore) swatted his 100th career home run (12) in the third inning of the Orioles 3-2 (10 innings) loss to Toronto.
BIRTHDAYS:
Greg Picart ('08, 2B) turns 28. The native of Guyama, P.R. was the Pirates 23rd round pick in 2003 out of Adela Brenes Texidor High School. In 52 games with Hickory, Picart batted .253 with ten doubles, two homers and 14 RBI. He remained in the Pirates system through 2012 when he split time between AA- Altoona and AAA- Indianapolis. He has retired as an active player and is currently in the Pirates minor league system as a coach.
Blaine Beatty ('00, pitching coach) turns 49. The native of Victoria, TX was a member of Jay Loviglio's staff in 2000 when they went 75-66. He spent two more seasons with the Pirates organization at high A-Lynchburg before moving on to the Mets chain at Capital City (low A) in 2003-2004 and AA-Binghamton in 2005. Beatty has been in the Baltimore Orioles system since 2006 and spent this season at AA- Bowie.
MAJOR LEAGUES
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Detroit 4 Minnesota 2: Ryan Doumit ('01-'02, C/ Minnesota) 2-4, solo HR (14) in the 7th, 2B, 2 R, K; Alex Presley ('07, OF/ Minnesota) 0-4, K.
Toronto 3 Baltimore 2 (10 innings): Rajai Davis ('02-'03, OF/ Toronto) 0-2; Todd Redmond ('06, P/ Toronto) 5.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
NY Mets 4 Cincinnati 2: Zach Duke ('03, P/ Cincinnati) 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K.
Pittsburgh 8 Chicago Cubs 2: Andrew McCutchen ('06, OF/ Pittsburgh) 2-5, R, RBI, K; Jordy Mercer ('08, SS/ Pittsburgh) 1-4, solo HR (7) in the third; Neil Walker ('05, C/ Pittsburgh) 0-1, BB; Bryan Morris ('08, P/ Pittsburgh)1 IP 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K.
Washington 0 St. Louis 2: Adam LaRoche ('08, 1B/ Washington) 0-2, BB, K.
Tuesday, September 24
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY:
Neil Walker ('05, C/ Pittsburgh) clubbed a solo HR (14) in the first inning to help lead the Pirates to a playoff-clinching 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Monday.
BIRTHDAYS:
Charles Benoit ('07-'08, P) turns 29. The native of Southlake, TX was the Pirates 10th round pick in the 2006 draft out of Oklahoma St. University. Benoit was a key component out of the bullpen during the Crawdads' 2007 drive to the playoffs when he was 9-3 in 50 games with four saves and a 2.71 ERA. He struck out 83, walked 29, and allowed 28 runs (24 earned) on 73 hits in 79.2 innings. Benoit struggled at high A-Lynchburg in 2008, which led to his return to Hickory in 2008. His struggles continued with the Crawdads as he went 0-3 with a 7.88 ERA. He struck out 22, but walked 17 and allowed 37 runs (35 earned) on 57 hits in 40 innings. Benoit was released after the season and did not pitch again after 2008. He is fourth overall in games pitched (72) and fourth in a season.
Jeremy Cotten ('00-'01, 1B) turns 33. The native of Fuquay-Varina, NC was the Pirates second round pick in 1998 out of Fuquay-Varina High School. Overall, Cotton batted .263 in 184 games with 38 doubles, three triples, 34 homers and 110 RBI. His 25 homers are tied for sixth-most in a season. Cotton is fifth overall in homers (34), fifth in total bases (318), and seventh in runs scored (110). He played one season at high A-Lynchburg in 2002 before leaving pro ball.
Mike Crotta ('06-'07, P) turns 29. The native of Stuart, FL was the Pirates 17th round pick in 2006 out of Florida Atlantic University. After making four starts in 2006, Crotta returned for a full season in 2007 and pitched in 26 games, 25 of those starts. Overall, Crotta went 11-7 with a 5.06 ERA. In 155.2 innings, Crotta struck out 81, walked 30 and allowed 102 runs (87 earned) on 205 hits. He worked through the Pirates system and finally debuted with the big league club on 4/3/11. Crotta pitched at AAA- Indianapolis (Pittsburgh) through 2012 before signing a free agent contract with Washington and pitched at its AAA club at Syracuse this year.
TEXAS RANGERS AFFILIATES:
Houston 0 Texas 12: Jurickson Profar ('11, SS/ Texas) 0-1.
MAJOR LEAGUES
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Baltimore 4 Tampa Bay 5: Nate McLouth ('01, OF/ Baltimore) 1-3, 2B, BB, K.
Detroit 3 Minnesota 4 (11 innings): Ryan Doumit ('01-'02, C/ Minnesota) 1-1, 2B, RBI; Alex Presley ('07, OF/ Minnesota) 2-6, 2B, K.
Toronto 2 Chicago White Sox 3: Rajai Davis ('02-'03, OF/ Toronto) 1-4 / Jeff Keppinger ('02, 2B/ Chicago White Sox) 1-2, 2 BB.
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Pittsburgh 2 Chicago Cubs 1: Andrew McCutchen ('06, OF/ Pittsburgh) 1-3, BB; Jordy Mercer ('08, SS/ Pittsburgh) 0-2, BB, K; Tony Watson ('07, P/ Pittsburgh) 1/3 IP.
Washington 3 St. Louis 4: Adam LaRoche ('08, 1B/ Washington) 0-4, K.
Monday, September 23
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY:
Jeff Keppinger ('02, 2B/ Chicago White Sox) continued his late-season hot streak with a 3-for-5 game on Sunday that included a double and two RBI, as the White Sox defeated Detroit 6-3.
BIRTHDAYS:
Wil Polidor ('93, SS) turns 35. The native of Caracas, Venezuela was signed as an international free agent by the White Sox in 1990. He played in 15 games for Hickory and batted .233 with three RBI. Polidor remained in the White Sox organization through 1998, as his highest level came at AA- Birmingham, where he played for parts of three seasons. After his release, he played at Rio Grande Valley in 1998 in the independent Texas-Louisiana League. His final tenure with an affiliated team came in 1999 when he split time with low A-Piedmont and high A-Clearwater in 1999 in the Philadelphia Phillies chain. He last played for Springfield in the Texas-Louisiana League in 2000. Polidor is currently the agent for Felix Hernandez.
MAJOR LEAGUES
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Minnesota 7 Oakland 11: Alex Presley ('07, OF/ Minnesota) 2-5, 2 R, K.
Toronto 2 Boston 5: Rajai Davis ('02-'03, OF/ Toronto) 1-3, BB, SB.
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Cincinnati 11 Pittsburgh 3: Andrew McCutchen ('06, OF/ Pittsburgh) 0-4; Neil Walker ('05, C/ Pittsburgh) 2-2, solo HR (13) in the third, 2 BB; Jared Hughes ('06-'07, P/ Pittsburgh) 1.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER.
Miami 4 Washington 2 (Game 1): Adam LaRoche ('08, 1B/ Washington) 1-3. Miami 4 Washington 5 (Game 2): Adam LaRoche 0-0, BB.