Mizzou Baseball in the Minors: 2012 In Review

♦ Brock Bond (06-07) Fresno Grizzlies (Pacific Coast League) San Francisco Giants organization

• 2012 Stats: .332 BA (112-for-337), 106 G, 59 R, 15 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 31 RBI, 48 BB, 41 SO, 3/5 SB, .422 OBP, .398 SLG 
• After missing most of the 2011 season while recovering from a serious concussion, Bond spent a full year with triple-A Fresno and put up great numbers.  There was hope he wold be called up to the parent SF Giants in September, but that was not to be.  Some observers believe his lack of power is what holds him back in the eyes of the people who have the power to make decisions about his career advancement.  And yet, some think Brock Bond would be a great addition to the Giants.

♦ Kyle Gibson (07-09) Rochester Redwings  (International League)  Minnesota Twins organization

• Gibson returned to the pitching mound in 2012 after recovering from Tommy John surgery.  He posted a 2.45 ERA in 14.2 innings pitched in the Gulf Coast League, a 2.57 ERA in 7 IP in  the Flordia State League, and a 9.45 ERA in 6.2 IP with Rochester. 
• This fall Gibson pitched in the Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Javelinas.  He finished 3-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 23.1 IP, with 28 Strikeouts.
• Most watchers expect Gibson to be pitching for the Twins by sometime in 2013, although he may be on a Strasburg-style pitch-count limit.

♦ Ryan Lollis (06-09) Fresno Grizzlies (Pacific Coast League)  San Francisco Giants organization

• 2012 Stats at Fresno: .309 BA (54-for-175), 50 G, 27 R, 9 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 25 BB, 26 SO, 2/5 SB, .393 OBP, .434 SLG
• Lollis has emerged as a very good player since he was promoted to Fresno in July.  The Giants will want to see more productive months at Fresno before considering him for promotion to the parent club.

CLASS AA

♦ Tyler Clark (08-10): Erie Sea Wolves (Eastern League) Detroit Tigers organization

• Clark was moved up to Double-A on August 6th
• 2012 AA Erie Stats: 0-0, 7.36 ERA, 7.1 IP, 7 G, 8 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 7 SO, OPP BA .276
• 2012 Single-A Lakeland Stats: 6-1. 0.63 ERA, 42.2 IP, 31 G, 9 SV, 19 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 17 BB, 59 SO, .137 BA
• Clark played in the Arizona Fall League for the Mesa Solar Sox.  He had a rough time there, compiling a 0-0 record, 10.13 ERA, 8 IP.
• His struggles in Erie and in the Arizona Fall League may mean Clark begins 2013 in High-A, unless he shows improvement in Spring Training.

♦ Evan Frey (05-07) Mobile Bay Bears  (AA Southern League) Arizona Diamondbacks organization).

• Frey was moved down to Mobile from the AAA Reno Aces on May 20th.  Frey's numbers took a slump after the move from AAA to AA, but by August his numbers were back up to his usual production level, with a .364 BA in September.
• 2012 AA Mobile Stats:  .256 (92-for-360), 95 G, 47 R, 14 2B, 3 3B, 0 HR, 23 RBI, 50 BB, 50 SO, 29/36 SB, .348 OB%, .311 SLG

♦ Mike Liberto (09-10)  Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA Texas League) Kansas City Royals organization

• Liberto was moved up to Double-A on June 27th, from the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Carolina League)
• 2012 AA NW Arkansas Stats: .238 (24-for-101), 39 G, 14 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 12 BB, 29 SO, 2/3 SB, .319 OB%, .257 SLG

♦ Nick Tepesch (08-10) Frisco Rough Riders (Texas League) Texas Rangers organization

• Tepesch moved from High-A Myrtle Beach to AA Frisco in mid-June. 
• Tepesch had several incredibly good games with Frisco (he pitched a stretch of 14 innings over 2 games in late July where he gave no runs) 
• 2012 AA Frisco Stats: 6-3, .428, 16 G, 14 GS, 162 IP, 97 H, 47 R, 43 ER, 10 HR, 26 BB, 68 SO, .280 OPP BA
• Tepesch was impressive in the Rough Riders' post-season, pitching 13.1 shut-out innings, giving up just 4 hits with 9 strikeouts. 

♦ Rick Zagone (06-08): Bowie Bay Sox (Eastern League) Baltimore Orioles organization

• Zagone has seen time in AA, AA and High A ball this season (some of those spots more than once).  He was moved back up to AA Bowie in late June, then pitched twice back in AAA Norfolk at the end of the season.
• After the regular season, Zagone has been pitching for the Yaquis de Obregon in the Mexican winter leagues
• Overall 2012 ststs:  9-5. .341 ERA, 28 G, 22 GS, 1 SV, 142.2 IP, 114 H, 61 R, 54 ER, 11 HR, 60 BB, 90 SO, .224 OPP BA
• Zagone has been in the Oriole's system long enough that he will be eligible for this off-season's Rule 5 Draft

CLASS A - Advanced

♦ Phil McCormick (08-11)  San Jose Giants (California League) San Francisco Giants organization

• McCormick has been a workhorse for the SJ Giants, appearing in 61 of their 140 games.
• 2012 Stats: .3-1, 3.48 ERA, 61 G, 1 SV, 51.2 IP, 46 H, 21 R, 20 ER, 1 HR, 20 BB, 54 SO, .242 OPP BA

♦ Brett Nicholas (10) Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Carolina League) Texas Rangers organization

• Nicholas has been very consistent at the plate, maintaining an average around .285 throughout the season.
• 2012 Myrtle Beach Stats: .285 BA (127-for-446), 122 G, 49 R, 33 2B, 0 3B, 8 HR, 63 RBI, 44 BB, 84 SO, 5/6 SB, .351 OB%, .415 SLG
• Nicholas now plays at 1st base much more often than as a catcher, which may have increased his playing time and his prospects.

CLASS A

♦ Aaron Senne (07-10) Greensboro Grasshoppers (South Atlantic League) Florida Marlins organization

• Senne  had a good year in his first full injury-free season in the minors. 
• 2012 Stats: .284 (97-for-342), 84 G, 40 R, 16 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 53 RBI, 26 BB, 78 SO, 1/3 SB, .342 OB%, .430 SLG

♦ Matt Stites (11) Fort Wayne TinCaps (Midwest League) San Diego Padres organization

• Stites had a great season in his first full year in the minor leagues.  He was named the Baseball America Low-A All-Star Relief Pitcher of the Year.  Check out his walks vs. strikeouts:
• 2012 Fort Wayne Stats: 2-0, 0.74 ERA, 42 G, 13 SV, 48.2 IP, 25 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 4 HR, 3 BB, 60 SO, .148 OPP BA.
• Stites played in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas (on the same team with Kyle Gibson).  He was 1-0 with 2 Saves and  a 3.21 ERA in 14 IP, with 15 strikeouts.

CLASS A ROOKIE

♦ Blake Brown (10-12) Danville Braves (Appalachian League) Atlanta Braves organization

• Brown has struggled in his rookie season
• 2012 Danville Stats:  .201 (36-for-179), 53 G, 27 R, 6 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 25 BB, 72 SO, 10/14 SB, .313 OB%, .313 SLG

♦ Eric Garcia (10-12) GCL Braves (Gulf Coast League) Atlanta Braves organization

• Garcia was moved down to the GCL instructional league from the Danville Braves after batting .203 in 59 AB. 
• 2012 Overall Stats: .228 (34-for-149), 41 G, 24 R, 7 WB, 1 3B, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 26 BB, 35 SO, 5/9 SB, .352 OB%, .349 SLG

♦ Blake Holovach (12) Pulaski Mariners (Appalachian League) Seattle Mariners organization

• I've listed Blake as being with Pulaski, but he actually finished the season with a single appearance at the Low-A Everett Aquasox, where he pitched 3 innings and gave up 5 runs.  
• 2012 Pulaski Stats:  1-5, 3.91 ERA, 14 G, 10 GS, 48.1 IP, 49 H, 29 R, 21 ER, 3 HR, 22 BB, 30 SO, .261 OPP BA

♦ James Hudelson (11) Winston Salem Dash (South Atlantic League) Chicago White Sox organization

• Hudelson moved up from the Bristol White Sox (Appalachian League) at the end of the season, where he appeared in just 2 games, giving up 0 runs.
• 2012 Overall Stats: 1-3, 5.46 ERA, 23 G, 2 SV, 29.2 IP, 31 H, 20 R, 18 ER, 1 HR, 15 BB, 28 SO, .258 OPP BA 

♦ Ben Turner (09-12) Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Northwest League) San Francisco Giants organization

• Turner is currently listed as Active, but has no stats;  He spent the early season on the DL; he broke his thumb before the Volcanoes' first game

INDEPENDENT LEAGUES

♦ Trevor Coleman (07-09):  Kansas City T-Bones (American Association)

• Coleman was released by the Seattle Mariners organization on 5/21 after playing 5 games for the High Desert Mavericks (California League)
• 2012 T-Bones Stats: .262 (83-for-317), 89 GP, 47 R, 12 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 38 RBI, 51 BB, 54 SO, 2/3 SB

♦ Andrew Johnston (05): Gary South Shore Railcats (American Association)

• 2012 Stats:  0-3, 5.25 ERA, 9 G, 5 GS, 24 IP, 16 SO, 3 BB, 34 H, 16 R, 14 ER
• Johnston has struggled with injury during the season

♦ Hunter Mense (07-09):  Kansas City T-Bones (American Association)

• Hunter Mense spent the summer enjoying one more season playing the game he loves.  He is now back at MU as a student and assistant coach
• 2012 T-Bones Stats: .291 (51-for-175), 51 GP, 23 R, 9 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 30 RBI, 14 BB, 26 SO, 0 SB
• Here's a Tip of the Cap to Hunter, for showing us again what it means to play for the love of the game.

INTERNATIONAL

♦ Doug Mathis (05) joined the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Nippon Professional Baseball League after spending most of the season with the Pawtucket Red Sox (International League) Boston Red Sox organization

RELEASED / RETIRED

♦ Zach Hardoin (10-11) was released by the Houston Astros organization

♦ Justin James (02-03): is a Free Agent and running a business in Columbia, MO.

MINOR LEAGUE COACHING

♦ Landon Brandes (2000): Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Washington Nationals

♦ Torre Tyson (95-98): Minor League Defensive Coordinator, NY Yankees

♦ Jayce Tingler (00-03) Minor League Field Coordinator, Texas Rangers

If you have further information about any of these players, or corrections to my info, please e-mail me at simmonsfield@hotmail.com