MU in the Minors: 2008 Summary

Here is a summary of MU alumni in the Minor Leagues in 2008. I have left out Max Scherzer and Doug Mathis, both of whom spent time in the minors in 2008, but are covered separately as Major Leaguers.

Garrett Bauer: Rockford Riverhawks (Independent Frontier League)

· 10-6, 2.98 ERA in 21 games
· Traded 9/9/08 to the Sioux City Explorers (Independent American Association)

Brock Bond: San Jose Giants (Class A Advanced California League, SF Giants organization) from the Augusta GreenJackets.

· 2008 San Jose stats: .297 BA, 155 AB, 26 R, 19 RBI, 9 SB
· Promoted from Augusta (Low-A) 6/26/08
· 9/5/08 Transferred to extended Spring Training

James Boone Altoona Curve (AA Eastern League, Pittsburgh Pirates organization)

· 2008 Altoona stats: .219 BA, 329 AB, 10 HR, 40 RBI
· EAS Player of the Week, 4/21/08
· On the disabled list (right shoulder) from 5/21/08 to 6/25/08

Garrett Broshuis Connecticut Defenders (AA Eastern League, SF Giants organization).

· 2008 Connecticut stats : 13-9, 3.78 ERA, 157 IP
· Blogs on SportingNews.com

David Cales Boise Hawks (Class-A Short Season Northwest League, Chicago Cubs organization)

· 2008 stats
· Cales played his freshman year at MU, then transferred away

Kurt Calvert Boise Hawks (Class A Northwest League, Chicago Cubs organization)

· 2008 Boise stats: .216 BA, 204 AB, 11 RBI, 13 SB

Aaron Crow Fort Worth Cats (Independent American Association)

· Drafted in June by the Washington Nationals; did not sign
· Crow is working out and hanging out in Columbia, MO in the offseason and is expected to play in May for Fort Worth while awaiting re-entry to the Draft in June 2009
· Online audio interview with Crow about the failure of the negotiations with the
Nationals
· The Washington Nationals' version of the breakdown in negotiations

Nathan Culp Lake Elsinore Storm (Single-A California League, SD Padres organization)

· 2008 Lake Elsinore stats : 14-8, 3.83 ERA, 157.1 IP, 74 SO

Cody Ehlers Trenton Thunder (AA Eastern League, NY Yankees organization)

· 2008 Trenton stats : .200 BA, 370 AB, 8 HR, 43 RBI
· Released by the NY Yankees organization, 8/30/08

Erik Dessau Traded to the Lancaster Barnstormers (Independent Atlantic League) from the Gateway Grizzlies (Independent Frontier League, 8/1/08

· 2008 Lancaster stats
· Barnstormers blog: Dessau traded

Lee Fischer Great Falls Voyagers ( Rookie Pioneer League, Chicago White Sox organization)

· 2008 Great Falls stats : .206 BA, 131 AB, 12 RBI

Evan Frey Promoted to Visalia Oaks (Class A Advanced California League, Arizona Diamondbacks organization) from the South Bend SilverHawks

· 2008 Visalia stats : .297 BA, 229 AB, 3 HR, 18 RBI
· MID Mid-Season All-Star, 6/17/ 08
· Also played for Phoenix Desert Dogs of Arizona Fall League
· Listed #7 among Diamondbacks' top prospects

Justin James Sarasota Reds (Class A Advanced Florida State League, Cincinnati Reds organization)

· 2008 Sarasota stats : 1.56 ERA, 17.1 IP
· Began the season at AA Chattanooga Lookouts
· Traded to the Cincinnati Reds organization from Toronto BlueJays
organization during the 2007-2008 off-season.

Andrew Johnston Tulsa Drillers (AA Texas League, Colorado Rockies organization)

· Began the season with the Modesto Nuts (Single-A California League)
· 2008 stats: 3-1, .240 ERA
· CAL Mid-Season All-Star

Hunter Mense Greensboro Grasshoppers (Single-A South Atlantic League, Florida Marlins organization)

· 2008 Greensboro stats: .289 BA, 432 AB, 13 HR
· Hunter's blog: The Life and Times of Aitch

Jacob Priday Lexington Legends (Class A South Atlantic League, Houston Astros organization)

· 2008 stats: .216 BA, 102 AB, 1 HR, 11 RBI
· Began the year with the Rookie-League Tri-City ValleyCats, promoted after 25 games
· Played 1 game at Lexington before going on the disabled list for several weeks

Andy Shipman Midland Rockhounds (AA) Texas League (Oakland Athletics organization)

· 2008 Midland stats: 2-2, 5.13 ERA, 37 G, 54 IP

Travis Wendte Brevard County Manatees (Single-A Florida State League, Milwaukee Brewers organization)

· 2008 Brevard stats: 4-0, 5.46 ERA, 28 IP

Rick Zagone Aberdeen Ironbirds (Class A NY-Penn League, Baltimore Orioles organization)

· 2008 Aberdeen stats: 7-1, 2.89 ERA, 65.1 IP, 79 SO
· Zagone's 1-hitter: Zagone (6-1) was working on a no-hitter until Ronald Ramirez singled to center with one down in the sixth. Selected by the Orioles in the sixth round of this year's Draft, Zagone struck out five and walked three over six frames while lowering his ERA to 3.23.
· Baltimore Sun, 9/6/08: IronBirds left-hander Rick Zagone finished the season with 79 strikeouts after collecting four in last night’s game against Brooklyn. Zagone came up just shy of the franchise record of 82, which was set by current Orioles starting pitcher Radhames Liz in 2005.

Torre Tyson, Manager, Charleston RiverDogs (Single-A South Atlantic League)MLB.com Profile

· Tyson to return for 2009

Jayce Tingler, Hitting Coach, Dominican Summer League team of the Texas Rangers organization

Jonny Williams, Hitting Coach, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie League, KC Royals organization)

· Royals have announced Williams will return to this job in 2009

If anyone has additional information about Mizzou alumni playing or coaching in the minor leagues, please let me know. Send me an e-mail at simmonsfield@hotmail.com