Category Archives: Minor League Baseball News

Minor League Baseball News

Interview With Tampa Bay Rays Pitching Prospect Jesse Hahn

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By: Andrew Martin
@HistorianAndrew
BaseballHistorian.Blogspot.com

It’s always a shame to see injuries prevent talented young baseball players from achieving their major league dreams. Fortunately the most determined often find a way to persevere and fight their way through the adversity. The Tampa Bay Rays believe they have such a player in their system in pitcher Jesse Hahn, who is finally embarking on his professional career after a lengthy delay. The right-hander was on top of the world as a high school senior. Pitching for Fitch High School in Groton, Connecticut, he went 5-1 with a state record 0.17 ERA, managing to overshadow high-profile teammate Matt Harvey. While Harvey elected to attend UNC, Hahn committed to Virginia Tech. He struggled during his first two seasons with the Hokies, but rebounded to go 5-2, with a 2.81 ERA as a junior in 2010.

With an arsenal that includes a fastball that reaches the upper 90’s, Hahn was projected to be a possible 1st round pick. Unfortunately, just days before the draft, it was determined he needed Tommy John Surgery. Despite the injury, Tampa Bay loved his potential so much that they took him in the 6th round, determined to help facilitate his rehab. Fast forwarding to 2012, Hahn is finally back on the mound and trying to re-establish himself as a top pitching prospect. Prior to a recent game I was able to catch up with him and find out a little more about his journey through baseball.

Did you have a favorite team or player when you were growing up?
Actually, I grew up a Pirates fan because my dad is from Pittsburgh and my mom is from right outside Pittsburgh in Ohio. So, surprisingly I was a Pirates fan. Roberto Clemente was probably my favorite player growing up.

Why Clemente?
Well, he was my dad’s favorite player and I read a lot about him. He just had a great story behind him.

What was your draft experience like?
For me it was real hectic because I had the torn ligament right before the draft; like a couple of days before the draft. I was expecting to go a lot higher, but it didn’t work out. I ended up getting surgery, so it was a long process. I’m glad to be out of it now.

It must have been really frustrating to have that happen right before the draft?
Yeah, it was. It was actually more frustrating these past two years just watching baseball and not being able to play. It was tough.

What did the Rays tell you after they drafted you?
They told me they were going to take me to get the surgery and wanted to sign me. They were really nice about it. Hypothetically, they told me I could take as much time as I needed because they just wanted me to be healthy and be able to pitch again.

What have the past couple of years been like in trying to get back to the mound?
It’s been rough. I’ve had bumps in the road. I had times where I actually though I had tore it again. I didn’t feel good, but I guess that is all just part of the process. It’s a lot to get over, to mentally prepare to pitch again. I dealt with a foot surgery too, so that just made things even worse. It’s all in the past now and I am prepared.

Be sure to check out Jesse Hahn Baseball Cards

Minor League Baseball News

Asheville Manager Joe Mikulik Has An Epic Meltdown Following Ejection

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Never get tired of this guy. Asheville Tourists manager Joe Mikulik went crazy six years ago at Lexington (see second video). Six years later history repeated itself as Mikulik had an epic meltdown after being ejected against the Charleston Riverdogs. Enjoy.

Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports

Here is Mikulik’s ejection and meltdown from six years ago.

Minor League Baseball News

Interview With 2011 Tampa Bay Rays 1st Round Pick Jeff Ames

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By: Andrew Martin
@HistorianAndrew
BaseballHistorian.Blogspot.com

Baseball teams love pitchers with big arms. Anyone who can get their fastball into the upper 90’s or above, are going to get noticed. One team that seems to have inordinate success in annually drafting and cultivating hard throwing pitchers is the Tampa Bay Rays, and it looks like they may have done it once again. In the 2011 MLB draft they were able to nab Jeff Ames, who immediately became one of the hardest throwers in their system.

Ames, a lanky right-handed sophomore from Lower Columbia College in Washington, was drafted in the compensatory portion of the first round with the 42nd overall pick (as compensation for the Rays losing Rafael Soriano to the Yankees). He had been drafted twice before, but had declined to sign in order to continue developing his skills. His decision paid off, as last year he went 8-1 with a 2.05 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 88 innings. His ability to consistently throw in the mid to upper 90’s, including hitting as high as 100 mph last year, made his draft stock skyrocket. He is now making his way towards the majors, toiling in the lower levels of the minor leagues for the Rays, and hoping to become the next in a long line of Tampa Bay pitching prospect success stories. He recently took a few moments after a practice to chat with me and discuss his experiences in baseball.

Who were your favorite team and player when you were growing up?
Definitely the Mariners, being that they were in the closest town to me. Probably my favorite player growing up was Ken Griffey, Jr. because he was so good and it was fun watching him play.

Is there a pitcher who you identify with, either growing up or now?
Back then I didn’t really know any difference, but now I would say Nolan Ryan. Me and my dad would spend some time watching him. He really attacked hitters and I try to attack hitters the same way.

What was your draft experience like?:
My draft experience was pretty awesome. I wasn’t really quite sure when I was going to go, but was more expecting to maybe go second round. It was awesome that I got picked up when I did. The Rays were obviously pretty interested in me, so it really worked out.

How much do you think the reports of you hitting 100 MPH help you leading up to the draft?
Yeah, that was towards the beginning of my college season. I definitely got more attention after that happened, but it only happened once and it wasn’t like I was hitting that every time I went out. But that maybe had a little bit to do with it.

Did your brother Steve’s own previous draft experience with the Dodgers help you in any way?
I wouldn’t say it helped me because me signing this past year was my third time getting drafted. I was kind of familiar with it. As far as going through all of this, it was nice having him to call and talk to when I’ve had any questions.

Were their particular reasons why you chose not to sign when you were drafted by Philadelphia and Colorado?
Honestly I wasn’t ready. I just knew that if I was going to do this, I needed to be ready to do this. I didn’t feel like my abilities were quite where they needed to be.

Which pitches do you throw and which one are you trying to improve the most?
I throw a fastball, a slider, and a changeup. The fastball and slider are the pitches I am probably most comfortable with. I am really trying to work hard on my changeup so I can throw it in any count in a game to a lefty or a righty.

Be sure to check out Jeff Ames’ Baseball Cards

Minor League Baseball News

Indy League Play by Play Man Doubles As Personal Catcher For Former Big League Pitcher

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One of the draws of baseball teams in the Indy Leagues across the country is that you never know what you may see. For the York Revolution you will see the team’s play by play man Darrell Henry catching one of the team’s top pitchers, former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Corey Thurman. Check out the video story below from Jason Bristol and give him a follow @JasonBristol

Minor League Baseball News

Interview With St Louis Cardinals Outfield Prospect Chris Swauger

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By: Andrew Martin
@historianandrew
BaseballHistorian.Blogspot.com

One of the biggest assets a young professional baseball player can have is discipline. Without that it is a tough road to do the necessary work and make the proper adjustments to keep moving upwards. St. Louis Cardinals farmhand Chris Swauger should have discipline in spades, having attended college at The Citadel, a military school known for its rigid preparedness of students. The left-handed hitting outfielder is using that experience as he makes his way through the St. Louis system and hopes that it will eventually pay off with a promotion to the major leagues.
Swauger left The Citadel in 2008 as one of their greatest players ever, ranking near the top of their all time lists in hits, doubles, triples, and home runs. The Cardinals rewarded his consistent production by taking him in the 26th round of that year’s MLB draft. Since then he has progressed through the minors, having made it as far as Triple-A. He doesn’t have a lot of power (possessing a single season high of 12 home runs) and he doesn’t run much, but he hits for a good average and plays good defense. He made his Triple-A debut this season, but struggled a bit and is now playing with Springfield in Double-A, but will likely be sent up again if he continues to play well.

This past off-season I was able to ask Swauger a few questions about his baseball career. Make sure to give him a follow on Twitter @cswag8

Who were your favorite team and player growing up and why?
I was an Atlanta Braves fan growing up. Their games were always on TBS, and we didn’t get a team in Tampa until I was 12 years old so I grew up watching the Braves. I was a big Chipper Jones fan and I loved Fred McGriff. When he came to play for Tampa Bay later in his career, that was a lot of fun to watch.

Which coach or manager has been most influential on you so far?
I have had many good coaches and I can honestly say I’ve taken positive lessons away from all of them. I would have to say that Jeff Albert has been the most influential of all. I have spent four seasons (short-season in Batavia, parts of two seasons in Palm Beach, and a winter ball season in Barranquilla, Colombia) working with him. His knowledge of the game and bio-mechanics is top notch in my opinion. His knowledge of me and my swing is unmatched and he has brought out the best in me as a player.

Can you run through what your draft experience was like?
After my senior season at The Citadel, I was pretty sure I would get a chance to play but I was not sure where I would land in the draft. I watched the rounds that were on TV and then kept the radio broadcast going on the computer. Hearing 784 names called before mine made me wonder if I might not get that chance I was hoping for. Once I heard my name I forgot about all of that and assumed the role of a little kid whose dream had just come true. I was excited and happy to get a chance to continue playing the game I had loved since I could walk.

How did attending The Citadel prepare you for a career in baseball and life?
I think attending a school like that forces a person to grow up in a hurry. I learned valuable lessons about discipline, hard work, time management, and mental toughness. Being in an environment like that shows true character. The adversity that the school provides creates men who are prepared to face any challenge, be it in baseball or life in general.

Do you have a favorite moment from your playing career?
Without question my favorite moment was winning the New York-Penn League Championship in 2008. Running in from left field to jump on the dog pile was one of the happiest moments of my life. There is no other feeling than realizing a goal that you work so hard for. Being a champion makes everything worth it.

How closely do you follow Cardinal organizational transactions and think about how those impact you?
I do pay attention to what happens with the Cardinals. I think anyone who cares about their career in any field pays attention to what goes on within their organization. That being said, I realize that my career and my production is dictated by me and my work ethic. I will work and push myself to the limit regardless of what happens in my organization.

What do you like to do in your spare time, that is not baseball related?
I love to read, listen to music, and watch movies. I like to fish and golf, too. Basically anything involving athletics would be something I’m interested in.

What do you think you need to work on most in 2012 to help you reach the major leagues?
I think I need to improve every aspect of my game. I know that the key for me getting to the big leagues is to get better. I think the only reason I am still getting the chance to play is because I have committed to getting a little bit better every day. I know if I continue to do the little things and put the work in, I will be successful.

Be sure to check out Chris Swauger’s baseball cards

Minor League Baseball News

VIDEO: Bryce Harper’s Reaction To Signing Fan’s Mickey Mantle Baseball

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You might remember us tweeting last season about the fan who had Bryce Harper sign his grandfather’s Mickey Mantle autographed baseball in Harrisburg last season. If you need a refresher, watch the video below which chronicles the event.

Our friend Jason Bristol @JasonBristol from CBS21 in Harrisburg took the story a step further, tracking down the fan Brian McGinn and his brother Ben to talk about the decision to have Harper sign the Mantle ball, and the mostly negative reaction people have had when his video of the experience went viral. Also in the story Harper himself offers his thoughts on signing the Mantle ball. It’s an entertaining watch.

Minor League Baseball News

Interview With Boston Red Sox 1st Round Pick Pat Light

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By Andrew Martin
@HistorianAndrew
BaseballHistorian.Blogspot.com

The struggles of the 2012 Boston Red Sox have been accentuated by the decline of their starting pitching. Having had some fairly significant recent misses in free agency with Daisuke Matsuzaka and John Lackey, new GM Ben Cherington hopes to rebuild the team’s pitching depth through sound drafting and developing. He took two pitchers in the first round of this year’s draft, and Pat Light, the 37th overall selection, is someone the organization is very excited about.

Light is a big righty with a mid-90’s fastball and developing and projectable secondary stuff. After going 20-0 during his high school career he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 28th round in 2009, but elected to attend Monmouth University (NJ) instead. He dominated in college, culminating with his inclusion on this year’s Golden Spikes Award watch list, all while going 8-3, with a 2.40 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 101.1 innings. His impressive production and steady improvement all appealed to the Red Sox, who believe he can be a quality major league starter.

Light recently signed his first contract and was assigned to the short season Lowell Spinners. I was able to catch him coming off the field after conditioning drills earlier this week and got to find out a little more about this exciting young pitcher.

How did you first become interested in baseball?
My dad was a big baseball player. He got me into it when I was real young. So, it has been basically from birth that I have been playing baseball.

Who were your favorite team and player when you were growing up?
Frank Thomas, playing for the White Sox; that was my favorite player growing up. He retired and ever since then I have just been a fan of baseball.

Is there a pitcher you model yourself after?
I guess I would say back in the day it would be Roy Halladay. He has that two-seam sink that I used to have that I am trying to get back. Right now don’t know if there is really a pitcher that I can model myself after. I’m kind of a hard throwing guy with some good secondary stuff. I don’t know if I am as developed as some of those big guys yet.

Can you run through a little bit of what your draft experience was like?
It was exciting. It was a year long process. Once the draft ended last year, it started up for me. It was exciting though and a good year. The fall was exciting with all the teams coming to watch me pitch and my teammates. You don’t get that exposure a lot coming from a small school like Monmouth. The spring obviously was awesome, as there were scouts at every game. Finally draft day was June 4th. I was sitting around my tv right around 6-ish with my family and ended up getting drafted around 11:30 by the Red Sox, a storied franchise. It couldn’t have been better.

Have you been to Boston yet or interacted with anyone from the team?
I went to Boston two days after the draft. I was up in Boston doing some physical work and getting some tests done on me, and stuff like that. I was able to sit in the locker room for about two hours, so I got to meet most of the guys and see how they did most of their daily stuff.

What is one thing you are hoping to work on or improve the most this season?
I would say my secondary pitches. I do want to get that two-seam back running, but right now my main focus is getting that secondary stuff refined to catch up with my fastball.

Minor League Baseball News

Interview with Chicago Cubs prospect Rock Shoulders

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By: Andrew Martin
@historianandrew
BaseballHistorian.Blogspot.com

From Rouglas Odor to Razor Shines, baseball is littered with unique and interesting names. However, there are no current players with a cooler name than Rock Shoulders, a young slugging prospect in the Chicago Cubs’ system.
Roderick “Rock” Shoulders is a big lefty swinging and righty throwing first baseman, who was selected last year in the 25th round of the draft. He had previously been drafted by the Red Sox in 2010, but decided to pass on signing in favor of college. Although many expected he would be drafted higher last year, the Cubs believe they got a steal and reportedly signed him for third round money. After getting into just 8 games last year, Shoulders has just been assigned to short-season Boise in the Northwest League. It is hoped that that he will blossom into a top power hitting prospect under the tutelage of hitting coach Bill Buckner.
Prior to this season Shoulders took some time to chat about his time in baseball. Make sure to monitor his progress through the season and also give him a follow on Twitter @RockBigFly24

Who were your favorite team and player when you were growing up, and why?
My favorite team when I was growing up was the New York Yankees because my dad brought me up always watching their games. I don’t have just one favorite player, I actually have two. Ken Griffey, Jr. was my number one, and Barry Bonds was right there with him.

Why did you decide to not sign with Boston after the 2010 draft?
I just didn’t feel like the offer was right considering I had a full ride scholarship to the State College of Florida (SCF).

Can you describe what your 2011 draft experience was like?
The draft in 2011 was a little bit more laid back for me since I went through it the year before right out of high school. I also had a full ride scholarship to the University of South Florida (USF) after my one year at SCF.

What are your feelings to be part of a Chicago organization in major rebuilding mode with Theo Epstein?
I have really good feeling about Theo coming in because look what he did with Boston, and our organization has a lot of young talent in the system right now.

What is the best piece of baseball advice or instruction you have ever received?
My dad has always told me that “I’m as good as the work I put in.” In other words, while my friends are out having fun during the day, I have to go put in my hours at the gym to get stronger. I have to get to the field to hit, throw and run, and most important, think about the game by putting myself in game situations in my mind now, so when they happen in the game I have already played it out before.

What do you like to do for fun when you aren’t playing baseball?
When I’m not playing baseball I like to go fishing, play PlayStation, clean my vehicle, and spend time with my loved ones.

What specifically are you hoping to improve upon this year?
I want to improve on my speed and quickness so that I can play multiple positions and be great at them, not just average. But I would like to improve on all my skills.

Minor League Baseball News

Video: Returning Marine Surprises Family By Dressing Up As Umpire At Bowie Baysox Game

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The Bowie Baysox, the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, recently invited Marcus Smith Jr. and his family to participate in on field activities including the line up card exchange prior to their recent game against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Little did Smith know that he would soon be reunited with his father at home plate. Smith Sr. a returning Marine dressed up as an umpire and surprised his son. Very cool video.

Minor League Baseball News

Video: El Paso Diablos Fans Take Their Postgame Baserunning Seriously

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Allowing the fans to run the bases after the game is a staple of minor league baseball teams across the country. In the hundreds of minor league games I have attended over the years I have seen fans run the bases dozens of times. I have yet to see as many fans run the bases at one time as you see in this video from a recent El Paso Diablos game where fans of the independent American Association team run the bases in droves.