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Top 20 Catcher Prospects
Throughout 2005 Several Prospects Will Be Chronicaling Their Professional Baseball Experiences In Journals Found Only On TopProspectAlert.com
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TopProspectAlert.com HomeTop Prospect Alert Prospect JournalsKellen Raab
Pitcher -- Arizona Diamondbacks
Kellen Raab is a 23 year old pitcher in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. In 2004, Kellen's first season of professional baseball, he posted a 3-3 record with a 4.38 ERA while striking out 56 batters in 62 innings for the Yakima Bears of the Northwest League. Journal Entry 5-6-2005Click Here To View Kellen's Most Recent Journal EntryTalk about going from one extreme to another. That is the way my baseball playing has taken me in the past week. Last Thursday I came in relief just like every time in the past. This time it was in the 3rd inning already down 6-1. By the time I had come out it had become my worst outing in pro baseball. I had given up 6 runs over 4.2 innings. The only positive I had that night was the two scoreless innings in between the others that I gave up the runs. That night after the game our Manager told me that I would be put into the starters role from that point on. In my first start of the season I was going up against the best team in the league, the Clinton Lumberkings, who came in with an 18-6 record. I went into that game wanting to go at least 5 innings and keep my team in the game. After the game was over I had pitched 7 innings giving up just 1 run and getting the win. That game was my best so far as a pro, besting my 6 inning outing last season in Yakima. I can't explain how it felt pitching against Wisconsin and not being able to get the job done, and then starting against Clinton and have everything just going my way. That's definitely why baseball may be the hardest sport out there. You could show up with the same stuff everyday and could get hammered one day and be masterful the next. This is why I love the game so much because nothing is ever the same. Each day is different, you show up to the field not knowing what will happen that night. It might be the only sport where the team with the worst record could win the overall series against the team with the best record, just because they played well for those few games. As for the opposing teams we played and their players, I saw quite a few talented players. Wisconsin is stacked right now with hitting prospects. Matt Tuiasosopo, if he develops with his age, will be a big leaguer someday in the future. he has the tools, size, and maturity to play the game. I could also see Asdrubal Cabrera and a big league second baseman. So far they are the best lineup I have pitched against top to bottom in my career. From 1-9 they can hit the ball and put it in play. Clinton on the other hand, may not have the same amount of prospects, they definitely get the job done everyday. They are the most consistent team we have played so far and that's why they are winning so much right now. They hit the ball in clutch situations, they play great defense, solid pitching staff, and do the little things that help you win. We ended up sweeping Clinton with the best starting pitching in a whole series I have ever seen at any level. It started with Steve Jackson going 8 scoreless the first night, followed with my 7 innings and 1 run. Then A.J. Shappi took the mound to pitch the first complete game of the season for us and only giving up 1 run and it was in the 9th inning. Ross Ohlendorf finished Clinton off by going 7 innings and not giving up a run. As a whole we had 31 innings pitched giving up just 2 runs as a staff. If you could get that every 4 game series you will win a championship at any level. Our team is finally starting to gel and things are looking up for us. We are going to West Michigan today and plan on extending our 5 game win streak starting tonight. Will get back after this series once we return home for Kane County. Kellen You may email your questions for Kellen Raab to KRaab@topprospectalert.comTopProspectAlert.com Home |
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