Impressive Debuts

Two of the Southern Indiana Mud Hens prospects had impressive debuts over the holiday weekend. Mud Hens first round supplemental pick Shooter Hunt, a right-handed pitcher out of Tulane University made his professional debut on Friday, July 4th for the Elizabethtown Twins. Hunt went 3 innings and did not allow a hit or a walk while striking out 6 in a no decision against the Bristol Sox.

Mud Hens second round pick Dennis Raben, an outfielder and first baseman from the University of Miami, had a very impressive professional debut this weekend. In his first 3 professional games, Raben is 8-for-10 with 7 runs scored, 4 doubles, 1 home run, 3 rbi's, 3 walks and a stolen base for the Everett Aqua Sox.

Down on the Farm, Sunday, 07/06/2008

AAA
Brad Nelson, OF, Nashville Sounds
Nelson was 3-for-4 with a runs scored, 2 doubles and 3 rbi's in a 7-4 win over the Round Rock Express.

AA
Daniel Cortes, SP, NW Arkansas Travelers
Cortes was the winning pitcher going 5 innings and giving up 4 hits, 4 walks and 2 earned runs while striking out 4 in a 4-2 win over the Corpus Christi Hooks.

Low A
Yefri Carvajal, OF, Ft. Wayne Wizards
Carvajal was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk in a 6-2 loss to the South Bend Silver Hawks.

Class A Short Season
Dennis Raben, OF, Everett Aqua Sox
Raben was 2-for-3 with a run scored, 2 doubles, 2 rbi's and 2 walks in a 7-6 loss to the Yakima Bears.

Ruffin Named All-American

Southern Indiana Mud Hens prospect and Texas Longhorns freshman right-hander Chance Ruffin was named to Baseball America’s College All-America team the publication announced on Thursday. He was tabbed a third-team starting pitcher.

The Longhorns’ northpaw was one of just two freshmen named to any of the three teams, joining Miami left-hander Chris Hernandez.

Ruffin was arguably the best freshman starting pitcher in the nation in 2008. In 10 starts, he went 7-0 with a 1.56 ERA, striking out 60 over 57.2 innings. Ruffin was named the Big 12 Conference Freshman Pitcher of the Year, posting an 8-3 record with a 1.96 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 78 innings. He held opponents to a .191 batting average for the season.

Earlier in the month, Ruffin was named to the Louisville Slugger’s Freshman All-American Team by Collegiate Baseball and the Pro-Line Athletics Freshman All-American Team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Ruffin kept a streak alive for the Longhorns who have had at least one All-American in each of the last seven seasons.

Mud Hens Prospect Called to Show

Southern Indiana Mud Hens outfield prospect, Roger Bernadina, was called up by the Washington Nationals on Sunday. Bernadina started and led off games on Sunday and Monday and is currently hitting .100 going 1-for-10 with a run scored. At AA, Harrisburg, Bedrnadina was hitting .323 with 11 doubles and 5 home runs, 47 runs scored and was 26 for 35 in stolen base attempts.

Mud Hens' Dietrich Named to Award

Southern Indiana Mud Hens prospect and Georgia Tech University shortstop Derek Dietrich has been named the inaugural Pro-Line Athletic National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Freshman Hitter recipient, as announced by the organization Tuesday.

Dietrich, a 6-1 shortstop, led the Yellow Jackets with 66 RBIs, while hitting .332 with 14 home runs and 16 doubles in his first season at Georgia Tech. The Parma, Ohio native started every game at shortstop in 2008 and made one appearance off the mound in relief. He was named the All-ACC second team shortstop after concluding the regular season ranked in the top-10 in the league in home runs, RBI and total bases and led all freshmen in the conference in the three categories.

Dietrich helped lead Georgia Tech to a 41-21 record and an appearance in the NCAA Athens Regional.

Mud Hens' Jackson Named to USA National Team

Southern Indiana Mud Hens propect and University of Miami sophomore shortstop Ryan Jackson was named to the 2008 USA Baseball National Team, a squad comprised of the top non-draft-eligible college players in the United States. The 20-man roster consists of nine pitchers, nine position players and a pair of two-way players.

The 2008 USA Baseball National Team will compete next month in the Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands and at the FISU World Championships in the Czech Republic.

The National Team roster was selected following a two-week trials period, during which time the trials participants played 10 games and had two intrasquad scrimmages. Comprised of the top non-draft-eligible college players in the United States, the National Team plays six games against the Chinese Taipei National Team before beginning competition in Europe.

The USA Baseball Olympic Team is comprised of the top professional players not on a 25-man roster; that squad will be announced July 16.

Jackson was a first team All-ACC selection. He finished the 2008 season hitting .360 with 87 hits, a team-high 19 doubles, four homers and 50 RBI. Most impressively he fielded .974 from his shortstop position while committing just eight errors and leading the team with 206 assists. He also was named to the ABCA All-Atlantic Region team and was named the most outstanding player of the NCAA Coral Gables Regional.

Rob Walton (Oral Roberts) serves as head coach of the 2008 National Team with pitching coach Jerry Meyers (Old Dominion) and assistant coaches Nino Giarratano (San Francisco) and Ritch Price (Kansas). Eric Campbell is the general manager for the USA Baseball National Team.
The National Team begins competition Wednesday, opening a six-game series against the Chinese Taipei National Team in Greenville, S.C. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EDT at West End Field.

Down on the Farm, Friday, 06/27/08

AAA
Shairon Martis, RHP, Columbus Clippers
Martis pitched 6 innings and allowed 8 hits, 3 walks and 3 earned runs while striking out 2 in a losing decision. The Clippers lost to the Indianapolis Indians, 5-2.

Juan Miranda, 1B, Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees
Miranda was 1-for-4 with a double in a game that was suspended 1-1 in the 9th inning due to fog against the Buffalo Bisons.

Brad Nelson, OF, Nashville Sounds
Nelson was 1-for-4, scored and run and struck his 12th home run of the season and had an rbi in a 5-2 win over the Round Rock Express.

AA
Roger Bernadina, OF, Harrisburg Senators
Bernadina was 2-for-4 in a 2-1 loss to the Erie Sea Wolves.

Chris Coghlan, 2B, Carolina Mudcats
Coghlan was 2-for-3 with a walk in a 5-2 win over the Huntsville Starz.

Low A
Yefri Carvajal, OF, Ft. Wayne Wizards
Carvajal was 3-for-4 with a run scored, an rbi, and a walk in an 11-3 win over the Dayton Dragons.

Rookie
Humberto Sanchez, RHP, GCL Yankees
Sanchez started and pitched 1 inning and gave up 1 hit and struck out 1 in a no decision game the Yankees won over the GCL Blue Jays, 6-5.

Down on the Farm, Thursday, 06/26/2008

AAA
Brad Nelson, OF, Nashville Sounds
Nelson was 2-for-2 with 2 runs scored and 3 walks in an 8-5 win over the Round Rock Express.

AA
Chris Coghlan, 2B, Carolina Mudcats
Coghlan was 2-for-4 in an 8-1 loss to the Huntsville Starz.

Low A
Brandon Waring, 3B, Dayton Dragons
Waring was 1-for-4 with an rbi in a 2-1 win over the South Bend Silver Hawks.

Class A Short Season
Lance Lynn, RHP, Batavia Muckdogs
Lynn pitched 1 2/3 innings and gave up 2 hits, 2 walks and struck a batter out in a no decision in a 7-6 victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

Ike Davis, OF, Brooklyn Cyclones
In his professional debut, Davis was 1-for-4 with a run scored and a double in a 4-2 win over the Aberdeen IronBirds.

Rookie
Kyle Russell, OF, Ogden Raptors
Russell was 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored, a double, a home run, an rbi and a walk in a 6-5 loss to the Orem Owlz.

Ruffin Pitching Well for Team USA

Texas Longhorns freshman right-hander Chance Ruffin pitched one scoreless inning to earn a win for the USA Baseball National Trials Team in a 7-1 victory over the Chinese National Team at Fuessenich Park in Torrington, Conn., on Wednesday night.

Ruffin entered a scoreless game in the top of the fifth inning and struck out all three batters he faced on 15 pitches. Team USA scored three runs in the home half of the fifth and cruised to the 7-1 win.

The Longhorns' northpaw has appeared in three games for USA Baseball posting a 1-0 mark and a 1.80 ERA. He has allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out 11 in five innings of work.

In all, 32 players were invited to the National Team Trials and 22 of those players will be selected for the National Team roster that will be announced on June 24. The trial includes a 12-game exhibition slate. After the trial period, USA Baseball's 2008 National Team schedule includes a six-game friendship series against Chinese Taipei and a month-long trip to Europe where the team will compete in the Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands and the IV FISU World Collegiate Baseball Championship in the Czech Republic.

Ruffin was arguably the best freshman starting pitcher in the nation in 2008. In 10 starts, he went 7-0 with a 1.56 ERA, striking out 60 over 57.2 innings. Ruffin was named the Big 12 Conference Freshman Pitcher of the Year, posting an 8-3 record with a 1.96 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 78 innings.

He held opponents to a .191 batting average for the season.

Earlier in the month, Ruffin was named to the Louisville Slugger's Freshman All-American Team by Collegiate Baseball and the Pro-Line Athletics Freshman All-American Team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

National Team Trials competition continues Thursday as the U.S. squad travels to Newport, R.I. to face the Newport Gulls of the NECBL at Cardines Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. Central.

Down on the Farm, Wednesday, 06/25/2008

High A
Christian Santana, OF, Clinton Lumber Kings
Santana was 1-for-4 with a runs scored, a double and two rbi's in an 8-5 win over the Beloit Snappers.

Rookie
Kyle Russell, OF, Ogden Raptors
Russell was 1-for-4 with a runs scored, a double, an rbi and a walk in a 10-2 win over the Idaho Falls Chukars. Russell is off to a good start to professional baseball, hitting .333/.487/.633 with 2 home runs and 7 rbi's in his first 8 games. The only discouraging number is the 10 strike outs in 30 at-bats.

Twins Sign Mud Hens Prospect

The Minnesota Twins signed Mud Hens right-handed pitching prospect, Shooter Hunt, to a contract which included a $1,080,000 signing bonus. Hunt was drafted in the supplemental round by the Twins, with the 31st overall pick. No word yet on where Hunt will be assigned to start his professional career.

Mets Sign Mud Hens Prospect

The New York Mets agreed to a contract with first-round draft pick, and Southern Indiana Mud Hens prospect, Ike Davis on Tuesday and assigned the former Arizona State first baseman to Class-A Brooklyn.

Davis gets a $1,575,000 signing bonus after batting .385 with 16 homers and 76 RBIs in 51 games for the Sun Devils this year. He also went 4-1 with a 2.53 ERA and four saves on the mound.

The 21-year-old slugger's father is Ron Davis, who pitched for the New York Yankees and four other teams during 11 seasons in the majors.

"I think it's pretty sweet that I got the other side," said Ike Davis, wearing a Mets jersey with No. 39 - his father's number. "He got the Yankees, I got the Mets - a little home rivalry right there."

The Mets selected Davis with the 18th overall pick in this month's draft.

Season Debut

Humberto Sanchez made his 2008 debut on Tuesday and allowed a run in two-thirds of an inning for the Rookie GCL Yankees. Sanchez' final numbers were 2/3 of an inning, 1 hit, 1walk and 1 earned run.

Sanchez is making his way back from Tommy John surgery. He'd need to be particularly impressive in the minors over the rest of the season in order to receive a September callup.

Down on the Farm, Tuesday, 6/24/2008

AAA
Chris Getz, 2B, Charlotte Knights
Getz was 4-for-5 with a stolen base in a 6-5 win over the Norfolk Tides.

Juan Miranda, 1B, Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees
Miranda was 1-for-3 with a double and an rbi in a 4-2 loss to the Columbus Clippers.

Brad Nelson, OF, Nashville Sounds
Nelson was 2-for-5 with a run scored and hit his 11 home run and drove in his 45th rbi on the season in a Memphis Redbirds.

High A
Christian Santana, OF, Clinton Lumber Kings
Santana was 2-for-4, scored a run, and belted his 7th home run on the season and drove in his 20th rbi on the season in an 8-5 loss to the Beloit Snappers.

Brandon Waring, 3B, Dayton Dragons
Waring is hot again as he was 1-for-2, hitting his 15th HR and drove in rbi's number 45 and 46 in a 7-5 loss to the South Bend Silver Hawks. Waring is hitting .424 with 2 doubles, 3 home runs and 12 rbi's in his last 10 games for Dayton.