With Ken Griffey Jr. ending a
storied 22-year Major League career on Wednesday, it's hard to remember just
where it all began over two decades ago.
NEW YORK -- Voting has begun for
the 2010 Triple-A All-Star Game. Fans have their say as to who makes the
journey to Allentown, Pa., on July 14.
Danny Duffy, one of the Royals'
top pitching prospects, returned to baseball Wednesday, ending a leave of
absence he began in March when he reassessed his desire to play..
It's hard to imagine more hype
surrounding a draft prospect than 2009 No. 1 overall selection Stephen
Strasburg, but fans and front offices were buzzing …
Todd Redmond threw his hands in
the air before being mobbed by his teammates near the mound after pitching the
first no-hitter in Gwinnett Braves' history exactly a month after his teammates
were held hitless.
NEW YORK -- Yankees Minor League
reliever Amauri Sanit was suspended 50 games on Friday after testing positive
for a performance-enhancing drug.
Stolmy Pimentel can't be perfect
every night. But he came as close as he could Thursday, with his second no-hit
six-inning stint of the season en route to Class A Advanced Salem's 2-1 win
over Winston Salem.
Kyle McPherson is back to his old
habits. McPherson struck out nine and walked one over seven hitless innings for
his third win as Class A West Virginia one-hit Lexington...
It's been nearly a year since
Tyler Matzek heard his name called as the Rockies' first pick in the 2009
Draft. On Monday, he finally got his chance to take the mound.
Josh Tomlin didn't have his best stuff when he took
the mound to begin Friday's game. After walking a pair of batters, he recalled
a chat with his catcher, Indians top prospect...
Three
Braves prospects suspended
NEW YORK -- Three Braves
prospects, all infielders with Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach, were suspended on
Friday for using performance-enhancing substances.
Twins' Minor Leaguer Mike Harrington was suspended
for 50 games Thursday after testing ...
Yankees
extend contract with SWB
The road to the Bronx will
continue to go through northern Pennslyvania for years to come.
A year ago, Robbie Erlin was
looking forward to his high school graduation. Erlin continued his early Minor
League success Tuesday, striking out nine over five perfect innings in his
first career start …
Every night is a new experience
for Jose Iglesias. The Cuban defector -- with $6 million in the bank -- has
begun his Minor League career in Portland, Maine this year, learning the game,
a new language and the pressure of a new life and career.
The Bulls returned home on Monday,
giving fans a unique chance at going back in time, if only for nine innings.
Round Rock fell to Nashville, 3-1,
on Thursday night, but it was the debut of the team's newest reliever that had
fans buzzing. Billy Ray "Rojo" Johnson, wearing No. 99 and adorned
with glitzy necklaces…
In a week that saw two former
Nationals first-round picks promoted, a third has apparently decided to hang it
up. Colton Willems, Washington's first-round pick in the 2006 Draft…
Phillies prospect Fidel Hernandez,
a Florida State League All-Star in 2009, was suspended 50 games on Tuesday
after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
Kyle Drabek is healthy and confident, pitching
exactly the way the Blue Jays hoped when they acquired him during the
offseason.
D-backs
cut Brito following suspension
NEW YORK -- The Arizona
Diamondbacks have voided the contract of a young Dominican prospect after he
was suspended Monday afternoon for performance-enhancing drug use.
NEW YORK -- Former sixth-round
pick Adam Bostick was suspended 50 games on Thursday for violating the Minor
League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Jake Odorizzi was a first-round
pick by Milwaukee in 2008. (Chris Proctor/Four Seam Images) When Jake
Odorizzi walked back into the dugout for the eighth inning Friday night, he
glanced…
Arrieta split the 2009 season
between Double-A Bowie and Norfolk. (Megan Morrow/Norfolk Tides) Jake
Arrieta is in no rush this season. At least, when he's on the mound. Arrieta
(1-0)…
Fans already may have forgotten
who claimed Texas League glory last season -- Midland won its second title in
five years -- but that is the nature of the Minor Leagues…
NEW YORK -- A pair of Yankees
Minor Leaguers were among four Dominican Summer League players suspended on
Wednesday for performance-enhancing drugs, days after Commissioner Bud Selig…
NEW YORK -- Rangers prospect
Danny Gutierrez, who was recently named a "Rising Star" in the
Arizona Fall League, was suspended after testing positive for an amphetamine, a
performance-enhancing substance.
Ted Lilly may not be well known
for his summer as the ace of the Yakima Bears' pitching staff in 1996. In fact,
he's probably even lesser known for his other hidden talents. "He was a
Wiffle ball maniac," said Joe Vavra…
The faded green right field seats
at Birmingham's Rickwood Field tell a story that only those who've sat there
can truly understand. America's oldest ballpark was the one-time home...
Fausto Carmona wrapped up a sterling 2003 season
with 17 wins and a 2.06 ERA at Class A, but there were still some questions
surrounding the young Dominican right-hander.
Orioles
righty Parker suspended
NEW YORK -- Orioles Minor Leaguer
Brian Parker was suspended for 50 games on Thursday for his second positive
test for a drug of abuse.
The Triple-A All-Star Game is
returning to its origins in 2012.
Grant Desme, one of he Oakland
A's top outfield prospects, has retired to pursue a career as a priest. The
slugging 23-year-old, who won Arizona Fall League MVP honors in 2009, has
decided to join the priesthood.
NEW YORK -- Former first-round pick and two-time
Southern League All-Star Miguel Negron was one of three Minor Leaguers
suspended for drug usage on Friday.
Path
of the Pros: Kevin Kouzmanoff
Kevin Kouzmanoff emphatically ended his Minor League career
in late 2006, a moment he still finds hard to believe. The young
Indians prospect, hitting .353 ...
From DANNY WILD,
MLB.com, 16 Dec 2009