Indy Pro Showcase in the news.
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HOT OFF THE PRESS ! Ben Paxton, (a 2009 Indy Pro Showcase discovery), was just signed by the Houston Astros! Congratulations Ben!
BREAKING NEWS! Stephen Fox, (a 2009 Indy Pro Showcase discovery), was just signed by the Boston Red Sox! Congratulations!
THIS JUST IN: 4 of the top 11 of Baseball America’s Top Independent League Prospects for 2009 were discovered by the Indy Pro Showcase! Congratulations to: Ben Paxton, Greg Lane, Tim Brown, & Stephen Fox!
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THIS JUST IN: 4 of the top 11 of Baseball Americas’ Top Independent League Prospects for 2009 were discovered by the Indy Pro Showcase! Congratulations to: Ben Paxton, Greg Lane, Tim Brown, & Stephen Fox!
Click Here for the full article
THREE TO WATCH
It’s too early to say who if anyone out of this year’s Indy Pro Showcase will end up making it to affiliate ball, but here are three who impressed.
Greg Lane, rhp, Sussex
Lane went undrafted out of Binghamton University despite a solid career that saw him set an American East conference record with 11 saves as part of a 3-2, 1.97 junior season. He slumped to 5-2, 4.85 as a senior, which didn’t help his draft chances. But at the showcase Lane showed an 88-92 mph fastball and a solid changeup with a clean delivery. He’s headed to Sussex where he’ll try to follow in LaLuna’s footsteps.
Tim Brown, rhp, Lincoln
To say that Brown was the ace of the Pittsburgh (Kan.) State staff was an understatement. He had a 3.71 ERA while no other pitcher on the team had an ERA under 5.60. His 8-4 record was more than half of the Gorilla’s 15 wins. At the showcase he showed an 88-91 mph fastball, a solid 73-75 mph changeup and a slurvy slider.
Chris Piotrowski, lhp
Piotrowski was the ace at Division II Dowling (N.Y.) College as he went 6-3, 2.35 in 2009, but he went undrafted and unsigned last year. At the showcase, he showed an 86-88 mph fastball from the left side with a good slider and excellent mechanics. Click here for the full article
Mays, 22, 6-2, 190, INF was the northern Nevada high school player of the year as he led his team to the state championship. He went on to play at Mesa JC in Phoenix for one of the top-ranked junior college programs in the country. Recruited by the University of Nevada he played there before transferring to Cal Stave Monterey Bayto finish his collegiate career . A middle infielder/3B with size and power, he went undrafted out of college and joined the Arizona Summer League after an outstanding tryout at the Indy Pro Showcase in Detroit earlier in the summer. Hitting a startling .833 in his first three games at the pitching-dominated ASL he was quickly signed by the St. Paul Saints of the American Association, the most-storied, and considered the premier, franchise in all of independnent pro ball.
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Cullen To Pirates!
12/19/2008
Pittsburgh Pirates Acquire Contract of Edmonton Pitcher Chris Cullen
Rookie sensation for Cracker Cats Just Missed GBL ROY Award
The Golden Baseball League has announced that rookie right-handed pitcher Chris Cullen of the Edmonton Cracker Cats has had his contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Cullen, who played for the Edmonton Cracker-Cats this past summer, was told by a Pirates’ official last September that they had followed his progress in Edmonton. He was informed the Pirates made their roster moves in December and if they were interested, they’d contact him then.
“It’s been quite a waiting game,” he said Friday.
Cullen in Game Mode: As the youngest player on the Cracker-Cats, Cullen started 10 games and posted a 5-1 record with a 3.20 earned run average. He struck out 24 and walked 27 over 56.1 innings pitched.
Last spring, he wrapped up his collegiate career with the Michigan State Spartans, where he went 5-4 with a 4.95 ERA, 37 strikeouts and 24 walks. He was named co-pitcher of the week for the Big 10 in April following a complete-game, two-hit, 1-0 win over Ohio State.
Undrafted, he was spotted by legendary independent leagues scout Nick Belmonte who recommended him to Edmonton Manager Brent Bowers. Bowers needed starting pitching as his staff was thinning out late in the season and the Cracker Cats were battling for the Division title. He put Cullen right into the starting rotation and the young pitcher was key to the Cracker Cats Division title and first ever post-season appearance.
“This is a beautiful thing,” Cullen said. “It’s all about getting a shot. You’ve just got to keep working because you never know who’s watching.” Click here for the full article
SKYHAWKS’ LALUNA SOLD TO THE TIGERS Held Opponents to an .181 Batting Average in 26 Appearances
DURHAM, NC – The Can-Am League announced today that the Sussex Skyhawks have sold the contract of RHP Michael LaLuna (pictured) to the Detroit Tigers.
LaLuna, 22, was signed by the Skyhawks out of New York Tech on June 17th. The Commack, NY resident went 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 26 appearances. He struck out 42 batters in 42 innings pitched and held opponents to a batting average of only .181. He enjoyed a great postseason in leading the Skyhawks to the 2008 Championship. LaLuna posted a record of 1-0 with an 1.17 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings pitched.
In his senior season with New York Tech, LaLuna was 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA and one save. He fanned 16 hitters in 18 innings pitched and was named to the 2008 Division I Independent Baseball All-Tournament Team.
Nick Belmonte seen here with Hal Lanier after winning the 2008 Can Am League Championship
http://www.njherald.com/story/sports/Nick-Belmonte-feature–for-Friday–web
