2010 Rookie Debut News

[umd]

Las Vegas, NV (BLB) - Several rookies will begin the season with the BLB club due to offseason moves and injuries.

SP Tyler Clarke
Drafted 2007 (2.2) DVS

Clarke will replace long time fan favorite Brendan Lindsey in the Scorpions rotation. Lindsey was dealt to Philadelphia in the offseason. Drafted #2 in the 2nd round of the 2007 draft, the 24 year old righty climbed as high as #35 on the Top Prospects list before throwing enough Spring Training innings to qualify for the big league club. Scouts have praised Clarke's intangibles and his intelligence, leadership, work ethic and desire to win games were all on display at AAA Reno where he won the FF Outstanding Pitcher Award in 2009 for the Rippers. Regularly hitting 99 mph on the gun, he boasts a balanced assortment of pitches that includes a slider, change-up, cutter and splitter that helped him go 15-6 with a 3.34 ERA last season.

RF Travis Anthony
Drafted 2005 (1.10) CAR

Highly touted rookie Travis Anthony will make his rookie debut in RF on Opening Day at Los Alamos due to injuries to veteran outfielders Colin Cash, Jimmy Jones, and Dave Bryan. Drafted with the 10th overall selection by the Carolina Tobs in 2005, Anthony was dealt to the Scorpions for CL Manny Ochoa in the summer of 2008. With a crowded outfield in Vegas, Anthony has sharpened his skills in the minors, first in Jackson Hole (AA) and then in Reno (AAA) where he was named to the Allstar team at both levels. Anthony is considered a 5 tool player by scouts in the Scorpions organization and climbed as high as #9 on the Top 100. His ability to hit for average (.331) and get on base (.419) are his strengths. In Reno, Travis displayed some pop (14 HRs, 75 RBIs), some speed (14 SBs) and a plus glove in RF. He's projected as a leadoff or #2 hitter at the BLB level, but most likely will begin his career batting in the bottom 3rd of the order.

[Carlos]

Let the kids play. I like it.

[umd]

Let the kids play. I like it.

I think both are ready - stats and rating wise. I think Anthony could be a special type of player. Hopefully he gets off to a strong start since our line-up could use the help.

[umd]

C Dave Richardson
Drafted 2005 (2.1) HAR (CLE)

Acquired in the 2006 blockbuster that sent C Agustin Perales, SS Tex Watts, and SP Migdonio Manhos to Cleveland, the 26 year old catcher has won the back-up C job behind Danny Salcedo. Richardson provides solid defense and will have time to develop as a hitter in a reserve role. Currently ranked 39th on the Top Prospect list, Richardson hit .277/.306/.440 at AAA Reno, with 13 HRs and 64 RBIs.

[Pat]

Making his debut for Washington next week will be MR Bill Trevino. The 47th overall pick in 2006 turned 25 in March and has been asking about making his BLB debut. My scout sees him as a potential set-up man or rally stopper in the BLB. He still has a little ways to go on his control potential but I think it's necessary for him to take his lumps in the bigs. He has a solid ground ball, great stamina for a RP and while his 3rd pitch (changeup) is rated at just a "2", there is a chance he could develop into a starter...maybe.

[BradZ]

Not a debut in the strictest sense (he broke the seal last season with WAS), but Al Anguiano is still a rookie and is doing good things.

He won the IL Rookie of the Month in April and is off to a really good May so far as well. As our primary leadoff hitter, he's put together a .344|.385|.408 slash with 22 runs scored and a slick 12|0 SB|CS ratio. He's exactly what we wanted him to be when we traded for him in the offseason.

[Pat]

Not a debut in the strictest sense (he broke the seal last season with WAS), but Al Anguiano is still a rookie and is doing good things.

He won the IL Rookie of the Month in April and is off to a really good May so far as well. As our primary leadoff hitter, he's put together a .344|.385|.408 slash with 22 runs scored and a slick 12|0 SB|CS ratio. He's exactly what we wanted him to be when we traded for him in the offseason.

It was tough for me to let him go but my OF continues to be crowded.

SP Troy Martin has started to settle down throwing two gems back to back. He's also locked up to a very team friendly 5-year $19M extension.

One of those deals that works out for both teams.

[Lintyfresh85]

Los Angeles, CA (BLB) - California announces the promotion of two Top 100 prospects to the major league club.

#4 BLB Prospect

LF - Tom Churchill
1.12 - 2006 Draft
.350/.434/.585/1.020 (AAA)

After destroying AAA, Churchill made his BLB debut this past sim and held his own hitting .346/.414/.462/.875. I tried to hold him in AAA long enough to avoid Super 2 status but I'm tired of holding the future back.

#68 BLB Prospect

C - Vinny Flores
1.9 - 2007 Draft
.342/.381/.581/.962 (AAA)

Flores was also tearing up AAA this year and has told the front office on multiple occasions that he's ready for the BLB... Flores backed up his talk by putting up .400/.400/.650/1.050 line in his first week.

[Pat]

C Dusty McKay


Currently ranks #21 on the Top Prospect List. McKay has "expected major leagues" since the season started and he will finally get his wish after hitting .311 with a .911 OPS. In the month of August he is hitting .500 with a 1.330 OPS. I think he's ready.

[Pat]

3B Alex Rendon


Originally drafted 38th overall in 2003, Rendon has never been considered a Top Prospect. As a rookie in Single-A he hit .294 with a .864 OPS and we thought we landed a steal. The following years his bat slowed, hitting .690, .625, .630, .677 and .539 OPS in consecutive years in Single-A and Double-A. Then out of nowhere, he started to hit again. In 2008, Double-A, he hit .314 with a .899 OPS. In 2009, in Triple-A he hit .299 with a .842 OPS. This year, .296 with a .804 OPS, currently ranks as the #3 position player in WAR at 4.5.

Rendon is now 28-years-old and has been expecting "major leagues" since he got his first Spring Training invite. He has decent contact, good gap power but is a free-swinger without a good eye. He does however have a rocket arm at 3B and will at least be a defensive upgrade at the position over the incumbents.

With 3B Alex Otero still out for 2-3 weeks with a broken hand, Rendon will split time at 3B with veteran Victor Sandoval.

[funclown]

He looks like a flamer.

[Pat]

1B Edwin Morales


At the time I called him up he was ranked #3 on the Top Hitters List for Triple-A. Morales was a 5th round pick out of Stanford by Morgantown. Went to multiple All-Star games, won multiple awards but was never considered a Top Prospect. Was then signed as a minor leaguer to Maine before signing with Washington in 2008. Since then, in his three Triple-A seasons with DC, he has hit 75 HRs, 282 RBI and a .950 OPS. He's 31, has poor work ethic and has never been rated well by OSA or my scout but I'm going to give him a shot.

[Z]

I look forward to seeing how he does. He was a nice player for us in Portsmouth.

[Pat]

I look forward to seeing how he does. He was a nice player for us in Portsmouth.

I'm adding him to the roster this sim so he is post-season eligible. I'm hoping there is something there and he can be a nice late game HR pinch hitting threat.

He's slated to get his 1st BLB start against Gil Brummett. Talk about a "welcome to the bigs" moment.

[Z]

I'm adding him to the roster this sim so he is post-season eligible. I'm hoping there is something there and he can be a nice late game HR pinch hitting threat.

He's slated to get his 1st BLB start against Gil Brummett. Talk about a "welcome to the bigs" moment.

He may have just gotten lost in Morgantown's minor league system. He wasn't promoted to AAA until he was 28 years old, despite hitting the crap out of the ball at AA for several years.