The Arizona Fall League's annual prospects showcase, the Rising Stars Game, will be played Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern and broadcast live on MLB Network, and the rosters were released Wednesday.

The East roster has plenty of talent, starting with a trio of Astros prospects—starting pitcher Jarred Cosart, first baseman Jonathan Singleton and right fielder George Springer. Springer has hit three homers and ranks fifth in the AFL with a .423 on-base percentage. The East infield also features the two winners of BA's top amateur awards in 2010, High School Player of the Year Kaleb Cowart (Angels) and College Player of the Year Anthony Rendon (Nationals). Rendon continues to work his way back from a fractured left ankle. [...] Continue Reading »

By Everett Merrill

READING, Pa.—Mets righthander Zack Wheeler began his first season in Double-A in fine fashion, going 6-3, 1.88 with a strikeout per inning through 12 starts for Binghamton. He hit the proverbial wall soon after, allowing 12 runs and 17 hits in his next two outings, totaling 13 2/3 innings.

The 22-year-old Wheeler didn't dwell on the bad performances or let them fester. He had the maturity to put the drubbings in proper perspective.

"Sometimes you can get away with throwing hard and missing your spots," he said, reflecting on those two starts in late June. "But in those games I was missing my spots, and they were hitting me. That reminded me of what would happen if I was in the big leagues. It was a good learning experience, so actually I'm glad it happened."

Wheeler responded with one of his finest starts of the season on July 5, a six-hitter with six strikeouts and one run allowed over 7 1/3 innings in a win against Richmond. [...] Continue Reading »

BY JAMES BAILEY

BUFFALO—Sometimes, as they say, the third time is the charm. That's certainly proven true for John Ely, who was on the receiving end of more than his share of poundings for Triple-A Albuquerque during his first two seasons in the Dodgers organization.

In 38 Pacific Coast League starts in 2010-11, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound righthander surrendered 248 hits in 212 1/3 innings while posting a 6.06 ERA. That wasn't what the Dodgers had envisioned when they acquired him from the White Sox in 2009 as part of the return for outfielder Juan Pierre.

Ely started fresh this season, determined not to give in to the conditions in the PCL, particularly in Albuquerque, where the scoreboard operator always gets a good workout. [...] Continue Reading »

The International League on June 27 unveiled its roster for the 25th annual Triple-A all-star game to be held Wednesday, July 11, the day after the major league All-Star Game. The Pacific Coast League followed suit the next day. The IL serves as the home team with the game being played in Buffalo.

Let's take a closer look at this year's participants, noting age, acquisition history and performance through the end of June. We'll keep you updated with changes to rosters brought about by injuries or by players being called to the big leagues.

Key to notations: *bats/throws lefthanded. #switch-hitter. @reliever. Starters and league leaders in bold. 

Coaching Staff: Mike Sarbaugh, manager, Columbus (Indians); Arnie Beyeler, coach, Pawtucket (Red Sox); Ryne Sandberg, coach, Lehigh Valley (Phillies); and Joe Golia, trainer, Buffalo (Mets). [...] Continue Reading »

The Mariners knew what they were getting when they took shortstop Brad Miller in the second round out of Clemson last year. They knew he would hit and would be an excellent teammate, but that his defense was a little rough around the edges. So far, that assesment has been spot on.

Miller has been an offensive force this season for the High Desert Mavericks. Over his first 72 games (297 at-bats), Miller is hitting .326/.409/.525. He ranks first in the league in doubles (27), third in walks (43), eighth in batting average and fourth in on-base percentage. 

He was named to the California League all-star game that took place June 19 in Winston-Salem, N.C., and his former Clemson teammate (and 2012 first-round pick by the Rays) Richie Shaffer watched him go 1-for-1 with a double and a walk (which he drew off of Dylan Bundy).

"I've felt good, I feel like I'm just learning about how to play everyday and how to be consistent," Miller said about the first half of his season. "It's already been 70 games and there's been some ups and downs. You're feeling good, feeling bad, but it's been fun. It's been a fun first year."

Miller's home hitting environment is one of the best in the minor leagues for hitters. But his dynamic offense isn't just the product of a cozy home ballpark. He's hitting .368/.446/.645 at home this season. His road numbers, while a big step down from those at home, are still solid at .282/.370/.403. [...] Continue Reading »

For Braves righthander J.R. Graham, 2012 has been a year of transition. Last year, when he was drafted in the fourth round out of Santa Clara, he pitched in 23 games for the Broncos, but only got five starts.

He got his feet wet in pro ball, ranking as the No. 8 prospect in the Appalachian League after he went 5-2, 1.72 with 52 strikeouts and 13 walks over 58 innings. He pitched in 13 games, starting eight of them.

This year, Graham was named to the Carolina League all-star team after going 8-1, 2.53 with 15 walks and 55 strikeouts over 82 innings in the first half of the year for Lynchburg. [...] Continue Reading »

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—For the first two months of the season, Andrew Chafin pitched up to his status as the 43rd overall pick in last year’s draft.

At the end of May, the Diamondbacks lefthander ranked sixth in the high Class A California League with a 2.91 ERA after 59 innings for Visalia, and he had a 3-0 record to go with it. He punctuated May by striking out 11 over eight innings against San Jose on May 27, but then the wheels came off.

Little has gone right in Chafin’s four June outings, as he’s given up 25 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings, inflating his ERA to 5.35 in 74 innings of work.

“It’s definitely going to be a learning experience for me,” Chafin said. “My last few outings have been a little bit rough, but I try not to worry about that and just go out and try to continue having the success I had in the beginning part.”

[...] Continue Reading »

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—For all Billy Hamilton's speed or Xander Bogaerts' offensive potential, Astros center fielder George Springer probably had the most expansive tool set among players on either the California or Carolina league squads. The 22-year-old hits, he hits for power, he runs, he fields and he throws. Two of those tools took center stage during the all-star festivities.

As to his power, Springer launched four homers during the pre-game derby, and as to his speed, he stole second base after drawing a third-inning walk against Lynchburg righty J.R. Graham. Springer, who played the entire game in right field and went 0-for-3, also showed a feel for situational hitting by driving home Hamilton from third base—the Cal League's only run, it would turn out—with a first-inning groundball to the right side of the infield.

The 11th pick in last year's draft and highest-drafted Connecticut Husky ever, Springer knows that improvement to his feel for hitting will make the biggest difference to his profile. "I'm just working on making consistent hard contact and whatever happens happens," he said prior to the all-star game. "I just go out and play."

Good things happened for Springer during the first half, as he batted .303/.381/.559 with 14 homers and 14 stolen bases in 254 at-bats for Lancaster. He lists the JetHawks' Clear Channel Stadium, a renowned launching pad, as his favorite place to hit. "You understand the way the ball flies at home, but it's an advantage also just because it's home."

Springer has clubbed multiple homers in two different home games this season, belting three in a May 11 game versus Lake Elsinore and collecting two more in a June 14 contest against Inland Empire. "I really wasn’t trying to hit the home runs," he said of his three-homers game. "I remember one (homer) was a 2-2 changeup. I just saw it and stayed on it and wound up hitting it out to right-center. One was a backdoor slider that I ended up hitting out, and the other was a fastball. It was just one of those days where your swing feels good and you're hitting it hard."

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—Three Lake Elsinore players earned starting nods for the California League in the all-star game: righthander Donn Roach, second baseman Cory Spangenberg and center fielder Rico Noel. Of the three, Roach experienced the most success in the first half, going 10-1, 1.94 in 14 starts—though one of those starts began in the second inning following a rehab stint by Huston Street. He leads the Cal League in wins and innings (88 1/3) and isn't far off the pace in WHIP (1.03) or opponent average (.231).

Roach, who worked as a reliever last year prior to shifting to the rotation this season, also leads the league (and ranks second in the minors) with a 3.77 groundout-to-airout ratio, as calculated by Minor League Baseball. "I go up there trying to get a groundball in three or less pitches—you know, pitch to contact," he said prior to the all-star game. "My sinker has been a great pitch for me this year. Opponents have been putting the ball in play a lot against me and my teammates are making the plays." In fact, the Lake Elsinore defense has converted roughly 68 percent of batted balls into outs this season, a rate that only Bakersfield has bettered by a significant margin. [...] Continue Reading »

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—Angels center-field prospect Travis Witherspoon has enjoyed one of the more unheralded loud seasons in the California League this season, batting .319/.399/.470 with seven homers and 25 steals (in 32 attempts) for Inland Empire through 270 at-bats. That performance earned him the starting nod in left field for the Cal League all-stars, while Lake Elsinore's Rico Noel handled center. The 23-year-old Witherspoon played the entire game, went 1-for-4 and stole second base in the second inning after reaching on an infield single off the glove of Frederick third baseman Ty Kelly.

Witherspoon said his goals at the plate for this season are simple. "I'm trying to stay more consistent and use the whole field," he said prior to the all-star game.

The goal is to cut down on strikeouts and boost his average, to which end he has honed his batting eye this season. Witherspoon sports enhanced walk (10.8 percent of plate appearances) and strikeout (17 percent) rates through the first half. Those improvements could allow him to hit .300 for the first time since rookie ball two years ago. Playing in the Cal League won't hurt his pursuit. "The hitting environments compare a bit with (Rookie-level) Orem (where he played in 2009-10) because the ball just flies," he said, going on to note two other factors that favor offense. "The weather is so consistently good that it's good for the hitters. Plus, the short bus trips are nice." [...] Continue Reading »

See also: South Atlantic League All-Star Game Box Score

Delmonico doubled in the seventh inning and advanced to third on an error by Lexington second baseman Delino DeShields Jr. (Astros), who committed two errors in the game. A batter later, Kannapolis catcher Kevan Smith (White Sox) took the first pitch and lined it into center field to give the North a two-run lead. Smith’s teammate in Kannapolis, outfielder Mark Haddow, added a key insurance run in the eighth inning on a seeing-eye single to right.

Diamondbacks outfielder Alfredo Marte has been one of the breakout stars of the Southern League this year. He added to that resume on Tuesday. Marte was named the Southern League all-star game MVP as he went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in the South Division's 6-2 win over the North at Tennessee's Smokies Park.

The win was the South's first in the all-star game in the past eight seasons.

Dodgers righthander Matt Magill was tagged for three of the South's six runs to take the loss. Mariners righthander Taijuan Walker also had a rough outing as he gave up a triple to David Nick as part of a two-hit, two-run inning of work. [...] Continue Reading »

See Also: Midwest League All-Star Game Box Score

There was little suspense at the Midwest League All-Star Game. The Eastern Division all-stars scored 13 runs in the first two innings and went on to rout the Western all-stars 18-2 at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva, Ill.

The East hit three home runs in its early outburst, starting with the second hitter of the game, South Bend second baseman Gerson Montilla (Diamondbacks), who hit a solo shot off West starter Drew Granier (Athletics). Two hitters later, Great Lakes first baseman O’Koyea Dickson (Dodgers) pulled a two-run blast that went deep beyond the left-field fence. The East scored five runs in the first and then tallied eight times in the second, highlighted by West Michigan outfielder Steven Moya’s (Tigers) bases-loaded triple and Bowling Green third baseman Tyler Goeddel’s (Rays) two-run homer.

Dickson went on to earn MVP honors after going 2-for-3 with the homer, two RBIs and two runs scored. He also singled in the second off Cedar Rapids righty Ty Kelley (Angels) and came in to score on Moya’s triple. A 12th-round pick from Division II Sonoma State (Calif.) last year, Dickson led the Rookie-level Pioneer League in slugging (.603) in his pro debut and picked up where he left off this spring. He didn’t join Great Lakes until early May but earned his all-star nod by hitting .331/.442/.564 in 133 at-bats in the first-half. [...] Continue Reading »

See also: California-Carolina League All-Star Game Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—Coming into Tuesday night's Carolina-California League All-Star Game, the California League squad was the one with the prospect cachet. From Cory Spangenberg to George Springer, Tyler Matzek to Rymer Liriano and Miles Head to Andrew Chafin, the Cal League club was filled with elite prospects.

But the Carolina League club got elite performances by some lesser-known prospects and plenty of good pitching on its way to an easy 9-1 win at Winston-Salem's BB&T Ballpark.

Salem first baseman Travis Shaw (Red Sox) was named the Carolina League's star of the game. Shaw went 1-for-2 with two runs scored and 2 RBIs thanks in large part to his massive two-run home run that landed high up on the walkway beyond the right-field fence. Bakersfield shortstop Billy Hamilton (Reds) was named the California League's Star of the game, which illustrates just how difficult the game was for the Cal League all-stars. Hamilton went 1-for-5, striking out in his final three at-bats. But he did lead off the top of the first with a bunt single, followed by steals of second and third before scoring on a ground out. That proved to be the California League's only run of the game. [...] Continue Reading »

CHARLESTON, S.C.—Several decades ago, baseball legends represented their country not just by hitting home runs.

Hall of Famers such as Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Stan Musial all served their country by fighting in the U.S. Armed Forces, despite being adored by hundreds of thousands of fans.

On Monday afternoon at the South Atlantic League Home Run Derby, the Charleston RiverDogs made a huge splash by becoming the first known organization to host the event on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier—the USS Yorktown (CV-10), a World War II aircraft carrier that was retired in the 1970s and is now part of the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in the Charleston Harbor.

“This is just a great day to showcase America’s pastime—baseball,” Patriots Point executive director Mac Burdette said. “And what better place to do it than on one of America’s most historic fighting ships.”

Once Charleston general manager Dave Echols learned the team would be hosting the league all-star game, he wasn’t afraid to do something he described as “crazy”. Echols and his staff teamed up with Dan Migala, an advertising entrepreneur who shared a story about visiting Willie Mays at his home after meeting him in Cooperstown. 

“Willie said his proudest moment in history—and this is arguably the greatest baseball player that ever lived—and he paused and he said I fulfilled my dream when I served my country,” Migala recalled.

USS Yorktown was commissioned in 1943 during World War II after the previous carrier, the CV-5, was lost at the Battle of Midway the year before. The CV-10 served in many campaigns in the Pacific War, earning the Presidential Unit Citation and winning multiple battle stars in Vietnam as well.

Approximately 75 feet above water, 10 contestants launched balls into the Charleston harbor, where the U.S. Coast Guard as well as volunteer jet skiers and kayakers retrieved the balls to ensure that no sea life was in danger.

At the end of the derby, the top four hitters to advance to the final round were Hagerstown third baseman Matt Skole, Lexington third baseman Matt Duffy, Asheville first baseman Harold Riggins and Savannah center fielder Travis Taijeron. One champion will be crowned on Tuesday night before the All-Star Game at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park, or simply, “The Joe”.

Celebrities in attendance were Bill Murray, the RiverDogs’ co-owner and ‘Director of Fun’ and the Miller High Life deliveryman, actor Windell Middlebrooks.

“This is the High Life, baby,” Middlebrooks said. “I’ve done a lot of crazy things on this High Life tour. But, I’ll tell you what—this might be my favorite.”

Clint Longenecker contributed to this story.

• See Also: Florida State League All-Star Game Box Score

The Florida State League Southern Division all-stars ousted their Northern Division counterparts by scoring three runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to win 6-3 at Charlotte Sports Park, home of the Rays' high Class A affiliate based in Port Charlotte, Fla.

St. Lucie third baseman Wilmer Flores (Mets) went 3-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and three RBIs to win MVP honors for the game. He drove in one run on a single up the middle in the seventh, and then knocked home two on an opposite-field single in the eighth versus Lakeland righthander Bruce Rondon (Tigers). "I've faced him a few times this season and I knew he was going to come with another fastball," Flores told Minor League Baseball. "It was all about squaring it up and putting into play."

Just three batters collected extra-base hits in a game in which 19 of the 51 outs were recorded via strikeout. Dunedin first baseman Jon Talley (Blue Jays) connected for a pair of solo home runs for the Northern Division, pulling both to right field and providing his club with a 2-0 advantage through four innings. Daytona left fielder Nelson Perez (Cubs) doubled for the North, while right fielder Cory Vaughn (Mets) did the same for the South.

Prospect Notes

• Clearwater lefty Jesse Biddle (Phillies) worked around two hits by striking out three batters during his inning of work for the North. [...] Continue Reading »

The California and Carolina leagues released their respective all-star rosters on Monday. The annual exhibition will be played in Winston-Salem, N.C., at the Dash's BB&T Ballpark on Tuesday, June 19.

The Cal League holds an 8-7 series lead as the event heads into its 16th year. The rosters for each side were decided upon based on votes from each league’s front office, managers and media. Dash manager Tommy Thompson will guide the Carolina all-stars with Lake Elsinore skipper Shawn Wooten guiding the California squad.

Lake Elsinore righthander Donn Roach, a supplemental third-round pick in 2010, was voted as the starter for the Cal League. The Carolina League starter has yet to be named, but Thompson certainly has plenty of options. His options include Frederick’s Dylan Bundy, Myrtle Beach’s Cody Buckel and Wilmington’s Yordano Ventura.

The festivities kick off at 6 p.m. with the home run derby, followed by the game at 7:15.

Complete rosters are below with this year's participants, noting age, acquisition history and performance through June 11.

[...] Continue Reading »

The 53rd annual South Atlantic League all-star game will be held at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Ballpark, home of low Class A Charleston RiverDogs. Festivities commence on June 18 with the first round of the home run derby taking place on the deck of the USS Yorktown, an inoperative World War II-vintage aircraft carrier. The derby will conclude before the all-star game begins at 7:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, June 19.

Let's take a closer look at this year's participants, noting age, acquisition history and performance through June 11. Charleston outfielder Mason Williams has been added to the Southern Division roster as a replacement for Greenville's Keury de la Cruz. We'll keep you updated with changes to rosters brought about by injuries or by players being promoted.

Key to notations: *bats/throws lefthanded. #switch-hitter.
Probable starters in bold, with best guesses for starting pitchers and outfield alignment.

Coaching Staff: David Berg, manager, Greensboro (Marlins); Blake McGinley, pitching coach, Greensboro; Chris Olson, trainer, Greensboro. [...] Continue Reading »

Pitchers and catchers are starting to report to spring training and the college season has begun, but in Cuba, baseball season has been well underway for months.

Serie Nacional, Cuba's top professional league, holds its midseason all-star game tomorrow at 2:15 p.m. ET in a game that is scheduled to be streamed here live online. The quality of Serie Nacional baseball ranges from players who wouldn't make it out of Rookie ball in the United States all the way up to guys who could step into the big leagues tomorrow and be above-average regulars. The all-star rosters, of course, include many of Cuba's top players.

The league will hold its home run derby finals before the game with outfielder Alfredo Despaigne, second baseman Hector Olivera and first baseman Alexander Malleta. Despaigne was an automatic entry into the finals as Serie Nacional's current home run leader, while Malleta and Olivera earned spots in the finals after beating first baseman Jose Abreu, outfielder Rusney Castillo, third baseman Yulieski Gourriel and catcher Lisban Correa in the semifinals today.

A few notes on some of the players to watch:

• Abreu just turned 25 last month and is the reigning Serie Nacional MVP after tying Yoenis Cespedes last season for the single-season Cuban home run record with 33. This year Abreu is hitting .371/.526/.724 in 170 at-bats, leading the league in OBP and ranked second in slugging, so he could be adding another trophy to his mantle. Here's a video of him going deep.

[...] Continue Reading »

SURPRISE, Ariz.—Gerrit Cole was the last East All-Star player to leave the field Saturday night at the end of the Rising Stars Game.

The No. 1 overall pick of the 2011 draft was trying to follow his Arizona Fall League teammates down the left-field line, toward the clubhouse at Surprise Stadium. Instead, he had stopped and was signing autographs for fans, even posing for a picture here or there.

"I didn't get to do it pregame," Cole said with a shrug. "It's not that big of a deal."

It was probably the highlight of the evening for Cole, who didn't make it out of the first inning and gave up two home runs in the East's 11-2 loss to the host West squad in the Rising Stars Game. Cole's counterpart on this night, Mariners farmhand Danny Hultzen, was more successful in his stint, lasting two innings and striking out the side in the first, whiffing Mike Trout (Angels) in the process. [...] Continue Reading »