Horns in the Pros

[HenryJames 66032]

 

[torre 1285]

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&cid=400&stn=true&sid=t400

 

Dang,  Mark is hitting .320 with 13 HRs (AAA).

Cameron Rupp also on the roster hitting ,204 (ouch) with 3 HRs in only 17 games.   Cameron will be 31 in Sep.   C'mon home great one,  you had a great run.    That HR you hit over the CF wall at Rosenblatt to tie the game against Az St in the 9th is still climbing.

The link below may be used to check on any former player.

http://www.milb.com/milb/psearch/bookmarks.jsp?did=milb&t=s_plb

[HenryJames 66032]

 

[HenryJames 66032]

 

[torre 1285]

5 hours ago, HenryJames said:

 

Thanks for posting !   

Very happy for Bocchi.    amazin' what a lil' coaching can do  

[Aldo Raine 122]

Bocchi is in AAA? Seriously what am I missing here?

[HenryJames 66032]

 

[Fozzz 152]

On 8/8/2019 at 1:36 PM, Aldo Raine said:

Bocchi is in AAA? Seriously what am I missing here?

He made one appearance before he was sent back to the Northwest League, probably just to temporarily backfill for another player that was promoted or released or something. 

Surprised no one has brought up Blair Henley who is having a very nice start to his career with the Astros' Penn League affiliate - 32K%, 7BB%, 2.16 FIP, 2.35 xFIP across 28 IP.    

[Fozzz 152]

On 5/3/2019 at 5:20 PM, torre said:

 

Congrats to Nolan.    He is in Class A Advanced, Braves,  Kissimmee, Florida with a 2.06 era.    Should see AA soon.       

 

Things you can do in 96 minutes: • Watch half of Avengers: Endgame • Watch 4 1/2 episodes of The Office • Fly from LA to San Francisco Thing #Braves RHP Nolan Kingham did in 96 minutes last night: • Threw a nine-inning, 85-pitch shutout

 

https://twitter.com/MiLB/status/1123948762387361793

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, I wonder why the Braves are being so aggressive with him?  His numbers weren't even that good in rookie and A-ball before his call-up to the Florida State league.  

[Longhorn 145]

On 7/13/2019 at 9:55 PM, Longhorn said:

I went to the El Paso Chihuahuas game last night against ABQ. Michael Cantu was the starting catcher. I looked him up after the game and see he was at texas just a few years ago and has really only played in rookie leagues. He looked pretty solid.

Looks like Cantu is back with El Paso AAA team again. Had another hit last night.

[torre 1285]

1 hour ago, Fozzz said:

Wow, I wonder why the Braves are being so aggressive with him?  His numbers weren't even that good in rookie and A-ball before his call-up to the Florida State league.  

He has now advanced to Mississippi, AA (Braves).    Braves may feel he will develop faster under more competition.  

Link can be used to check on any player.    http://www.milb.com/milb/psearch/bookmarks.jsp?did=milb&t=s_plb

 

Nolan Kingham Stats Summary

	LG	LEVEL	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	SVO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	HB	BB	IBB	SO	AVG	WHIP	GO/AO
Minors 2019 [-]	-	Minors	6	11	3.98	25	25	3	3	0	0	151.1	153	75	67	9	5	33	0	109	.264	1.23	1.42
Rome	SAL	A(Full)	1	1	0.56	3	3	0	0	0	0	16.0	12	2	1	0	1	1	0	7	.211	0.81	1.11
Florida	FSL	A(Adv)	4	8	4.43	18	18	3	3	0	0	113.2	120	63	56	6	3	25	0	84	.274	1.28	1.55
Mississippi	SOU	AA	1	2	4.15	4	4	0	0	0	0	21.2	21	10	10	3	1	7	0	18	.247	1.29	1.14
Minors Career	-	Minors	8	11	4.06	36	28	3	3	1	2	175.0	180	87	79	11	6	40	0	127	.268	1.26	1.46

 

[Fozzz 152]

Pretty weird to promote a 12th round pitching prospect that quickly.  He looks like a guy with a 4th/5th starter type ceiling who will need to limit walks and maximize GBs given his limited stuff.  

[WBT 20559]

Nice writeup on Brandon Workman who is having his best year in the bigs:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/brandon-workman-wont-let-you-beat-him/

 

[HenryJames 66032]

 

[Longhorn 145]

What else does Mark Payton have to do to make the 40 man roster? 3 OF on the current Vegas roster. 2 of them are on the 40 man roster. Payton is not one of them.

[HenryJames 66032]

 

[spystud13 2371]

Gets a ring, appeared in 2 games. 

 

 

[torre 1285]

Happy for Tres !

He was in the Nats dugout (warmup uniform) for game 1.

[spystud13 2371]

Mark Payton claimed in the Rule 5 draft by Cincy. 

[spystud13 2371]

Damn, he’s 28. 

[torre 1285]

2 hours ago, spystud13 said:

Mark Payton claimed in the Rule 5 draft by Cincy. 

Thanks for posting, spy !    Had to educate myself on the Rule 5 draft.

Mark should make an excellent hitting instructor when his career ends.

 

 The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to have them play in the majors.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_5_draft

[Goo Punch 4275]

3 hours ago, spystud13 said:

Damn, he’s 28. 

seriously?! damn. 

[torre 1285]

Last season, Texas was represented in the major leagues by a half-dozen of its former baseball players.

Mark Payton was not among those Texas Exes in the majors. An outfielder, Payton instead hit .334 with 30 homers over 118 games with Oakland’s Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas. Since 2017, Payton has played in 260 Triple-A games in the farm systems belonging to Oakland and the New York Yankees.

This spring, Payton has his best shot at making a major league roster. Payton was acquired by Cincinnati in the Rule 5 Draft in December. Due to where the 28-year-old Payton was selected, the Reds must keep him on their 26-man roster for the entire 2020 season or he will be offered back to Oakland.

“We think, given his level of success on the Triple-A level, he’s ready to ultimately compete for that type of role on our big league club,” Rob Coughlin, the Reds’ pro scouting director, told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Payton was among the professionals who appeared at Texas’ alumni game on Saturday. He told reporters that while an extended stay in Triple-A had been frustrating, he was ready for this upcoming opportunity. The Reds currently have 10 outfielders on their 40-man roster.

“They took a chance so I’ve got to go out and play good in spring training and earn the spot that they gave me on their roster,” Payton said.

Payton was a three-time all-conference honoree at Texas who twice led the Longhorns to the College World Series. Payton reached base safely in 101 consecutive games between the 2013-14 seasons and that remains an NCAA record. He was taken by the Yankees in the seventh round of the 2014 MLB Draft.

Catching on: Former Texas catcher Tres Barrera made his MLB debut during the 2019 season. And since he was a member of the Washington Nationals, Barrera will receive a World Series ring as a welcome gift.

Barrera appeared in two late-season games for the Nationals. He wasn’t active for any of the team’s postseason contests.

“I was extremely grateful for the organization for letting me be around in the playoffs,” Barrera said. “I wasn’t active, but I gained a lot of knowledge of what playoff baseball’s all about, what winning’s all about (from) a great group of veteran guys.”

Barrera said he wants to be a contributor this upcoming season and added that last year’s postseason experience “sparked a little fire from within.” Barrera is joined on the Nationals’ 40-man roster by veteran catchers Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki. Raudy Read, who has 22 at-bats in his career, is also on the 40-man roster.

Ex-UT pitchers typically don’t throw in the program’s alumni game, and Texas head coach David Pierce said that is unlikely to change anytime soon because of professional contracts. Former Texas ace Nolan Kingham, though, found a way onto the field on Saturday.

A 12th-round pick by Atlanta in 2018, Kingham went 7-12 with a 3.52 ERA for three of the Braves’ affiliates last season. At UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, Kingham said he hopes to begin this year in Double-A.

https://www.hookem.com/story/texas-alumni-game-notebook-ex-longhorns-mark-payton-tres-barrera-eye-mlb-roles/

[ss13 1832]

Still bouncing around. 

Quote

The Indians have agreed to a minor league deal with former Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp, per a team announcement. The former Phillies backstop will be in Major League camp when Spring Training opens.

Rupp, 31, hasn’t been in the big leagues since the 2017 season. He’s bounced between the Triple-A affiliates for the Twins, Rangers, Mariners, Tigers and A’s over the past couple of seasons, hitting for some power but struggling to get on base or hit for average. That general description is well in line with the skill set that Rupp displayed with the Phillies from 2013-17, when he appeared in 296 games and hit .234/.298/.407 with 39 homers in 1127 plate appearances.

The Indians don’t have an immediate need for a backup option, as Sandy Leon was brought in to support starter Roberto Perez, who enjoyed a breakout 2019 season at the plate. The Cleveland organization is a bit thin on catching depth in the upper minors, though, so Rupp will give them an experienced option to pair with fellow offseason signee Beau Taylor in Triple-A Columbus if he shows well in Spring Training.

 

[torre 1285]

31 minutes ago, ss13 said:

Still bouncing around. 

 

Any idea of his salary ?

Luv Cameron and I hope he makes wise decisions on his future.

[ss13 1832]

I’d guess somewhere around $90-100K since he’s a vet. 

[ss13 1832]

No major league invite. 

 

[ss13 1832]

Quote

The Boston Red Sox spent the first half of the 2019 season without a reliever in a defined closer role, but interim manager Ron Roenicke does not have a similar plan for the 2020 season.

Roenicke said Wednesday that he envisions reliever Brandon Workman closing out games this season.

"I think with what he did last year, he deserves a shot to be the closer," Roenicke said.

Workman, who entered camp as the favorite to close games out, ended 2019 15th among major league relievers with an average of 13.06 strikeouts per nine innings. He also posted a 1.88 ERA and a 2.1 fWAR, which was tied for fifth among qualified relievers.

 

[torre 1285]

Excerpts from a lengthy article:      Good to see Morgan Cooper is still in the game.

 

Life in the minor leagues is hardly glamorous. Most players do not make a livable wage, and not all prospects received a sizable signing bonus. Paychecks don’t come during the offseason. It took until Thursday for MLB to pledge that its minor leaguers would be compensated through April 8.

With limited financial resources, many minor leaguers are in the same boat. Booted from spring training, how do they stay in shape and prepare for the upcoming season?

The Texas campus has been shuttered, so the ex-Longhorns don’t have access to UT’s new multi-million dollar development center. High schools and gyms across the nation have also been closed.

Kingham has turned to home workouts; his girlfriend has stepped up as his throwing partner. Kansas City outfield prospect Travis Jones plans on using the old batting cage in his parents’ backyard in Humble. Ty Culbreth, a left-hander in Colorado’s farm system, is training alongside a few others and treating this time as if it were December or January. Morgan Cooper, who was a second-round pick in 2017, has been allowed to stay in Arizona at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ facility since he is rehabbing an injury.

“Right now, my training is mainly outside, trying to find little things to do here and there to keep my body in shape and ready to go,” said Kyle Johnston, a pitcher in Toronto’s organization.

A local option for UT’s minor leaguers — at least those who swing a bat — did open its doors last week. The Hitforth facility in South Austin has several ties to Texas. Owner Lowell Galindo is a Longhorn Network host who does play-by-play for baseball broadcasts. Former UT infielder Masen Hibbeler is a coach on the Hitforth staff.

Hitforth is described by Jeff Leach, its director of hitting, as a “hitter’s heaven.” It’s also a haven for the technologically savvy. The facility uses HitTrax, Blast and Driveline to track data. The iPitch machines can be calibrated to imitate any type of pitcher.

Hitforth is targeting clients who are both competitive and committed, whether they be 10-year-olds or in high school. (Hitforth does not yet instruct softball, but does have a pitching machine for that sport). In addition to lessons, the facility is designed so that hitting competitions can be staged. Fun and swag — bandanas, chains and arm sleeves — are also encouraged.

“We want this to be a place that empowers athletes to realize their full potential as powerful, athletic hitters,” Galindo said. “(Ideally that would) bleed through into other areas of their life. … We want this to be the foundation of their confidence.”

Membership is not cheap — $100 each month gets you unlimited hitting and data tracking, and an initiation fee and individual lessons are extra.

Galindo, though, recently tweeted that Longhorns on a professional hiatus can use the facility for free. He’s heard from minor leaguers like Zane Gurwitz (Los Angeles Angels), Bret Boswell (Colorado) and Michael Cantu (San Diego). For Galindo, offering up his facility was a way to pay the Longhorns back for the time they’ve spent with him and young fans like his son, Mack.

“To me it was a no-brainer that we would provide them with the opportunity to get all the swings in that they possibly need,” Galindo said. “It’s family, right?”

https://www.hookem.com/story/as-the-coronavirus-puts-their-baseball-careers-on-hold-ex-longhorns-look-for-some-spring-training/

Former Texas player Masen Hibbeler instructs 17-year old Landon Pyles at the new Hitforth hitting facility in South Austin on March 20.

[NeverMarryAStripper 21866]

Does this mean we have to quit making fun of Lowell?

[Fletch 5800]

No. Never. He’s an obnoxious jock sniffer of the highest order who hardly understands the games he calls. That’s a very kind gesture of him, but that doesn’t offset the numerous Texas games he ruins just by running his mouth. And that’s before our teams actually ruin the game with our 10 year stretch of shit

[ss13 1832]

Taylor Jungmann one of 37 minor leaguers released by the Rangers today. 

[NeverMarryAStripper 21866]

https://www.hookem.com/2020/06/04/kacy-clemens-among-texas-exes-cut-purge-minor-leagues/

[petscii 1189]

3 hours ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

https://www.hookem.com/2020/06/04/kacy-clemens-among-texas-exes-cut-purge-minor-leagues/

I don't know if I am addled or it's corona/cabin fever but I actaully looked at that and said Toronto has a MLB team?

Edited June 4, 2020 by petscii

[NeverMarryAStripper 21866]

Well, they have a team.  It's kind a stretch to call them professional.

Edited June 4, 2020 by NeverMarryAStripper

[torre 1285]

Good to see Brett Boswell in the mix.   Been playing 2B, AA,  Rockies' orgn.

 

The Texas baseball program will have nine of its alumni vying for playing time in the major leagues this summer.

With Major League Baseball looking to start its 2020 season by the end of July, attention has shifted to the resumption of a spring training that was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Each of MLB’s 30 teams had the opportunity to put together a 60-man player pool by the end of this past weekend. Not all of the players in the pool will appear in the big leagues this season, but they will be eligible to play.

According to MLB.com, every franchise will start the regular season with 30 players on its roster. That number will be cut to 28 after two weeks and 26 players after 29 days. Every team can travel with a three-player “taxi squad” once the regular season begins.

Here are the ex-Longhorns who were placed in a 60-man pool:

• Nationals C Tres Barrera
• Giants 1B Brandon Belt
• Rockies INF Bret Boswell
• Rays RHP John Curtiss
• Brewers RHP Corey Knebel
• Angels LHP Hoby Milner
• Reds OF Mark Payton
• Angels LHP Dillon Peters
• Red Sox RHP Brandon Workman

Belt (2012, 2014), Workman (2013, 2018) and Barrera (2019) have all won World Series rings since they left Texas. Curtiss, Milner and Peters have experience in the major leagues. Knebel was an all star in 2017. Looking for a chance to make their MLB debuts this summer will be Payton and Boswell.

 

https://www.hookem.com/2020/06/29/ex-longhorns-resume-spring-training-mlb-works-way-back-coronavirus-hiatus/

[ss13 1832]

Quote

Brewers right-hander Corey Knebel is looking good in Brewers camp as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, per a report from Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Knebel missed all of last year after undergoing the procedure in the spring, but he’s ramped up to throwing live batting practice in the Brewers’ return to action. As McCalvy says, manager Craig Counsell and pitching coach Chris Hook still want to be careful with Knebel, who’s a little more than a year removed from surgery. That said, it seems like Knebel should figure into Milwaukee’s bullpen mix this year, augmenting a unit that already looks formidable with Josh Hader at the helm. The tandem of Hader and Knebel, who was an All-Star in 2017, could form the backbone of one of baseball’s deadliest bullpens.

 

[Mez2 4023]

word is a few former longhorns are playing in Sugar Land this summer when their league starts up Fri , including Taylor Jungmann, Beau Ridgeway, Cameron Rupp, CJ Hinojosa and the Clemens boys. 

We'll see what happens

[UTPhil2006 3801]

31 minutes ago, Mez2 said:

word is a few former longhorns are playing in Sugar Land this summer when their league starts up Fri , including Taylor Jungmann, Beau Ridgeway, Cameron Rupp, CJ Hinojosa and the Clemens boys. 

We'll see what happens

Double header on Saturday.  All 4 teams in the league playing.  Sugarland (Swindell's team) plays first then Texas (Clemens team) plays 30 min after.  In.

[Mez2 4023]

zane gurwitz and david hamilton, too

[ss13 1832]

Eastern v. Sugarland on AT&T SportsNet (674 on Direct) now. 

[Mez2 4023]

Eastern kicked ass.

 

Team Texas plays tomorrow,  should have a handful of alums playing. 

[UTPhil2006 3801]

9 hours ago, Mez2 said:

Eastern kicked ass.

 

Team Texas plays tomorrow,  should have a handful of alums playing. 

I shall be there.

[ss13 1832]

Quote

4:03pm: Payton has indeed been added to the Athletics’ player pool, the team announced.

3:02pm: The Reds have returned Rule 5 pick Mark Payton to the Athletics, per a club announcement. The 28-year-old outfielder was not claimed by another club on waivers. It’s not yet clear if he’ll be part of Oakland’s 60-man player pool.

Way too many OFs ahead of him in Cincy. 

 

And Belt will open on IL with a heel issue. 

[torre 1285]

Nationals went with 2 catchers (Suzuki and Gomes) veterans in their 30's.    Tres needs to stay sharp and wait his chance.  No minor league ball makes it a challenge.

 

AUSTIN, Texas – As the 2020 Major League Baseball season gets underway this week, Texas Baseball has three former players on Opening Day rosters and two players on the injured list.

Corey Knebel returns to the Milwaukee Brewers roster after recovering from Tommy John surgery. The righthander has made 224 relief appearances since 2014 and spent the last six seasons as a member of the Brewers organization.

Hoby Milner begins his first season with the Los Angeles Angels after pitching for the Phillies (2017-18) and Rays (2019-19). Milner has pitched in 55 MLB games and logged a total of 42.1 innings.

Brandon Workman begins his sixth season with the Boston Red Sox and makes his second-consecutive Opening Day roster. A member of the 2013 World Series Champion team, he has made 188 appearances and struck out 295 batters in 281.1 innings pitched.

Brandon Belt (San Francisco Giants) and Dillon Peters (Los Angeles Angels) both begin the season the injured list. Belt has played more than 1,000 games for the Giants since 2011 and was a member of the 2012 and 2014 World Series Champion teams.

Ron Gardenhire enters his third season as Detroit Tigers manager and his 16th overall as an MLB manager. He has managed 2,330 big league games in his career. A member of the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor, Gardenhire played shortstop for the Longhorns from 1978-79.

Four other former Longhorns were named to MLB summer camps leading up to Opening Day – Tres Barrera (Washington Nationals), Bret Boswell (Colorado Rockies), John Curtiss (Tampa Bay Rays) and Mark Payton (Reds/Athletics).

https://texassports.com/news/2020/7/23/former-texas-baseball-players-set-for-2020-mlb-opening-day.aspx

[ss13 1832]

Tres will be on the taxi squad since every team is required to carry an extra C. That gets him per diem every day on the road, which I believe is somewhere around $110. 

[UTPhil2006 3801]

On 7/23/2020 at 10:14 PM, ss13 said:

Tres will be on the taxi squad since every team is required to carry an extra C. That gets him per diem every day on the road, which I believe is somewhere around $110. 

Not anymore

[ss13 1832]

Quote

These three players will be permitted to work out with the team on the road, while the catcher will also be allowed to serve as a bullpen catcher. At the end of the road trip, Taxi Squad players will return to the team’s Alternate Training Site, though the catcher will be permitted to stay with the team as a bullpen catcher for home games.

Taxi Squad players will not be paid MLB salary or accrue service time, but they will receive the Major League allowance of $108.50 per day along with their Minor League salary.

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-roster-transaction-rules-for-2020-season

[ss13 1832]

Oh shit, didn’t realize Phil meant this. Not good, Tres. 

Quote

Washington Nationals catcher Tres Barrera has been suspended 80 games as part of MLB’s PED testing program, per Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal. Barrera tested positive for Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone.

Per Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com, Barrera’s said through a statement that he “…never, and will never knowingly use a banned substance.” Barrera lost his appeal and will begin serving his suspension, despite his insistence that he does not know how the banned substance got into his system.

Interestingly, Barrera has gone so far as to reach out on Twitter to the lead investigator on the BALCO case. Further, there’s some debate about the particular substance for which Barrera tested positive. Turinabol is a bit of an outdated substance, and it would be surprising for someone in such a public testing protocol to chose it over more modern drugs that leave the bloodstream more quickly, per T.J. Quinn of ESPN (via Twitter). Even if Barrera wasn’t actively seeking PEDs, there’s still some potential culpability depending on how it was the drug entered his system. Still, there is at least some reason to hold off on judgment of Barrera until we know more.

 

[ss13 1832]

Quote

Cameron Rupp was added to Cleveland's roster pool Monday.

Rupp joined the team on a minor-league deal back in February but wasn't part of the team's player pool throughout summer camp. He'll report to Cleveland's alternate training site and will give the organization added depth behind the plate with Roberto Perez out with a shoulder strain.

Better than nothing.