Results tagged ‘ Photo ’
Minoring in Twitter: Surviving rainouts
Marlins top offensive prospect Christian Yelich became instant friends with Jake Marisnick this winter following a trade between Toronto and Miami. Fast-forward to May and the duo is having dinner dates:
Family dinner with @jtrealmuto and @jsmarisnick. Jake claims to be a good cook, I’m not buying it
— Christian Yelich (@ChristianYelich) May 7, 2013
Jeremy Barfield caught our attention last week with his bizarre Tweet about having to use the bathroom while on the field, and he didn’t disappoint this time around. Barfield, who was promoted from Double-A Midland to Triple-A Sacramento, provides a look into how professional ballplayers (this one being D’Arby Myers) catch up on sleep during road trips:
So @homerundarby just tried to sleep in the overhead compartment. #DarbyBeingDarby twitter.com/Baseclogger/st…
— Jeremy Barfield (@Baseclogger) May 4, 2013
Yankees reliever Pat Venditte spent last season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, a town/region now well-known as the setting for NBC’s The Office. While the RailRiders recently hosted a farewell party with the show’s cast, Venditte is still having trouble letting go:
Not looking forward to next Thursday. Gonna be tough to say goodbye to Dwight. #theoffice
— Pat Venditte (@PatVenditte) May 10, 2013
Harrisburg’s Paul Demny dominated for eight innings and Ian Krol tossed a perfect ninth as Double-A Harrisburg no-hit Binghamton, 6-1, on Thursday. The Senators’ Jimmy VanOstrand came through with clubhouse celebration:
That…was….awesome!!!! Demny and @iankroltkb with the No-No #gotheem twitter.com/Dr_VanOstrand/…
— Jimmy VanOstrand (@Dr_VanOstrand) May 10, 2013
Pawtucket’s Jackie Bradley Jr. is back in the Minors after some time at Fenway Park in April. He’s seems more worried about the end of the world than the end of his career though:
Watching “Forecasting the End” on the Weather Channel and it has me hooked. I’m very intrigued in the natural disaster stuff.
— Jackie Bradley Jr. (@JackieBradleyJr) May 10, 2013
Cody Decker is back with his own end of the world — or end-of-Cody-Decker — scenario. It’s more along the lines of the Discovery Channel than the Weather Channel, though:
Bucket List Addition #4264:Arm wrestle a grizzly bear…..(SIDE NOTE: Might have to be the last thing on this list that I do)
— Cody Decker (@Decker6) May 9, 2013
Speaking of the weather, Jupiter’s Justin Nicolino is learning about the storms that seem to hit Florida at least once a day:
Haven’t seen this in a while. It’s sunny out but it’s raining and we have a rain delay! #floridastateleague #weird twitter.com/J_Nicolino22/s…
— Justin Nicolino (@J_Nicolino22) May 9, 2013
Decker, assuming he goes shopping instead of fighting a bear, also had a complaint:
Bed, Bath, and Beyond does NOT sell beyonds……#falseadvertisement
— Cody Decker (@Decker6) May 9, 2013
Brandon Workman may be one of the Red Sox’s top prospects, but when it rains, he’s just like you and me: stuck watching reality TV and playing on his phone:
Rainout is making for a boring night in a hotel room
— Brandon Workman (@b_workman12) May 9, 2013
James Beresford had a better idea to waste time after a rainout: cheesecake.
Cheesecake Factory/ Ironman 3 date with the boys. @danrohlfing @bjhermsen12 @ldarnell15 @brucepugh55 #rainout #dishhhhhh
— James Beresford (@JamesBeresford2) May 9, 2013
Noticing a trend here, Adam Pettersen shows how the Rock Cats keep busy during stormy weather:
The rain couldn’t stop @bjhermsen12, @ldarnell15 and @meyer17a from getting better today. twitter.com/apettersen1/st…
— AJ Pettersen (@apettersen1) May 9, 2013
And finally, West Virginia’s Ryan Hafner cheers us back up with some sunny skies and green grass:
Couldn’t ask for a better place of work #milblife #fortheloveofthegame instagram.com/p/ZGkg7ZGUNt/
— Ryan Hafner (@RHafner8610) May 9, 2013
Chipotle Tweet of the Week
Akron’s Tyler Holt took a bus trip to Reading last week and, evidently, there’s a lack of Chipotle in the home of the Fightins:
Welcome to moes…. Obviously there isnt a chipotle close to the hotel in reading or id be there. #justsaying
— Tyler Holt (@ItsTHoltBaby) May 9, 2013
Photos: Checking in on some top talent
By Danny Wild
As the photo editor for MiLB.com, it’s an annual mission to get the latest, freshest images of baseball’s top prospects with their new teams. Some of MLB.com’s top prospects were promoted to new levels for Opening Day 2013, like Jurickson Profar, Oscar Taveras and Jose Fernandez, a Marlins right-hander who made the jump from Class A Advanced Jupiter to Miami.
Others, like Wil Myers, moved from one Triple-A team to another (Omaha to Durham, following his trade) and some, like Pirates No. 2 prospect Jameson Taillon, stayed right where they were.
Above, Profar helped the Round Rock Express turn a double play against the Omaha Storm Chasers on April 4, 2013 (Photo by Robert Backman). Baseball’s No. 1 prospect, who missed the cycle by a double on April 12, is batting .265 with a homer, six RBIs, three steals and a .432 on-base percentage in 10 games since joining his Pacific Coast League affiliate.
Taveras (I have a Minor League hold on him in fantasy) had a four-hit night on April 12 and is batting .289 with a homer, four RBIs and one steal in 10 games. Allison Rhoades of the Memphis Redbirds snapped this image on April 10.
Some anticipated Myers would begin the year in Tampa Bay, but the Rays are showing patience (some may term it otherwise) with the young outfielder — at Durham, he’s batting an even .300 with 11 RBIs and three extra-base hits (no home runs) in his first 13 games. Myers hit 37 homers last year but hasn’t gone deep yet, although he owns a .393 OBP. Thanks to Carl Kline for the snapshot above.
Taillon is back in Curve, Pa., as they call it, for his second season at the Double-A level. The Altoona 6-foot-6 right-hander (photographed above by Mark Olson) has been really sharp so far with 20 strikeouts and just two earned runs allowed in 18 innings over three starts. Taillon, ranked below No. 1 overall Draft pick Gerrit Cole, is 2-1 with a 1.00 ERA (not a typo).
I spoke with Taillon last week after his 10-strikeout effort against Harrisburg, a start in which he faced two of Washington’s top prospects in Anthony Rendon and Brian Goodwin.
“I felt good, felt strong,” Taillon said. “The last strikeout was the best fastball coming out of my hand all night. They were pretty competitive walks, they were all real close pitches on 3-2 counts. [Nationals top prospect Anthony] Rendon and Souza, I wasn’t going to let those guys beat me.”
Taillon has some interesting stuff to say about scouting reports and how much attention he pays to them. In a time where video and analysis is looked over constantly by fans and players alike, Taillon had a throw-back approach to pitching.
“I was talking to my [pitching] coach, we had a general idea how we’d want to attack them,” Taillon explained. “But I don’t like scouting reports — when it comes down to it, it comes down to my gut, whatever I feel. I see what the hitter does and I throw my pitches and keep going from there.”
To close, I made it out to Citi Field two weeks ago to photograph Jose Fernandez’s Major League debut against the Mets. Citi Field is a nice place to shoot with the secondary photo wells behind home plate, and Fernandez looked pretty composed in his first start.
Here’s some more photos of Fernandez’s big league debut.
Prospect Uniformed: Rangers Shortstop Jurickson Profar with Spokane, Hickory and Frisco
You know who this guy is. You saw him in Prospect Flashback. Now…
Here is Profar at Class A Short-Season Spokane (2010), Class A Hickory (2011) and Double-A Frisco (2012) in advance of potentially his first assignment to Triple-A Round Rock, where would begin but perhaps not stay too long this month. Click on any picture to begin a slideshow. For all past editions of Prospect Uniformed, head here.
Prospect Flashback: Jurickson Profar at Class A Short-Season Spokane, Class A Hickory
You know who this guy is.
Here is Profar at Class A Short-Season Spokane and Class A Hickory in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Click on any picture to begin a slideshow. For all past editions of Prospect Flashback, head here.
Prospect Flashback: Slugger Chase Headley Before (as A San Antonio Mission) and After (as A San Diego Padre)
From MLB.com this morning: Headley accepts invitation if USA advances
PEORIA, Ariz. — It was more than a month ago when the Major League Baseball Players Association first reached out to Padres third baseman Chase Headley to see if he’d be interested in playing for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic, should it need a third baseman.
So when Headley was contacted by text message Thursday with the same question, his answer was the same as it was in February — a resounding yes.
“This has always been a dream of mine, to play for Team USA,” Headley said.
“I think it’s a feather in his cap,” said Padres manager Bud Black.
To continue reading, head here.
From MiLB.com archives: Headley’s Minors’ bio, stats
Here is Headley in a Double-A San Antonio uniform way back in 2007. Click on any picture to enlarge. For all past editions of Prospect Flashback, head here.
Prospect Flashback: Angels’ Mike Trout Way Back When He Was Swinging for Cedar Rapids, Arkansas and Salt Lake
I had the opportunity to interview Mike Trout (MiLB career stats) before his 2012 call-up, and the best quote I was able to pull out of the five-tool, old-school ballplayer was most indicative of his playing style:
“We’re having a blast,” Trout told me. “I just go out there, do my thing.”
Now everyone gets to see him do his thing.
Here is a gallery of then-prospect Trout in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 wearing variety of uniforms, including those of Class A Cedar Rapids, Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Salt Lake. Click on any picture to begin the slideshow. For all past editions of Prospect Flashback, head here.
Prospect Flashback: Cubs Shortstop Starlin Castro in Daytona’s Duds, Suited up for Smokies
Starlin Castro spent just two seasons with full-season Minor League affiliates and didn’t register his first 100-game campaign until he became a Cub for good late in 2010.
Here is a gallery of then-prospect Castro in 2009 and ’10 wearing a variety of uniforms, including those of Class A Advanced Daytona and Double-A Tennessee. Click on any picture to begin the slideshow. For all past editions of Prospect Flashback, head here.
Prospect Flashback: Giants Ace Tim Lincecum at Class A Advanced San Jose Way Back in 2006
Tim Lincecum was a “veteran” of 13 Minor League appearances before making his Major League debut in 2007. Do you think he can turn around his 2012 misfortune and return to his Cy Young Award-winning ways?
Here is a gallery of Lincecum with the Class A Advanced San Jose Giants from his Aug. 5, 2006 start. Click on any picture to begin the slideshow. For all past editions of Prospect Flashback, head here.
Prospect Flashback: Athletics’ Opening Day Starter Brett Anderson in Silver Hawks, Ports, RockHounds and River Cats Unis
Brett Anderson, once quite the Minor Leaguer, was named the A’s Opening Day starter this morning.
Here is a gallery of Anderson in every uni he wore aside from Class A Advanced Visalia’s. Click on any picture to begin the slideshow. For all past editions of Prospect Flashback, head here.
PHOENIX — A’s manager Bob Melvin came with news Thursday morning, and he didn’t waste any time delivering it.
“Let’s go ahead and say Brett Anderson is our Opening Day starter,” Melvin said, smiling.
The news isn’t so much surprising as it is rewarding for the 25-year-old Anderson, who is entering his fifth season with the A’s. He’ll face the visiting Mariners at the Oakland Coliseum come April 1.
Thrust into a playoff run upon his August return from Tommy John rehab last year, the southpaw responded beautifully, winning his first four starts while posting a miniscule 0.69 ERA while walking just three in 26 innings.
Anderson lost his next two starts and suffered an ill-timed oblique strain, before making a seemingly miraculous comeback in short time to pitch Game 3 of the American League Division Series. He allowed two hits in six scoreless innings in Oakland’s 2-0 win over the Tigers, saving the team from elimination.
“Based on the guys that we have and how successfully he came back for us last year, we really feel like he’s the man to lead the staff,” Melvin said. “He worked hard to get back and put himself in a position to compete with us at a time of the season where there’s no easing into things. You got to be good right away, and he was. Then he gets hurt and we think he’s done, and he works just as hard to get back and pitch in a playoff game.”
To continue reading MLB.com’s story, head here.
Prospect Flashback: The Braves’ Jason Heyward in Rome, Myrtle Beach, Mississippi and Gwinnett
MLB.com has a nice feature on Braves slugger Jason Heyward (see below). Before Heyward reached the bigs for good in 2010, he was a career .318 hitter in 238 ballgames in the Minors.
Here is a gallery of Heyward when he was merely a prospect. Click on any picture to begin the slideshow. For all past editions of Prospect Flashback, head here.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — It was easy to understand why Jason Heyward escaped a frustrating 2011 season with motivation to alter his swing and dedicate himself to an intense conditioning program. His decision to remain dedicated to this rigorous program after an impressive 2012 season simply enhanced visions of him living up to his tremendous potential.
“I think Jason knows what he wants and what he wants to do,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “He wants to play this game a long time and be successful. You can really see over the past years the maturity that he has gained. It wouldn’t surprise me if he emerged as one of the leaders of the clubhouse, if he’s not already there.”
Two weeks after the Braves suffered their season-ending loss to the Cardinals in the National League’s one-game Wild Card playoff, Heyward resumed the running and lifting programs that helped him shed 20 pounds between the 2011 and ’12 seasons. His efforts this past winter simply added some muscle to an athletic frame that would certainly draw the attention of football’s talent evaluators.
When Hank Aaron arrived at Braves Spring Training and saw the 6-foot-5, 235-pound Heyward, he said, “My God. Whew!”
It seems sacrilegious and ridiculous to compare any 23-year-old player to Aaron. But as Heyward rises toward greatness while occupying the same right-field position Aaron manned for two decades with the Braves, it is impossible not to draw a link.
Through their first three full seasons, Heyward and Aaron totaled an identical 428 games.
To continue reading MLB.com’s story, head here.
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