Former Zags Producing Solid Professional Seasons
7/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
July 22, 2009
SPOKANE, Wash. - Eleven former Gonzaga University Bulldogs are currently playing professional baseball and a number of players are producing solid seasons.
Jason Bay with the Boston Red Sox and Mike Redmond with the Minnesota Twins have both turned in solid big league seasons so far in 2009 as they headline the growing number of former Zags that are currently playing professional baseball. Bay has been among the American League leaders in home runs and RBI all season long and just played in his third career All-Star game, earning his second career start after leading all American League outfielders with over four million all-star votes. Through 91 games this season the Trail, British Columbia native that played for the Zags in 1999-2000 owns the second highest RBI total in the American League (72) and also leads the Red Sox in home runs with 20 and is hitting at a .254 clip. While serving as a solid backup catcher to Joe Mauer, Redmond has posted a .245 batting average with four doubles, seven runs scored and four RBI in 31 games played this season. The former Bulldog who played at Gonzaga from 1990-93 has appeared in over 700 big league games and holds a .290 career batting average.
One former Zag that got his first taste of big league experience and continues to pitch well in AAA is right handed pitcher Clayton Mortensen. Mortensen made his major league debut earlier this summer, recording two strikeouts in three innings against the San Francisco Giants in St. Louis, Mo. June 29. The Rexburg, Ida. native and 2007 supplemental first round pick has since been optioned back to the AAA Memphis Redbirds where he owns a 7-6 overall record with a 4.37 ERA this season. Catcher Kevin Richardson is the one other former Bulldog that remains one call away from making to the big league club. The former Zag catcher from 2001-02 is currently with the Oklahoma City Redhawks, the Texas Rangers AAA affiliate and is second on the team in homers (10) and driven in 25 runs in just 51 games.
Infielder Scott Campbell, a former 10th round pick in 2006 by the Toronto Blue Jays, is currently with Toronto's AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Campbell started the 2009 season with the club's AAA team before returning to AA to rehab an injury. Infielder Darin Holcomb, a 2007 12th round pick by the Colorado Rockies, comes to the end of July holding a .278 average and leading his AA team, the Tulsa Drillers, in doubles (19) and second in hits (88). He has also hit seven home runs and driven in 31 runs.
The record-setting five Zags that were selected in this past June's MLB draft have also got off to solid starts. Catcher and Arizona Diamondbacks' 10th round pick Tyson Van Winkle just got moved to Arizona's A level affiliate, the South Bend Silver Hawks after he recorded 15 hits, three doubles and six RBI in his first couple weeks with Arizona's rookie level team. Steven Ames, the Los Angeles Dodgers 17th round selection has excelled on the mound in his first couple weeks while playing for the short season rookie league Ogden Raptors, allowing just two earned runs in his first six appearances. He also has recorded 18 strikeouts in 11.2 innings. This past season's West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year and ace of the Zags pitching staff Matt Fields has had an outstanding first two months of his professional career. The 22nd round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays has not allowed a run, surrendered just eight hits, and recorded 20 strikeouts in 18.1 innings while making two starts in seven appearances for the Bluejays' Rookie Gulf Coast League team. Ryan Wiegand, a 25th round selection by the Tampa Bay Rays owns a .309 batting average with one home run, nine doubles and 10 RBI in his first month playing for the Princeton Rays in the Rookie Appalachian League. AJ Proszek, a 38th round draft pick by the San Francisco Giants has posted 10 strikeouts in his five appearances for the Giants' Rookie Arizona League squad. Proszek just earned his first career professional win with three scoreless innings of relief July 20.
Name Pos. Team Level (Parent Club)
Steven Ames RHP Ogden Raptors Rookie (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Jason Bay OF Boston Red Sox Majors
Scott Campbell 2B New Hampshire Fisher Cats AA (Toronto)
Matt Fields RHP Gulf Coast Blue Jays Rookie (Toronto)
Darin Holcomb 3B Tulsa Drillers AA (Colorado)
Clayton Mortensen RHP Memphis Redbirds AAA (St. Louis)
AJ Proszek RHP Arizona League Giants Arizona League (San Francisco)
Mike Redmond C Minnesota Twins Majors
Kevin Richardson C Oklahoma RedHawks AAA (Texas)
Tyson Van Winkle C South Bend Silver Hawks A (Arizona)
Ryan Wiegand 1B Princeton Rays Rookie (Tampa Bay)
