The Minor League Maestro

Expect a feeding frenzy

2011-08-15T10:04:00.001-07:00

Should be a crazy day for major league signings, as the deadline to get a deal done with players drafted in June is at 12:01 p.m. (EST). Connecticut's three big prospects are all expected to sign, the question is when and for how much.

New Britain's George Springer (Houston) and Bethel's Matt Barnes (Boston), taken 11th and 19th overall, and Bethany's Jason Esposito (Baltimore) have all been in heavy negotiations the past two weeks. Springer is expected to command in the vicinity of $1.8 million; Barnes around $1.4 million and Esposito roughly $600,000.

Anything can happen. Should be interesting.

Branford's Mike Olt, out since May with a fractured collar bone suffered in a collision at home plate, returned to game action Sunday. On a rehab stint at the team's spring training facility in Arizona, Olt homered and drove in three runs. He could return to advanced Class A Myrtle Beach (S.C.) of the Carolina League this week.

Ex-Yalie Ryan Lavarnway tearing up Triple-A

2011-07-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

There seems to be no stopping former Yale All-American Ryan Lavarnway lately. Since being promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket last month, Lavarnway, a highly-regarded catcher in the Red Sox organization, is hitting .381 (45-for-118) with 10 homers and and 28 RBIs in just 31 games. Between Double-A and Triple-A, he's now hitting .319 with 24 home runs (best in the Sox minor league system) and 66 RBIs.

Need a few more mind-blowing numbers? Lavarnway is hitting .431 in July and .579 in the five games since the All-Star break. And if that's not enough to get him a promotion to Fenway by September 1, consider his .464 average against left-handers in the International League.

Madison's Greg Nappo promoted

2011-07-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

Greg Nappo proved he was a little too good for the short-season New York/Penn League. After striking out 10 of the 15 batters he faced in a July 4 start for Jamestown (N.Y.), he pitched five perfect innings in his next start (he was removed after reaching his pitch count both games).

On Wednesday, Nappo was promoted to low Class A Greensboro (N.C.) of the South Atlantic League.

Nappo, a LHP, was the No. 2 starter at UConn this spring and an 18th-round pick of the Marlins in June.

Greg Nappo strikes out 10 in first pro start

2011-07-05T09:45:00.000-07:00

Madison's Greg Nappo made his first professional start memorable by striking out 10 batters in four shutout innings for Jamestown (N.Y.) of the short-season New York/Penn League on Independence Day. The Florida Marlins, who drafted Nappo in the 18th round last month, are taking things slow; the plan was for him to throw only four innings Monday. The former UConn LHP had made three relief appearances since being signed shortly after the college season ended last month. He hasn't allowed a run in nine innings, and has struck out 16.

News from some past Connecticut first-round picks

2011-06-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

Hebron's A.J. Pollock batted third and went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base for the South at Tuesday's Double-A Southern League All-Star Game in Jackson, Tenn. Pollock, a first-round pick of the Diamondbacks in 2009 out of Notre Dame (17th overall), is hitting .289 with four homers, 38 RBIs and 15 stolen bases for Mobile (Ala.) after missing the entire 2010 season with a broken bone.

Groton's Matt Harvey, the seventh overall pick of the Mets in 2010 after an All-American career at North Carolina, earned his much-anticipated promotion to Double-A. Harvey will join the roster of the Binghamton Mets today. He went 8-2 with a 2.37 earned run average in 14 starts for Class A St. Lucie (Fla.). He struck out 92 batters in 76 innings, allowing just 67 hits and 24 walks.

"Harvey is a starter -- major league arm, major league stuff; big time," B-Mets manager Wally Backman told the Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin. "He's can throw 95, 96, with a great breaking ball, great changeup. He's the real deal."

Harvey will make his first appearance in Connecticut since his high school days at Fitch-Groton July 8-11, when Binghamton visits the New Britain Rock Cats for four games.

Busy day for local minor leaguers

2011-06-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

With the draft in the rear view mirror and UConn's season over, expect the signings to commence soon. A total of 10 Huskies were taken last week, and it's likely all will sign pro contracts soon. On a side note, a pair of UConn players selected in 2009 by the Marlins were both released last week -- outfielder Harold Brantley, a 30th-round pick and pitcher Dan Mahoney, a fourth-round pick. Obviously, expectations were much higher for Mahoney, who made just 22 appearances in his career, none above short-season, and hadn't pitched at all this season.

Tolland's Mike Gallic, an outfielder out of Marist and an 18th-round pick of San Diego, was the first state player to sign a deal.

A few other area notes: New Haven's Casey Frawley ended the longest game in Carolina League history when he drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 23rd inning to lift Kinston (N.C.) past Myrtle Beach Sunday. Frawley was 2-for-11 with six strikeouts in a game that lasted six-and-a-half hours.

Naugatuck's Pat Dean continues to perform well, tossing 6 2/3 innings of no-hit ball Saturday before being removed in Class A Beloit's victory. Dean was taken out simply because he'd already thrown 107 pitches. His replacement entered the game and immediately gave up a hit.

Former Yale All-American Ryan Lavarnway was called up to Triple-A Pawtucket today. The catcher and sixth-round pick of the Red Sox in 2008 had been on a recent tear at Double-A Portland, hitting .365 with eight homers and 19 RBIs over the last 23 games. For the season, Lavarnway is at .284 with 14 homers and 38 RBIs in 55 games.

Milford's Maxx Catapano drafted by Seattle

2011-06-08T12:20:00.000-07:00

Maxx Catapano of Milford was taken by Seattle in the 46th round. A RHP out of Lee, an NAIA school in Tennessee, Catapano pitched his team to a third-place finish in the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho earlier this month, compiling a 9-5 record, 2.29 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 82 innings pitched. Catapano played for four different colleges in four years, beginning at UConn as a freshman, Southern Conn. State as a sophomore and Bellevue, an NAIA school in Nebraska, as a junior before landing at Lee.

A couple other late rounders with state ties taken Wednesday: Mike Bourdon, a senior catcher at the University of Tampa and a Simsbury resident went to the Rays in the 42nd round. Bourdon was picked by Boston coming out of Northwest Catholic High School. His brother, Tom, was drafted last June but opted to attend Boston College.

James Lynch, an outfielder and pitcher at the Salisbury School, went to the Dodgers in the 45th round. Salisbury has emerged as quite the program of late, producing 2008 1st-round pick Anthony Hewitt (now a South Atlantic League all-star in the Phillies system) and Chris Dwyer, who pitched Clemson to the College World Series in his lone season, was drafted in the fourth round and is now a highly-regarded prospect in the Kansas City organization.

Max Krakowiak of Westport, a RHP out of Fordham, was taken by Seattle in the 48th round. David Elmore, a 2B at Yale, went to Milwaukee in the 49th round.

More Huskies drafted on Day 3

2011-06-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

Doug Elliot of Rocky Hill, a fifth-year senior catcher, and Elliott Glynn, a senior LHP, were both taken by Milwaukee on Wednesday, bringing the total number of UConn players drafted over the last three days to an astounding 10.

The draft is winding down as we hit the 40th round. Could there be more still to come? Well, there aren't a lot of upperclassmen left to draft. But, it's possible Old Lyme's Ryan Fuller or Stratford's Tim Martin, both juniors, have a shot.

Also, Suffield's Corey Vogt, a RHP at Keene State, went to the Red Sox in the 39th round.

Mike Olt hits DL with fracture

2011-06-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

Branford's Mike Olt is expected to miss at least a month after breaking his collar bone in a collision at home plate during a Monday game. Olt has emerged as the top prospect in the Texas Rangers' minor league system. A third baseman at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) of the advanced Class A Carolina League, he was hitting .286 with 10 homers and 34 RBIs out of the clean-up spot for the Pelicans.

Madison's Greg Nappo to Marlins

2011-06-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

Greg Nappo, in the midst of another sensational season at UConn, was the 18th-round pick of the Florida Marlins. The LHP is 10-2 with a 2.55 ERA and expected to pitch the second game of the Huskies Super Regional series at South Carolina.

Tolland's Mike Gallic, an outfielder at Marist (where he plays for North Branford native Chris Tracz) was also a 19th-round pick, taken by San Diego. Gallic hit .292 with a team-leading six homers and 43 RBIs this spring.

Stratford's Dan Paolini, UConn's John Andreoli drafted

2011-06-07T14:12:00.000-07:00

A few more locals taken today...

The 10th round led off with Montville's Taylor Lewis, an outfielder at Maine, being taken by Pittsburgh. The next pick belonged to Seattle, and it took Stratford's Dan Paolini, a second baseman at Siena. I spoke with Paolini, and he expects to sign. Later in the 10th round, New Canaan's Curt Casali, a senior catcher at Vanderbilt, went to Detroit.

John Andreoli, an outfielder, became the fourth UConn player drafted. He went to the Cubs in the 17th round.

Ahmed makes it three

2011-06-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

Nick Amhed, UConn's shortstop, goes in the second round (85th overall) to Atlanta. The Huskies have had three players taken so far, and there should be plenty more to come.

Esposito to Baltimore

2011-06-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

Bethany's Jason Esposito was drafted by Baltimore with the 64th overall selection Tuesday. He was the fourth player taken in the second round of the draft, which just began. Esposito is a third baseman at Vanderbilt.

Numbers inching back up for Yale's Ryan Lavarnway

2011-05-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

Ryan Lavarnway is beginning to heat up after a slow start. A highly-regarded catching prospect in the Boston system, Lavarnway, who played at Yale, is hitting .297 in May after an April in which he batted just .216 for the Double-A Portland (Maine) Sea Dogs of the Eastern League. He also flashed his trademark power, belting three homers with nine RBIs in his last 10 games. Lavarnway had 22 homers and 102 RBIs between Class A and Double-A last season.

Matt Harvey dealing for St. Lucie Mets

2011-05-05T07:31:00.001-07:00

Groton's Matt Harvey continues his assault on the Class A Florida State League. On Wednesday, he allowed one hit over 6.1 scoreless innings while striking out nine, though he got a no decision for the St. Lucie Mets. Harvey, the seventh overall pick of the Mets last June after a standout career, is 4-1 with a 1.10 ERA in six starts with 39 strikeouts in 32.2 innings.

At this point, you have to think Harvey's days in Florida are numbered. While Harvey is making his pro debut this spring, he's also 22 and dominating. A promotion to Double-A Binghamton (N.Y.) could come before the month is out -- sooner if the weather ever warms up and dries out around here.

Ex-SCSU star Jim Fuller out for season

2011-05-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

Former Southern Connecticut State star Jim Fuller will miss the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Fuller, a LHP who set several school records in 2008, his lone season at SCSU, showed promise after the Mets took him in the 21st round that June. He is 11-5 with a 2.19 ERA in 24 career starts, advancing to advanced Class A St. Lucie (Fla.) last season.

Josh Zeid strong for Reading

2011-05-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

Here's a link from the Reading (Pa.) Eagle earlier this week on New Haven's Josh Zeid, who tossed five hitless innings for the Reading Phillies in a win over Portland. Zeid was pulled from the game by Phillies manager Mark Parent after Zeid's back stiffened.

Zeid, a 10th-round pick of the Phillies out of Tulane in 2009, has been solid in five starts at Reading. He's 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA, and hasn't allowed a run in his last two starts.

Patrick McKenna making the rounds

2011-05-04T14:38:00.001-07:00

Orange's Patrick McKenna is in just his third professional season since graduating from Bryant University, but has now played at every level of the minor leagues.

An infielder and 27th-round draft choice of the Detroit Tigers in 2009, McKenna was signed by the San Diego Padres as a free agent. He was assigned to Triple-A Tucson (Ariz.) of the Pacific Coast League to help with injuries and spent two weeks there, batting .176 (3-for-27), before being sent down to Double-A San Antonio of the Texas League this week.

Last summer, McKenna split time between the Tigers' Gulf Coast League affiliate and Class A Lakeland of the advanced Class A Florida State League.

Seven scoreless for Max Russell

2011-05-04T07:56:00.000-07:00

Orange's Max Russell tossed seven scoreless innings on Tuesday to earn his second win of the season for the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Kernals of the Class A Midwest League. Russell (2-2) allowed two hits and walked one while striking out five to defeat Kane County. In six starts, he has a 3.48 ERA. Russell was a fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Angels last June.

Here's a link to an interview posted on the blog "TwinNation" with Naugatuck's Pat Dean, now a left-handed pitcher in the Minnesota Twins system. Dean, who played at Boston College, was a third-round pick last June.

Lots of Nutmeg in St. Lucie

2010-08-06T06:31:00.001-07:00

Ex-Southern Connecticut State LHP Jim Fuller was promoted to St. Lucie of the advanced Class A Florida State League. At Savannah of the Class A South Atlantic League, Fuller was 8-3 with a 1.93 ERA, the fifth-best ERA amongst starting pitchers in all of minor league baseball. He also had 99 strikeouts in 107 innings.

Fuller, a 21st-round pick of the Mets in 2008, is expected to make his FSL debut today. There's a chance he could throw to Michael Moras, an Orange native and former rival while at the University of New Haven. Moras had two hits and two RBIs for St. Lucie on Thursday.

Ex-UConn pitcher Erik Turgeon is also on the St. Lucie staff, and in the midst of a solid campaign. He is 2-0 with four saves and a 1.90 ERA in17 games out of the bullpen.

Russell promoted

2010-08-01T21:23:00.000-07:00

Orange's Max Russell was promoted by the Los Angeles Angels to low Class A Cedar Rapids (Iowa) of the Midwest League earlier this week after going 4-0 with a 3.41 ERA at Orem (Utah) of the short-season Northwest League.

Russell made his debut on Sunday, and lost his first professional game. He allowed nine hits and five runs over five innings to Quad Cities.

Amity grads showing stuff

2010-07-25T06:32:00.001-07:00

Orange's Pat McKenna was the subject of this week's minor league notes in the print edition of the Register. He continued his hot hitting Saturday night with two hits, including his first Florida State League home run. McKenna is hitting .429 for advanced Class A Lakeland, and is a combined .350 between the GCL and FSL this summer.

Michael Moras, like McKenna an Orange resident and Amity grad, is also playing in the FSL as a catcher with the St. Lucie Mets. Moras has done his share of moving this summer, with previous stops in Savannah of the South Atlantic League, Binghamton of the Double-A Eastern League.

Max Russell, drafted in June by the Angels and now with Orem (Utah) of the short-season Class A Northwest League, won his third game earlier this week with 5.2 innings of shutout ball. He is 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA in six appearances (five starts).

Dwyer on the fast track

2010-07-22T18:50:00.000-07:00

Former Salisbury School star Chris Dwyer, in just his first full professional season, is on the fast track to the major leagues. A native of Swampscott, Mass., Dwyer had just 19 career starts before getting promoted by the Kansas City Royals to Double-A earlier this month.

Despite his inexperience, he continues to dominate hitters.

Dwyer won his first two starts for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, including five shutout innings in is debut after driving 20 hours from Wilmington, Del. to Springdale, Ark. after his promotion from advanced Class A.

H earned a no-decision in start No. 3 despite surrendering just two hits and striking out seven in six innings. He has a 1.06 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 17 innings, and is holding Texas League hitters to a .150 average against him.

Between Wilmington and NW Arkansas this summer, Dwyer, a LHP, is 8-3 with a 2.66 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 102 innings.

A few Wednesday notes

2010-07-21T12:32:00.000-07:00

A quick look around the minors and how some Connecticut prospects are faring...

Rocky Hill's Pat Egan was sensational at Double-A Bowie, going 6-1 with a 2.12 ERA in 22 games out of the bullpen. But he's still getting adjusted to Triple-A hitting. The 6-foot-8 former Quinnipiac RHP has allowed 15 hits in 9.2 innings over eight games with a 6.52 ERA at Norfolk (Va.).

Orange resident Max Russell, recently signed by the Angels after they drafted him in the sixth round, had his first rough outing for Orem (Utah) of the rookie Northwest League. He gave up six runs on five hits in 4.1 innings at Missoula, but is still 2-0 with a 4.29 ERA in five games.

Killingworth's Cory Riordan struck out nine in 6.2 innings of a no-decision Monday for Double-A Tulsa, giving him 90 strikeouts in 103 innings this year. The Fordham product and Rockies prospect is 4-4 with a 3.92 ERA this year, and hasn't lost a game since May 24.

Ex-Yale pitcher Brandon Josselyn is among the Midwest League leaders with 12 saves. Josselyn, a 25th-round pick of Seattle in 2009, is 2-2 with a 2.92 ERA for Clinton (Iowa).

Ex-Yale catcher Ryan Lavarnway's recent promotion by the Red Sox to Double-A Portland (Maine) hasn't slowed down his offensive production. He drive in five runs Tuesday at New Hampshire, and is hitting .389 (7-for-18) with two doubles and nine RBIs in his first five games. Lavarnway, the Bulldogs' career home run leader and a former NCAA batting champ, was hitting .289 with 18 doubles, 14 homers and 63 RBIs at advanced Class A Potomac.

Zeid to rotation

2010-07-20T05:56:00.000-07:00

New Haven's Josh Zeid began the season as the closer at Lakewood (N.J.), the Phillies South Atlantic League affiliate. He made the midseason all-star team, despite losing the job before the break. Now, he's cracked the Blue Claws' rotation. He's made three straight starts, allowing two hits and one run over five innings on Wednesday. For the season, Zeid is 5-3 with a 3.08 ERA and nearly a strikeout and inning.

Trio of local hot hitters

2010-07-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

Orange's Patrick McKenna is hitting .358 between the Tigers' instructional Gulf Coast League and advanced Class A teams, both based in Lakeland, Fla. The middle infielder is hitting .326 with four doubles, a triple and two homers in the Gulf Coast League, and was 4-for-7 (.571) in three games with Lakeland.

Branford's Mike Olt is heating up for Spokane (Wash.) of the rookie Northwest League. He has 12 hits in his last 10 games, lifting his average to .278 with solid power numbers of 10 doubles, a triple, three homers and 19 RBIs. He's also stolen three bases.

Wolcott's Pierre LePage was sent to the Cubs instructional league team in Arizona, where he went 7-for-10 (.700) in two games. Guess he proved he was ready. He was immediately sent to Boise of the Northwest League, and is hitting .350 (28-for-80) with a homer and 18 RBIs in 20 games.

McKenna played at Bryant University; Olt and LePage at UConn.

MIlford's Smith gets promotion

2010-07-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

Eric Smith of Milford, a second-round pick of Arizona last June after a strong junior season at the University of Rhode Island, was promoted to advanced Class A Visalia of the California League.

Smith had been with South Bend (Ind.) of the low Class A Midwest League, and was 5-5 with a 3.53 ERA in 16 starts. His debut with Visalia wasn't memorable. He took the loss against Stockton, allowing nine runs and four walks in 4.2 innings, though he did strike out five.

The California League is a reknowned hitter's league. The dry desert air, smaller parks and a handful of parks that double as wind tunnels make things difficult on pitchers.

Smith missed matching up against Dallas Braden by a day. Braden, rehabbing from elbow stiffness, made the start for Stockton against Visalia a night after Smith pitched.

Ex-SCSU pitcher Fuller still a star

2010-07-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

Jim Fuller -- no, not the longtime Register women's basketball writer -- continues to baffle minor league hitters. Now in his third pro season after one magical year at Southern Connecticut State, Fuller is 7-2 with a 1.81 ERA in 15 starts for the Savannah Sand Gnats, the Class A South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets.

Fuller has 83 strikeouts in 89 innings, and was named to the SALLY all-star team.

The Register's Jim Fuller, though not an all-star pitcher, can still rain home hook shots from 3-point range.

Bluefish stars

2010-06-30T05:18:00.000-07:00

Bridgeport Bluefish team officials today announced that five members of the team have been selected to participate in the 2010 Atlantic League All-Star Game. Pitchers Matt Pike and Pat Ryan will be joined by outfielders Charlton Jimerson and Steve Moss and catcher Luis Rodriguez on the Liberty Division squad.

“We are very pleased to have these five players represent the Bluefish during the 2010 Atlantic League All-Star Game,” says Bluefish general manager Bob Goughan. “They have been key members of our team during the first half of the season and are deserving of this accomplishment.”

Jimerson has developed into Bridgeport’s biggest offensive threat in his second year in the Atlantic League. The reigning Atlantic League batting champ leads the Bluefish in doubles (16), RBI (35), home runs (9), on-base percentage (.458), and slugging percentage (.725). Moss is currently fourth in the league with a .330 batting average. The newcomer paces the ‘Fish in runs scored (40) and hits (64). Rodriguez, a four-year Atlantic League veteran, is batting .232 with four home runs, 18 RBI and 15 runs scored. The backstop has a .988 fielding percentage from behind the plate.

In his second season with the Bluefish, Ryan has earned his place in the starting rotation. The righty owns a 4-1 record in 18 appearances (five starts) this season, leading the Atlantic League with a 1.20 ERA over 52.2 innings pitched and ranking fifth with 55 strikeouts. Pike receives this honor for a second consecutive year by posting a 6-2 record with a 3.51 ERA through 74.1 frames.

Jimerson, Moss, Rodriguez, Pike and Ryan will represent the Bluefish on the Liberty Division squad at the 2010 All-Star Game, which takes place July 6 at Suffolk County Sports Park, home of the Long Island Ducks, in Central Islip, New York. All-Star selections were the results of fan, media and front office polling, which took place throughout the league and individual team Web sites.

Egan to Triple-A

2010-06-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

Former Quinnipiac pitcher Pat Egan, a Rocky Hill resident, was promoted within the Baltimore Orioles organization, moving up from the Double-A Eastern League’s Bowie (Md.) Bay Sox to the Triple-A International League’s Norfolk (Va.) Tide. Egan made his Triple-A debut on Monday, June 28 against the Louisville Bats.

Egan gave up two runs on four hits over 1 2/3 innings in a 7-2 loss by Norfolk. Egan was promoted after posting a 6-1 record with a 2.12 earned run average in 22 games out of the bullpen for the Baysox. Egan ranked among the Double-A leaders in wins (6), saves (5) and appearances (22). He also held the opposition to a .177 batting average, giving up 29 hits in 46 2/3 innings pitched and walking just six batters.

Egan signed a minor league contract with Baltimore in 2007, just prior to that year’s Major League Baseball Draft. Egan was drafted twice by Baltimore before signing with them after he exhausted his eligibility with the Bobcats. He was originally drafted in the 35th round of the 2005 draft before being taken again in the 36th round in the 2006 draft.

Egan enjoyed a successful career at Quinnipiac in which the 6-7 right-handed pitcher won 20 games in his career, a Bobcats’ Division I record at the time which was broken last season by Andy Mayer. In 2004, Egan was named to the Northeast Conference First Team and was also tabbed as the NEC's Pitcher of the Year.

In the four seasons since Egan signed with the Orioles, he has progressed through the minor league ranks, beginning with the Bluefield (WV) Orioles of the rookie-level Appalachian League where he started in 11 of the 13 games he appeared in, allowing one earned run or less in four starts including eight innings of scoreless ball against Bristol on July 20, holding them to just one hit. In 2008, he was elevated to the Class-A Aberdeen (Md.) IronBirds of the New York Penn League. While with the
IronBirds, Egan finished third in the league with 77.2 innings pitched and won four consecutive starts from August 9 through August 27.

In 2007, Egan pitched for the Class A Delmarva (Md.) Shorebirds of the South Atlantic League. While with Delmarva, Egan appeared in 11 games, striking out 22 batters over 24 innings while allowing four runs on 12 hits. He also recorded two saves for the Shorebirds.

Olt starts strong

2010-06-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

Branford's Mike Olt started his pro career in style. In his first three games with Class A Spokane of the short-season Northwest League, Olt is 5-for-13 (.385) with a double, triple and two RBIs.

The June 20 notes

2010-06-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

Former Salisbury School star Chris Dwyer struck out a career-high 13 in an unusual start last week. Read about it in the Sunday notes here.

Branford's Olt signs with Rangers

2010-06-18T19:08:00.000-07:00

Mike Olt will forgo his senior year and UConn to begin his professional baseball career. The Texas Rangers, who drafted Olt in the supplemental first round with the 49th overall pick of the draft earlier this month, signed Olt Friday for a bonus of $717,300, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Olt flew to Arlington to sign the deal, meeting with the team's front office including team president Nolan Ryan. He will report to Spokane (Wash.) of the rookie Northwest League. Olt batted .318 with 23 homers and 76 RBIs this spring, leading UConn to its first NCAA regional in 16 years. He set the school single-season and career home run records as well as the career RBI record.

Which draft class was best?

2010-06-14T17:04:00.000-07:00

Link to the Sunday minor league notes, where we ranked the top 5 Connecticut major league drafts of all-time.

Glynne, Larsson-Danforth drafted

2010-06-09T13:29:00.000-07:00

Eliot Glynne, a junior LHP at UConn, was taken by the Padres in the 49th round. Later in the 49th, the Red Sox grabbed Yale first baseman Trygg Larsson-Danforth.

Glynne, who came to Storrs from his hometown of Long Beach, Calif., also played outfield for the Huskies until this season when he focused on pitching. He went 7-3 with a 2.99 ERA as one of UConn's top starters.

Larsson-Danforth, from Massachusetts, was Yale's top power hitter the last two years, earning first-team All-Ivy League both times. At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, he hit .373 with 11 homers, 44 RBIs and a team-high 12 stolen bases.

Wood to Mariners

2010-06-09T13:06:00.000-07:00

James Wood, a senior outfielder at Trinity, was taken by the Seattle Mariners in the 47th round. Wood has been one of the better power hitters in NCAA Division III the past few years, belting 13 in 30 games this spring. He also hit .441.

Waterford's Quinn to Reds

2010-06-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

Pat Quinn, a sophomore RHP at St. Petersburg (Fla.) JC, was taken by the Cincinnati Reds in the 46th round. Quinn played at Waterford High, and spent one year at the University of Maine before heading to Florida.

Bourdon of Northwest Catholic to Red Sox

2010-06-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

The first high school player from the state to be drafted is Tom Bourdon of Northwest Catholic in West Hartford, a 38th round pick of the Boston Red Sox. Bourdon, whose older brother Mike is a catcher at the University of Tampa, is committed to attend Boston College next fall.

Torrington's Fabiaschi to A's

2010-06-09T10:43:00.001-07:00

Mike Fabiaschi of Torrington, a senior second baseman at James Madison, was taken by the Oakland Athletics in the 38th round. A former two-sport standout at Torrington -- he twice led the state in 3-pointers made, with 88 as a senior and 77 as a junior -- he batted .326 this spring for James Madison.

Fairfield U RHP Gariano to Padres

2010-06-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Rob Gariano was the first player with Connecticut ties selected today, the final day of the Major Legaue Baseball draft. Gariano, a RHP at Fairfield University, was taken by San Diego in the 36th round.

A Nutley, N.J. native and senior at Fairfield, Gariano was first-team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference each of the last three seasons. He struck out 74 batters this season to shatter the school's career record, finishing with 293.

Two more state picks cap Tuesday's draft

2010-06-08T16:52:00.000-07:00

Mike Drowne, an outfielder at Sacred Heart, was taken by the Dodgers in the 28th round. A senior from South Hadley, Mass., batted .313 with eight homers, 33 RBIs and 33 stolen bases this fall.

Also selected in the 30th round was South Windsor resident Tim Kiene, a strapping outfielder at Avon Old Farms, who went to the Washington Nationals. The draft has finally wrapped up for the day, and will continue with the final 20 rounds on Wednesday. Check back for all the updates.

Vigurs, of South Windsor, to Cubs

2010-06-08T15:19:00.000-07:00

South Windsor's Jeff Vigurs , a junior catcher at Bryant, was taken in the 22nd round by the Cubs. He batted .333 with four homers and 41 RBIs this spring.

UConn's LePage (Wolcott) to Cubs

2010-06-08T13:20:00.000-07:00

Pierre LePage of Wolcott, a second baseman at UConn who was the toughest player in Division I baseball to strike out this spring, was taken by the Chicago Cubs in the 13th round (40oth overall).

LePage, listed at 5-foot-7 and 157 pounds, draws comparisons to Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox. Both are undersized, gritty second basemen who bust it on every single play. LePage batted .327 with a team-high 20 doubles, three homers and 58 RBIs this year. He also stole 29 bases and struck out only three times in 248 at-bats, the best ratio in college baseball.

LePage attended Loomis Chaffee, where he batted .590 as a senior.

Russell plans to sign

2010-06-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

Just got off the phone with Max Russell. He is planning to forgo his final season of college eligibility at Florida Southern to sign a pro contract with the Angels.

Groton's Hahn to Rays

2010-06-08T11:52:00.000-07:00

Groton's Jesse Hahn, a high school teammate of Matt Harvey at Fitch, was taken in the sixth round by the Tampa Bay Rays. Hahn, who recently completed his junior year at Virginia Tech, was considered a fringe first-round pick by some. Harvey was the seventh overall pick of the Mets on Monday.

At 6-foot-5, 201 pounds, Hahn is coming off his finest college season. He went 5-4 with a 3.70 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 73 innings.

Orange's Russell to Angels

2010-06-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

Max Russell of Orange, a LHP at Division II Florida Southern University, was taken in the 4th round by the Los Angeles Angels.

Russell is a former Register All-Area and All-State MVP, and joins a growing list of former Amity players who have been drafted over the past few years. There was RHP Scott Meyer (2007, Cubs, 24th round out of Lamar), 3B Jason Esposito (2008, Royals, 7th round, passed and is now at Vanderbilt), C Michael Moras (2008, Mets, 20th round out of the University of New Haven) and SS Patrick McKenna (2009, Tigers, 27th round out of Bryant).

Prior to 2007, the last drafted Amity player was RHP Craig Saccavino, a 28th round pick of the Twins out of the University of Richmond in 1992.

Naugatuck's Dean to Twins

2010-06-08T10:11:00.001-07:00

Naugatuck's Pat Dean, a junior LHP at Boston College, was taken in the third round of the draft by the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. He was 5-2 with a team-best 4.75 ERA in 12 games this spring. He ranks ninth all-time on the career strikeouts list at BC (170), his 90 in 2009 the third-best in a single season.

Olt to Rangers

2010-06-07T19:58:00.000-07:00

Mike Olt of Branford, a junior third baseman at UConn, saw his stock rise considerably this spring. He went power binge with 23 home runs and 76 RBIs, and developed into one of the better defensive third basemen in the country.

Just how high did he elevate himself in the eyes of major league scouts? Olt was the 49th overall pick of the draft, going to the Texas Rangers in the compensatory round between the first and second rounds of Monday's draft.

Olt batted .318 this spring, and his 23 homers shattered the school single-season record of 19. He also took over as UConn's career home run and RBI leader on Saturday during a 4-for-4 performance against Central Connecticut State at the NCAA Norwich Regional. Olt crushed two long home runs and drove in a career high eight runs despite a lingering hamstring injury.

Groton's Harvey to Mets at No. 7

2010-06-07T18:40:00.000-07:00

Groton's Matt Harvey, a junior RHP at North Carolina, was the seventh overall pick of the first round by the New York Mets on Monday night.

Harvey was taken in the third round out of Fitch High in 2007, and turned down a reported $1 million bonus from the Angels. He could sign for triple that amount. Mike Miner, taken seventh overall by Atlanta a year ago, signed for $2.42 million. Harvey is a legitimate flame thrower (he routinely runs it up to 96 mph), is represented by Scott Boras and has the deep pockets of the Mets working in his favor.

He was 8-3 with a 3.09 ERA at North Carolina this spring, including 102 strikeouts in 96 innings pitched. He was a preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference and All-American.

Among draft picks from Connecticut, only Stamford's Bobby Valentine was taken higher when he went fifth overall to the Dodgers in 1965. It's also the third successive season a player from the state has gone in the first round (Anthony Hewitt of the Salisbury School went 24th overall to the Phillies in 2008 and A.J. Pollock of Hebron went 17th to the Diamondbacks last June). Not bad considering Connecticut had only two first rounders the previous 19 drafts, the last in 1996.