Just a short month ago, the Woodstock River Bandits had their own success story: Bobby Mosebach (04)!
A 9th round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angels, Bobby made his major league debut for the West-leading Angels on July 25 against the Minnesota Twins. He's pitched in three games, pitching 2 1/3 innings and allowing 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, and striking out 2.
Congratulations to Bobby- and the River Bandits for their first major leaguer!
Yesterday Tommy Manzella; today Tobi Stoner (Front Royal 05)!
Stoner, the sixth Valley League alumni to make the major leagues in the 2009 season, was a 16th round draft pick of the New York Mets in 2006. He made his major league debut September 10th, with a shutout inning against the Florida Marlins. he has made one appearance since, September 13th against the Philadelphia Phillies, in which he gave up 3 runs and 4 hits in 3 innings pitched.
In the minors, Tobi has gone 27-32, 3.57, with a 1.21 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, and 6.6 K/9 in 499 1/3 innings. He had been throwing very well for Triple-A Buffalo before his callup, going 4-0, 1.91 in his last 5 starts.
Congratulations, Tobi!
(For the record, the six debuts are: Hunter Jones, Jack Egbert, Brad Mills, Craig Tatum, Tommy Manzella, and Tobi Stoner)
Another day, another Valley League success story! Tommy Manzella, a Waynesboro General in 2003, has made his major league debut with the Houston Astros!
Drafted by the Astros in the 3rd round in 2005, Manzella has slowly worked his way up the ladder. After four and a half years in the minors, he finally made his big league debut on September 8th, as a pinch runner. He singled in his first and only at-bat thus far, September 11th against Donnie Veal of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Tommy hit 268/321/374 in 521 games and 1991 at-bats over his minor league career.
Congratulations on getting the call, Tommy!
I must admit that Anna Kipps does what I would love to do: travel to see Valley League alumni playing in the minor leagues. Alas, my situation in life does not allow that right now, so you'll have to enjoy Anna's trip, not mine. Here's her story!- ATVL
So earlier this week, I was thinking about the long weekend ahead and trying to decide what activities I could get into. I checked through some baseball schedules, and it just so happened that the Rochester Redwings were playing the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees on Sunday. Rob Delaney, the pitcher from the 2003 New Market Rebels plays for the Redwings and I'd been wanting to see him for a while, so my sister and I decided to make the trek up to Scranton for the game.
It also happened that Brett Gardner of the New York Yankees (also from the 2003 New Market team) had been on the disabled list, and was rehabbing in some games in AAA this week. We realized this after we planned the trip, and we weren't sure he'd still be rehabbing on Sunday.. but we crossed our fingers and hoped! We bought his Rebels road jersey several years ago and have been to a few big league Yankees games without being able to get it signed.
We arrived in Scranton after an almost 5 hour drive and headed into PNC Field about an hour before game time. There were only two players on the field when we got there on the Redwings side, and when we walked down to field level, we realized that one of them was Rob Delaney. We couldn't have had more perfect timing! I called his name, and he came over to the fence for a nice little chat. He didn't remember me specifically, but he did remember a lot of his former Rebel teammates and the awesome mohawk hair style he rocked back in 2003. He also signed programs and photos that my sister and I had brought with us. It was very awesome seeing him, and we wished him luck in reaching the big leagues soon! My one sad regret was that I forgot to ask him for a photo while we were there.
After talking to Rob, we headed over to the Yankees side of the field, and a few minutes later, Brett Gardner came out of the dugout and started signing autographs for fans. We headed over to where he was, and I caught his attention by saying his college/Rebel nickname "Squirrel!" No matter how famous he gets, my family will always think of him as "Squirrel." Despite the fact that I recall seeing him play just down the street from my house, I was a bit nervous and excited to see this New York Yankee, and had a little bit of trouble thinking about what I would say to him next. I set the jersey in front of him, and he looked a little surprised and asked where we got it. I don't quite remember what I said, but I think I explained that we had come from New Market and obtained it there. I also explained that we had come to see Rob Delaney, but seeing Brett Gardner was a super bonus! I then managed to ask for a picture, which he happily obliged to. I regret being so nervous, but "Squirrel" was very gracious and it was awesome seeing him!
The actual game was the first game of a double header. Brett Gardner went 0-3, and Rob Delaney did not get to pitch, but the Yankees won, and it was a good game. Since we had a 5 hour drive back, we didn't stay for game 2. Sadly we missed seeing Delaney pitch in that game, but it was still a fun evening! - Our Rebels Correspondent, Anna Kipps
The 2009 major league baseball season has not been quite the success that 2008 was, at least in terms of former Valley Leaguers making their major league debuts. Last season, over 10 players made the majors, while only 4 have made it this year.
Three of those four have been celebrated in these pages: Jack Egbert, Hunter Jones, and Brad Mills.
The fourth? Craig Tatum (Covington 02).
By my count the second Covington Lumberjack to make the majors, Tatum was a 3rd round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds back in 2004. He culminated his slow, steady climb up the ladder with a call-up on July 21st. In the ensuing month, Tatum has hit 105/227/132 in 14 games and 38 at-bats.
He was hitting 239/300/338 in 64 games and 213 at-bats for the Triple-A Louisville Bats before his call-up.
Congratulations, Craig!
Add one more success story to the ever-growing list of former Valley Leaguers that have played in the majors!
Brad Mills (Harrisonburg 05) is making his major league debut right now, against the Philadelphia Phillies!
Brad has made a rapid ascent through the minors, starting as a 4th round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007. He's known as a cerebral player- a smart lefty who knows how to pitch.
Congratulations, Brad!
Yesterday's post was covering Luke Scott's (Staunton 99) two home run day. Today's post is about.... another Luke Scott two home run day!
Last night, Scott hit a grand slam and solo shot against Detroit's Dontrelle Willis, historically a very tough pitcher against lefthanded batters. (Scott is a lefty.) In fact, Willis, going in to the game, had allowed 7 home runs in over 700 plate appearances against lefties over his career- and Scott took him deep twice!
Scott's numbers after this tear: 336/421/664 in 110 at-bats.
What might he do today?
Click here to see the boxscore, game wrap, and video of the blasts!
What are the odds, with only five major league games on the slate last night, that a Valley Leaguer would make headlines?
Pretty good, as long as Luke Scott (Staunton 99) is swinging a hot bat.
Scott led the Baltimore Orioles, starting another rookie pitcher, over the Detroit Tigers, 5-1, with 2 home runs and 4 RBI. Luke went deep in the 2nd, a solo shot, off Armando Galarraga, and hit a 3-run bomb in the 8th inning off Ryan Perry.
Luke is quietly off to an excellent start this season, as he's hitting 318/402/598 in 107 at-bats. He has 6 doubles, 8 home runs, and a 16/19 BB/K ratio.
Click here to see video of the home runs, plus the boxscore!
