A Few Releases

(I'm just going to post like I've not been away for a while...)

While seven former Valley Leaguers made their major league debut in 2011, there is a flip side to the industry- players who are released. Eleven players have been given their walking papers over the past few months. Here they are:

• Mike Schwartz (Harrisonburg 09) was released by the White Sox. Drafted in the 17th round of the 2010 draft, Mike hit 221/373/320 over 277 plate appearances in two seasons. You would think with that OBP, someone might take a flier on Mike...
• Gerard Hall (Luray 07), Kansas City. Gerard was a free agent signing by the Royals in 2009. In 818 plate appearances over parts of three seasons, Gerard hit 239/320/340. He topped out in Wilmington of the Carolina League.
• Derek Hamblen (Waynesboro 08), also Kansas City. Derek was signed as a free agent just this year, and hit just 121/216/167 in 66 at-bats in Burlington of the Appalachian League. 
• Justin Fradejas (Luray 10), also the Kansas City Royals. Justin, like Hamblen, was signed as a free agent just this year. Justin hit very well for Idaho Falls in the Pioneer League, ending with 310/414/429 numbers over 99 plate appearances.
• Jonathan Koscso (Woodstock 09), drafted in the 29th round of the 2011 draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. Koscso, like Fradejas, hit well enough to have another chance, in my opinion. He hit 310/437/380 in 71 at-bats. 
• Travis Smink (Front Royal 06, Luray 08), was released by the Houston Astros. A 31st round draft pick in the 2009 draft, Travis went 6-5, 4.57, with 12 saves and a 1.371 WHIP over parts of three seasons.
• Jacke Healey (Waynesboro 08), also Houston. Jacke, a 27th round draft pick in the 2010 draft, hit 163/228/302 in 295 at-bats over two seasons. 
• Alex Jones (Covington 09), released by Milwaukee. A 27th round pick in the 2010 draft, Alex went 2-3, 3.98, with 2 saves and a 1.361 WHIP over parts of two seasons. 
• Matt Holland (Front Royal 10), released by the Philadelphia Phillies. Matt was drafted this past June in the 22nd round, and hit 236/309/409 in 110 at-bats in the Gulf Coast League.
• Nick Cicio (Staunton 10), released by the Minnesota Twins. Nick, a free agent signing this summer, went 2-0, 1.74, with a 0.871 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings pitched. This was in the Gulf Coast League.
• Matt Browning (Staunton 08), released by the Seattle Mariners. Drafted in the 43rd round in 2010, Matt hit 263/347/365 in 478 plate appearances.