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2003 season September 29, 2003
The cream of the crop of minor league baseball prospects descended on the Phoenix area last week as the six Arizona Fall League teams began workouts in preparation for tomorrow's season-opening games. Among the top rated players already in the area are 2002 overall number one draft choice B.J. Upton (Devil Rays - SS), Casey Kotchman (Angels - 1B), Dallas McPherson (Angels - 3B), Jeff Mathis (Angels - C), Sergio Santos (Diamondbacks - SS), Brad Hawpe (Rockies - OF), Ben Christensen (Cubs - P), Boof Bonser (Giants - P), Terry Tiffee (Twins - 3B) and Nook Logan (Tigers - OF). Another wave of AFL players will be reporting this week with the conclusion of the major league season. Among the Fall Leaguers that finished the year in the big leagues are Rob Bowen (Twins - C), Stephen Smitherman (Reds - OF), Rickie Weeks (Brewers - 2B), Dernell Stenson (Reds - OF), J.R. House (Pirates - C), Colin Porter (Astros - OF) and Pete LaForest (Devil Rays - C).
The 30 prospective members of Team USA will begin drills at Maryvale Stadium later this week in preparation for their 12 games against AFL opponents from October 10th through the 23rd. Hall of Famer Frank Robinson will be managing the squad that will compete next month in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Panama ... Kotchman's AFL season got off to a rough start when the Angels' first base prospect was struck in the mouth by a bad hop groundball during yesterday morning's fielding drills. He was able to get back on his feet, sitting upright with a towel held to his mouth during the cart ride back to the Giants' Indian Bend Park clubhouse .... Tampa Bay's 2001 number one draft pick Dewon Brazelton (Devil Rays - P) is looking at making up for a rocky 2003 season with a strong performance in the Fall. The big right-hander from Middle Tennessee State started 10 games for Tampa Bay, recording a 1-6 record with a 6.89 ERA, before being banished to high Class A and Class AA to finish the year. He was not called up after rosters were expanded on September 1st.
"There's been a lot of animosity towards me this year the way my year went," said Brazelton. "I've got a chance to finish the year on a good note and show these guys what I can still do." Brazelton is excited about the opportunity to play in Arizona, stating, "This is one of the best leagues you can have other than the big leagues. I just want to come out here and compete and do well." .... While a majority of Arizona Fall League players are either coming from AA or AAA, the Los Angeles Dodgers have sent a pair of their younger top prospects to the Scottsdale Scorpions in 20-year-old Willy Aybar (Dodgers - 3B) and 19-year-old James Loney (Dodgers - 1B), both of whom spent the 2003 season in high Class A. Loney and Aybar are looking forward to the chance of learning from their more advanced teammates. "Some of these guys have been in the big leagues," remarked Loney. "I'll try to learn everything I can from them." Aybar enthusiastically added his goals for his time in the AFL, stating, "I want to work every day, play hard ... and play like 25 games." ....
The 180 players on AFL rosters aren't the only ones hoping to use their experience in Arizona to advance to the big leagues. Scottsdale Scorpion manager Rick Burleson, a skipper in the Cincinnati minor league system, plans to gain valuable experience and make the necessary contacts to some day move up to the major league level. "I'd ultimately like to manage in the big leagues," said Burleson. "I've learned a lot in the seven years I've done this and I think I'm very capable of being a big league manager." Burleson acknowledged that earning a big league managing job is almost a matter of being in the right place at the right time. "You've got to have a lot of things happen," Burleson continued, "and have a lot of people in your corner ... pulling for you. Plus, you've got to be lucky for a situation to open up in your own organization." Burleson doesn't expect to have any trouble adapting to the players assigned to his Scottsdale team from other organizations. His formula for success is quite simple. "They know where I stand from day one," said Burleson. "I just expect them to play hard and play to win. If those things all come to fruition, then we'll be in pretty good shape." ------------------------------- The 12th season of the Arizona Fall League kicks off this Tuesday with afternoon games at Mesa and Peoria and a night game at Scottsdale. Play ball! --- Bill Mitchell All photos on the Arizona Fall League Report are credited to Bill Mitchell, unless noted otherwise, and are not to be used for any other purpose without express permission.
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