Bill Mitchell's Minor League Ramblings

Minor League Ramblings For the week of :
April 8, 2002

Minor League Ramblings is produced by Bill Mitchell for Minor League Watch.

Spring Training Wrap-up
April 13, 2002

We've had the pleasure of meeting many fine individuals around the game of baseball while compiling Minor League Ramblings and the Arizona Fall League Report. With the regular season underway, let's take a look at how some of our favorites fared this spring and where they're now playing.

Bobby Hill

Bobby Hill had a very strong spring season with the Chicago Cubs, but lost out on the starting second base job (for now, at least) to veteran Delino DeShields. The switch-hitter was slowed near the end of spring with a nasty case of the flu, but recently returned to the lineup for AAA Iowa. Not normally known as a big slugger, Hill hit four homers in 63 at bats during spring training.

Orlando Hudson, who was the overwhelming fan favorite in the Arizona Fall League last season, came to the Toronto Blue Jays with a shot at the starting second base job if incumbent Homer Bush didn't perform well or was injured. Hudson struggled at the big league camp, going 0-16 before being sent down. He's now the starting second baseman at AAA Syracuse.

Hudson's new teammate in Toronto, Eric Hinske, told us about "driving the big cars" during the Fall League season while still a member of the Oakland organization. He was subsequently traded to Toronto, won the starting third base job, and is batting .333 with five doubles in nine games from the number two spot in the order.

Trenidad Hubbard

Despite a strong spring season (.310 BA, .902 OPS), Rule 5 choice Jason Grabowski didn't make the cut with the Oakland A's, due mostly to a numbers game with the parent club. Because the left-handed hitter was out of options, he declared free agency and then signed a minor league deal with Oakland. He's currently with AAA Sacramento, getting some experience behind the plate as well as in the outfield. Grabowski is batting .242, and hit his first two homeruns of the season in yesterday's game against Nashville.

Grabowski's winter league teammate in Hermosillo, Mexico, Trenidad Hubbard, came to the San Diego Padres camp in a difficult situation, filling the roster spot vacated due to the tragic death of outfielder Mike Darr. A positive force in the clubhouse, Hubbard was also one of baseball's hottest hitters during the Cactus League season, batting .415 with three homers and 15 RBIs in 53 at bat. The right-handed hitting utility man earned a spot of the Padres' 25-man roster, and is being used primarily as a pinch-hitter.

Another minor league veteran who spends his winters playing in Hermosillo, infielder / outfielder Bryant Nelson, signed a minor league deal with Boston in the off-season, hoping to impress the organization in spring training and earn a job with the parent club. But the switch-hitter got caught in the front office and managerial changes in Boston and was sent back to the minor league camp midway through spring training. He's currently playing at AAA Pawtucket in the International League.

Nick Neugebauer

Milwaukee's top pitching prospect Nick Neugebauer was late in starting the spring season as he was recovering from last September's shoulder surgery, followed by a virus that put him on the shelf for a period during March. The right-hander pitched twice during the last two weeks of spring training, a shaky start against the Chicago White Sox and an exemplary four-inning performance against the same team, when he also hit a homerun. Neugebauer pitched well in his first regular season game, losing to Randy Johnson and the world champion Arizona Diamondbacks, then was knocked out in the third inning this past Thursday in St. Louis.

Houston infielder David Matranga reported from spring training in late March, "Things are going well out here in Florida ... working hard and getting ready for the upcoming season. Its looking right now like I'll be in New Orleans, but you know how baseball is, and how everything can change with the blink of an eye ..." Matranga did indeed wind up at the Astros' AAA affiliate in New Orleans, playing in a utility infield role. While he's only gotten 15 at bats so far, the right-handed hitter has already smacked a pair of homers.

Anaheim pitching prospect Chris Bootcheck appeared in three games with the major league team before being sent back to the minor league camp. He's now pitching for AA Arkansas in the hitter-friendly Texas League, and is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA after two starts.

Personable southpaw Josh Kalinowski made three appearances with Colorado in spring training. Late in March he underwent rotator cuff surgery and is expected to miss the entire season. The Rockies removed the 25-year-old Kalinowski, who missed most of the 2000 season to injury, from the 40-man roster.

--- Bill Mitchell