Balls and Strikes
Get all the college, minor league and local baseball you can handle. From the ACC squads, to small colleges and even Josh Hamilton updates, this is your home for Triangle baseball. Javier Serna, Bill Woodward and the N&O staff will update and maintain the blog.
Send Javier an e-mail. Send Bill an e-mail.
Mudcats host Diamond Jaxx
The red-hot Carolina Mudcats, winners of 16 of their past 19 games, come home to Five County Stadium today for a five-game series against the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.
The homestand ends on Monday, with afternoon games on Sunday (2 p.m.) and Monday (noon).
First, let's take a look at the Mudcats, the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The Mudcats are 33-26, 2 1/2 games behind the Huntsville Stars in the Southern League's North Division.
The prospects on the Mudcats' roster are leading the way offensively.
Outfielder Chris Heisey, rated as the No. 22 prospect in the Reds organization, is leading the league with a .370 batting average and has 11 homers and 34 RBIs. Outfielder Todd Frazier, the Reds' No. 2-rated prospect, is batting .332 with four homers and 33 RBIs. Shortstop Zach Cozart (No. 19 prospect) is hitting .290. Third baseman Juan Francisco (No. 8 prospect) tops the team in homers (12) and RBIs (42).
Travis Wood is the Mudcats' pitching leader, with a 5-3 record and a league-leading 1.22 ERA. Jordan Smith is 4-1 with a 2.95 ERA. Ramon Geronimo (4 saves) and Sean Watson (3 saves) anchor the bullpen.
Now, a look at the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The Jaxx are last in the North Division with a 23-37 record.
Top 20 prospects (organizational rankings by Baseball America):
No. 1 prospect, Greg Halman, outfieder: The native of the Netherlands was signed in 2004. He began playing professionally in the Dutch Major League at the age of 16 in 2003. His batting average is down at .192 this season, but he has 13 homers and 34 RBIs.
No. 4 prospect, Carlos Trunfel, shortstop: Trunfel was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2006. Trunfel, just 19, hit .291 in his first three season in the U.S. This year, he's played in only two games in currently on the disabled list.
Local ties (players from ACC schools or North Carolina high schools or colleges):
Matt Mangini, third baseman. The former Apex High star played at N.C. State before transferring to Oklahoma State. Drafted by the Mariners in the supplemental first round in 2007, Mangini is hitting .249 with two homers and 22 RBIs for West Tenn.
Robert Rohrbaugh, left-handed pitcher, Clemson: Rohrbaugh is 1-2 with 3.43 ERA this season for the Jaxx.
Marshall Hubbard, first baseman, North Carolina: The former Tar Heel is batting .266 with six homers and 28 RBIs.
