2012 Information Guide
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2012 INFORMATION GUIDE Mesa Peoria Phoenix Salt River Scottsdale Surprise Solar Sox Javelinas Desert Dogs Rafters Scorpions Saguaros BRYCE HARPER INTRODUCING THE UA SPINE HIGHLIGHT SUPER-HIGH. RIDICULOUSLY LIGHT. This season, Bryce Harper put everyone on notice while wearing the most innovative baseball cleats ever made. Stable, supportive, and shockingly light, they deliver the speed and power that will define the legends of this generation. Under Armour® has officially changed the game. Again. AVAILABLE 11.1.12 OFFICIAL PERFORMANCE Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission ® of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. Visit MLB.com FOOTWEAR SUPPLIER OF MLB E_02_Ad_Arizona.indd 1 10/3/12 2:27 PM CONTENTS Inside Q & A .......................................2-5 Organizational Assignments ......3 Fall League Staff .........................5 Arizona Fall League Schedules ................................6-7 Through The Years Umpires .....................................7 Diamondbacks Saguaros Lists.......................................8-16 Chandler . 1992–94 Peoria.................2003–10 Desert Dogs Phoenix ...................1992 Top 100 Prospects ....................11 Mesa . .2003 Maryvale............1998–2002 Player Notebook ..................17-29 Phoenix ..... 1995–2002, ’04–11 Mesa . .1993–97 Mesa Solar Sox ....................31-48 Javelinas Surprise...................2011 Peoria Javelinas ...................49-66 Tucson . 1992–93 Scorpions Peoria...............1994–2011 Scottsdale . 1992–2004, ’06–11 Phoenix Desert Dogs ...........67-85 Rafters Surprise...................2005 Salt River Rafters ...............87-104 Grand Canyon (Surprise)....1992, Solar Sox Scottsdale Scorpions .......105-123 . .1997–2010 Sun Cities..............1992–98 Surprise Saguaros ...........125-142 Salt River (East Scottsdale) . 2011 Mesa . .1999–2011 Tempe . 1993–96 Team USA 2011 Review ...................143-174 League opponent.......2003, ’07 Records ...........................175-192 Team China History ............................193-336 League opponent...........2007 All-Time Roster................261-336 2011 Champion Salt River Rafters Credits The 2012 Arizona Fall League Media Guide is published by the communications department. Editor: Paul Jensen. Associate Editors: Sarah Evans, Dylan Higgins and Nathan Rowan. Graphic design & printing: Ben Franklin Press, Tempe, Arizona. Statistics: Courtesy of MLB Advanced Media. Gratitude: The Arizona Fall League thanks Phoenix attorney and baseball fan Michael Holden for his years of statistical compilation. mlbfallball.com u Facebook.com/mlbfallball u Twitter.com/mlbazfallleague 20TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON 1 ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE Arizona Fall League Q & A Q: What is the Arizona Fall League (AFL)? A: Major League Baseball created the Arizona Fall League in 1992 to serve as an off-season “graduate school” for top prospects. The AFL often is known as a showcase league because its players have the opportunity to display their skills for baseball scouts, general managers and farm directors. For baseball fans, it’s a 40-day Valley of the Sun homestand featuring many of baseball’s elite prospects. Q: What is the genesis of the Arizona Fall League? A: Long-time baseball executive, current special assistant to the president of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Phoenix resident Roland Hemond is considered the “Architect of the Fall League.” His dream to create a six-week off-season league for baseball’s top prospects in Arizona each fall became reality when the Arizona Fall League began play in 1992 after he spent two years selling the concept to baseball’s hierarchy — first general managers, then owners. After veteran baseball front-office executive Mike Port shepherded the Fall League through its maiden voyage in 1992, former Cincinnati Reds traveling secretary and Triple-A Columbus Clippers’ executive Steve Cobb was hired as the Fall League’s director. Q: Who oversees the Arizona Fall League? A: Major League Baseball owns and operates the Arizona Fall League. Cobb has been the executive director since 1993. Major League Baseball’s Arizona Fall League oversight committee is comprised of four club front office executives: Josh Byrnes (Padres), Michael Hill (Marlins), Terry Ryan (Twins), Mark Shapiro (Indians). Q: How many players have played in the Arizona Fall League? A: Over 3,500 players have appeared in the Arizona Fall League. Over 2,100 have reached the major leagues, meaning over 60 percent of players assigned to the Fall League reach the big leagues. Q: How are the teams assembled? A: Each major league organization sends seven prospects to the Arizona Fall League. Five-organization groupings comprise the six AFL teams. Q: What contributions has the Fall League made to baseball off the field? A: Thirty-one former AFL managers and players have become major-league managers, including 10 during the 2012 season — Dusty Baker (Reds), Tony DeFrancesco (Astros), Fredi Gonzalez (Braves), Mike Matheny (Cardinals), Don Mattingly (Dodgers), Bob Melvin (Athletics), Brad Mills (Astros), Ron Roenicke (Brewers), Mike Scioscia (Angels), Eric Wedge (Mariners) and Ron Washington (Rangers). There have been 157 former AFL managers and coaches who have coached in the major leagues, including 76 in 2012. Ten ex-AFL trainers were head trainers in the major leagues in 2012. Thirty-eight umpires were in the major leagues in 2012 as well. Fifty-four percent of 2011 MLB umpires received specialized training in the Arizona Fall League before reaching the major leagues. And, 86 former AFL administrators are present or past full-time employees in the baseball industry. Q: What impact has the Arizona Fall League had on Major League Baseball? A: As the Arizona Fall League stages its 20th anniversary season in 2012, the contribution the league has made to major-league baseball is undeniable. Approximately 60 percent of Fall League players — over 2,100 — have become major leaguers, including over 68 players from a year ago who reached the big leagues in 2012. There were 397 former Fall Leaguers on MLB Opening Day rosters in 2012. There have been 182 ex-Fall Leaguers named to major league all-star teams, including 37 in 2012. Former Fall Leaguers also have won numerous MLB awards, including 10 MVPs (Ryan Braun, Jason Giambi, Josh Hamilton, Ryan Howard, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Dustin Pedroia, Albert Pujols, Jimmy Rollins, Joey Votto), 3 Cy Young Awards (Chris Carpenter, Roy Halladay, Brandon Webb), 3 World Series MVPs, 8 All-Star Game MVPs, 22 rookies-of-the-year, 9 batting champions, 12 hits leaders, 8 RBI leaders, 7 home-run leaders, 11 stolen-base leaders, 55 Silver Sluggers, and 52 Gold Gloves. 2 2012 ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE INFORMATION GUIDE 2012 Arizona Fall League Organizational Assignments East Division Mesa Solar Sox Salt River Rafters Scottsdale Scorpions (Hohokam Stadium) (Salt River Fields at (Scottsdale Stadium) u Baltimore Orioles Talking Stick) u Cleveland Indians u Chicago Cubs u Arizona Diamondbacks u Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim u Detroit Tigers u Chicago White Sox u New York Yankees u Houston Astros u Colorado Rockies u Pittsburgh Pirates u Los Angeles Dodgers u Toronto Blue Jays u San Francisco Giants Manager u Washington Nationals Manager Rodney Linares (Astros) Manager Carlos Mendoza (Yankees) Pitching Coaches Matt Williams (D-backs) Pitching Coach Matt Herges (Dodgers) Pitching Coach Mike Couchee (Giants) Hitting Coach Mark Grater (Nationals) Hitting Coach Brian Harper (Cubs) Hitting Coach Phil Clark (Indians) Trainers Jon Nunnally (Blue Jays) Trainers Aaron Scott (Orioles) Trainers Bryan Housand (Pirates) Corey Tremble (Tigers) Cory Barton (White Sox) Mike Metcalfe (Angels) Chris Dovey (Rockies) West Division Peoria Javelinas Phoenix Desert Dogs Surprise Saguaros (Peoria Sports Complex) (Phx Municipal Stadium) (Surprise Stadium) u Cincinnati Reds u Atlanta Braves u Boston Red Sox u Minnesota Twins u Oakland Athletics u Kansas City Royals u Philadelphia Phillies u Miami Marlins u New York Mets u San Diego Padres u Milwaukee Brewers u St. Louis Cardinals u Seattle Mariners u Tampa Bay Rays u Texas Rangers Manager Manager Manager Dusty Wathan (Phillies) Aaron Holbert (Braves) Jason Wood (Rangers) Pitching Coach Pitching Coach Pitching Coach Lance Painter (Mariners) Charlie Corbell (Marlins) Jim Brower (Royals) Hitting Coach Don Schulze (Athletics) Hitting Coach Alex Pelaez (Reds) Hitting Coach Joe Kruzel (Cardinals) Trainers Darnell Coles (Brewers) Ryan Ellis (Mets) Ricky Huerta (Padres) Steve Livesey (Rays) Dave Joppie (Red Sox) Alan Rail (Twins) Trainers Trainers Nate Brooks (Athletics) Brandon Henry (Red Sox) Chris Tomashoff (Rays) Eric Velazquez (Mets) Q: What is the league’s schedule? A: The six AFL teams each play a six-week, 32-game schedule from October 9-November 17. The seventh annual “Rising Stars Game” will be played at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick at 5:10 p.m. on Saturday, November 3. The league championship game is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. on Saturday, November 17 at Scottsdale Stadium. Q: What is the Robinson Rule? A: No game will exceed 11 innings — the “Robinson Rule.” Games tied after 11 innings will be considered suspended. They will not be made up but statistics will count. 20TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON 3 ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE Q & A (cont.) Q: When are daily start times? A: First pitch for day games is 12:35 p.m. and 6:35 p.m. for night contests. Q: Is the designated hitter rule employed in the Arizona Fall League? A: Yes. Q: Who is eligible to play in the Arizona Fall