SECTION T, PAGE 24 toledoBlade.com THE BLADE: TOLEDO, OHIO ■ Wednesday, April 4, 2012 meet the mud hens Duane Below Quintin Berry Chris Bootcheck Brooks Brown Audy Ciriaco Outfielder Pitcher Pitcher Infielder ■■Ht.Wt.: 6-2, 205 ■■Ht.Wt.: 6-0, 175 ■■Ht.Wt.: 6-5, 210 ■■Ht.Wt.: 6-3, 212 ■■Ht.Wt.: 6-3, 195 ■■B/T: L/L ■■B/T: L/L ■■B/T: R/R ■■B/T: L/R ■■B/T: R/R ■ Spent the first ■ Hit .297 in 93 ■ Pitched in 16 ■ Posted a 3-9 ■ Split last sea- half of last sea- games for Dou- games, with sev- record with 5.67 son between son with Mud ble-A Carolina, en starts, for ERA in 17 starts the Hens and Hens and was Cincinnati’s team Durham last sea- for Double-A Erie Double-A Erie. 9-4 with a 3.13 in the Southern son, posting a last season. … … Hit .277 with ERA in 18 starts. League. … Led 3-2 record with Went 12-9 with five homers and … Promoted to that league with one save and a a 4.15 ERA in 55 RBIs in 101 Detroit on Ju- 40 stolen bases 3.57 ERA. … Left 28 starts for the games with the ly 20 and spent and was fourth Bulls at the end SeaWolves in SeaWolves, then rest of the sea- in on-base per- of June to pitch 2010. … Traded batted .093 in 14 son with Tigers, centage (.399). in Korea for the to Detroit from games in Toledo. posting an 0-2 … Also hit a ca- Lotte Giants. Arizona in April … Also played record with 4.34 ERA. … 7-12 with reer-best six home runs last sea- … Spent parts of four seasons in of 2009 and split that season be- in seven games with the Mud Hens a 4.93 ERA in 28 starts for Double- son. … Has had 48 stolen bases or the majors with the Angels (2003, tween the Hens and Erie. … Post- in 2009 and one game the follow- A Erie in 2010 after missing most of more in three seasons, with a high 2005-08) and Pirates in 2009. … ed a 3-13 record and 4.71 ERA in ing year. … His most productive 2009 because of Tommy John sur- of 55 for Lo-A Lakewood, which Best season as a reliever was 2009, 20 games for Toledo that season. season was 2009, when he hit .262 gery. … Was Detroit’s minor league led the South Atlantic League. … when he was 3-2 with 20 saves and … Was 5-0 with a 2.21 ERA in six with 11 homers and 59 RBIs for Hi- pitcher of the year in 2007 after Played in four games for Louisville a 3.38 ERA for Indianapolis. … In starts for the SeaWolves in 2009. A Lakeland. … Has played short- posting a 13-5 record and 2.97 ERA last season and hit .056 but stole 246 minor league appearances has … Was the 34th overall pick in the stop most of his career, but will see with Lo-A West Michigan. two bases. 60-46 record and 4.68 ERA. 2006 draft by the Diamondbacks. extensive time at third this year.

Casey Crosby Argenis Diaz Brad Eldred Jerad Head Justin Henry Pitcher Infielder Infielder Oufielder Infielder ■■Ht.Wt.: 6-5, 218 ■■Ht.Wt.: 6-0, 190 ■■Ht.Wt.: 6-6, 270 ■■Ht.Wt.: 6-0, 210 ■■Ht.Wt.: 6-3, 180 ■■B/T: R/L ■■B/T: R/R ■■B/T: R/R ■■B/T: R/R ■■B/T: L/R ■ Posted 9-7 re- ■ Hit .279 with ■ Hit .278 with ■ Hit .284 with ■ Hit .309 with cord and 4.10 45 runs scored, 23 home runs 24 home runs 46 RBIs and 52 ERA in 25 starts 25 RBIs and 17 and 57 RBIs in and 70 RBIs in runs scored and for Double-A Erie doubles in 98 111 games for 114 games for 21 steals in 113 last season. … games for the Fresno in the Columbus in games with Dou- Had 121 strike- Hens last sea- Pacific Coast 2010. … Finished ble-A Erie. … outs in 131.2 in- son. … Played League last sea- third in the IL in Finished sixth nings with the in 22 games son. … Finished home runs. … in the Eastern SeaWolves. … for Pittsburgh fifth in the PCL Also played in 10 League in bat- Made just three in 2010, hitting with 30 home games for Cleve- ting average. … starts in 2010 .242. … Played runs with Colo- land last year in Also played in six because of el- for Indianapolis rado Springs in his first taste of games with the bow inflammation. … Tigers’ mi- in 2009-10 but began his career in 2010. … Led the IL with 35 home the major leagues. … Named MVP Hens last year and hit. 421. … Split nor league pitcher of the year in the Red Sox organization. … A fine runs and 100 RBIs in 114 games for of the 2010 Triple-A National Cham- time between those two clubs in 2009 after going 10-4 with a 2.41 defensive infielder who played sec- Charlotte in 2008. … Spent three pionship Game after going 3-for-4 2010 and batted .269 with nine sto- ERA and 117 whiffs in 104.2 innings ond, short and third for the Hens years in Indianapolis (2005-07) and with two doubles and four RBIs in len bases for the Hens. … A versa- for Lo-A West Michigan. … A fifth- last season. … America hit 33 home runs in 158 games. … a win over Tacoma. … Named MVP tile fielder who can play all four in- round draft pick in 2007, he missed named him “best defensive infield- Played 74 games in the majors with of 2009 Eastern League playoffs field positions and the outfield as the 2008 season after Tommy John er” in Boston organization three Pittsburgh in 2005 and 2007 and 11 after hitting .345 with nine RBIs in well. … Has stolen at least 18 bases surgery in November of 2007. straight seasons (2006-08). games with Colorado in 2010. seven games. in his first four full pro seasons.

Matt Hoffman Bryan Holaday Fu-Te Ni Andy Oliver Jose Ortega Pitcher Catcher Pitcher Pitcher Pitcher ■■Ht.Wt.: 6-1, 225 ■■Ht.Wt.: 6-0, 205 ■■Ht.Wt.: 6-0, 176 ■■Ht.Wt.: 6-3, 210 ■■Ht.Wt.: 5-11, 155 ■■B/T: L/L ■■B/T: R/R ■■B/T: L/L ■■B/T: L/L ■■B/T: R/R ■ Pitched in one ■ Hit .242 with ■ Posted 6-3 re- ■ 8-12 record ■ Pitched in 33 game for Dou- seven home runs cord with 3.42 with 4.71 ERA games for the ble-A Erie before and 42 RBIs in ERA in 34 games in 26 starts for Hens last sea- getting promot- 95 games for with Hens last Hens last sea- son and was 1-3 ed to Toledo last Double-A Erie season. (2.76 son. … Tied for with a 6.30 ERA. season. … Post- last season. … ERA in 12 games third in the IL … A hard throw- ed a 2-5 record Threw out 35 as a starter.) … with 143 strike- er who struck with a 3.18 ERA of 104 potential Also split time outs. … Started out 44 in 50 in- in 49 appear- base-stealers between Detroit twice for the Ti- nings. … Pitched ances with Hens. (33.7 percent). and Toledo in gers and was 0-1 at three differ- … Struck out 46 … In just second 2009-10. … Went with a 6.52 ERA. ent levels in 2010 in 62.1 innings. full pro season 3-0 with a 2.60 … Had 3-4 re- and had a com- … Finished with 10 holds (enters after he was picked in sixth round ERA for Hens in 2009 and was 0-0 cord with 3.23 ERA while fanning bined mark of 3-4 with a 3.03 ERA game in save situation and gets of 2010 draft. … Named best de- with a 7.50 ERA here the following 49 in 53 innings for Toledo in 2010. and 61 whiffs in 68.1 innings. … at least one out, but leaves before fensive catcher in Tigers organiza- season. … Posted 0-1 record and Five starts for Detroit that year. … Has 134 career minor-league ap- earning save), third-best in the IL. tion after that season, while batting 4.33 ERA in 58 appearances with In just his third full pro season af- pearances but only one start, with … Pitched in three games for Hens .220 with three homers and 12 RBIs the Tigers. … Native of Taiwan who ter Tigers selected him in second Double-A Erie in 2010. … Native of in 2010. … Switched from starter for Hi-A Lakeland. … At TCU in had 12-24 record and 3.43 ERA in round of 2009 draft. … Graduat- Venezuela who signed with the Ti- to reliever in 2010, but has just four 2010, won Johnny Bench award as two seasons pitching in China ed from Vermilion High School, 40 gers at age 17. … Struck out 175 in career saves in 95 appearances. best catcher in college baseball. Professional League. miles east of Cleveland 208.1 career minor-league innings. THE BLADE: TOLEDO, OHIO ■ WEDNESDAY , APRIL 4 , 2012 toledoBlade.com SECTION T , PAGE 25 MEET THE MUD HENS Eric Patterson Luke Putkonen Omir Santos Drew Smyly Ryan Strieby Infielder Pitcher Catcher Pitcher Infielder ■ Ht.Wt.: 6-0, 170 ■ Ht.Wt.: 6-6, 200 ■ Ht.Wt.: 6-0, 213 ■ Ht.Wt.: 6-3, 190 ■ Ht.Wt.: 6-5, 235 ■ B/T: L/R ■ B/T: R/R ■ B/T: R/R ■ B/T: L/L ■ B/T: R/R ■ Played in 47 ■ Split last sea- ■ Hit .245 with ■ Will start one ■ Hit. 255 with 19 games for San son between two homers and game for the home runs and Diego last year, Hi-A Lake- 16 RBIs in 49 Mud Hens before 76 RBIs for the batting .180 land, where he games with the getting a promo- Hens last sea- with two hom- was 2-6 with a Hens last year. tion to Detroit to son. … Led the ers, eight RBIs 5.54 ERA in 18 … Also played become the team in homers, and eight steals. games, and Dou- in 11 games with Tigers’ fifth RBIs, runs (66) … Hit .253 in 51 ble-A Erie, where the Tigers and starter. … Began and walks (60). games with Tri- he went 1-7 with batted .227. … last season with … Also played in ple-A Tucson a 7.57 ERA in 11 Spent time in the Hi-A Lakeland Toledo in 2010, and scored 31 starts. … Spent majors with Bal- and went 7-3 hitting .245 with runs. … Played 2010 with the timore in 2008, with 2.58 ERA in 10 homers and in the majors with the Cubs (2007- Flying Tigers, going 9-7 with a 3.18 but his best season came with the 14 starts for the Flying Tigers. … 49 RBIs in 76 games. … Named the 08), Athletics (2008-10) and Red ERA, the seventh-best mark in the in 2009. That year Promoted to Double-A Erie on July Tigers 2008 minor league player Sox (2010) as well as the Padres. … Florida State League. … 9-7 record he batted .260 with seven hom- 30 and posted 4-3 record and 1.18 of the year after leading the Flori- Has stolen 182 bases in his minor for Lo-A West Michigan in 2009 but ers and 40 RBIs in 96 games. … ERA in eight appearances with the da State League in home runs (29) league career, with a single-season finished third in Midwest League His best season offensively was in SeaWolves. … Last season was his while adding 94 RBIs and seven tri- best of 43 at Sacramento in 2009. with his 3.13 ERA. … Was chosen 2005, when he hit .252 with 10 hom- first as a pro after he was select- ples for Hi-A Lakeland. … Has hit Hit .307 with 12 homers and 56 by the Tigers in the third round of ers and 48 RBIs for Double-A Tren- ed in the second round of the 2010 97 home runs in 588 minor-league RBIs for the RiverCats that year. the 2007 first-year player draft. ton in the Eastern League. draft out of Arkansas. games, or one every six games.

Brayan Villarreal Thad Weber Matt Young Pitcher Pitcher Pitcher Outfielder Weber to enter 38th ■ Ht.Wt.: 6-0, 170 ■ Ht./Wt.: 6-2/200 ■ Ht./Wt.: 6-2/181 ■ Ht./Wt.: 5-8/175 ■ B/T: R/R ■ B/T: R/R ■ B/T: L/L ■ B/T: L/R season in radio booth ■ Began last ■ Spent last ■ Split last sea- ■ Spent most Jim Weber, who has the season with De- season with the son between the of last season longest tenure of any Interna- troit and was 1-1 Mud Hens, post- Hens, where he with Gwinnett, tional League broadcaster, with a 6.75 ERA ing a 5-11 record was 8-6 with a where he hit .273 returns for his 38th year to in 16 relief ap- and a 5.65 ERA 3.24 ERA in 18 with a homer, pearances with anchor the Mud Hens’ radio the Tigers. … in 27 starts. … starts, and De- 24 RBIs, 64 runs and television broadcasts for Optioned to Mud Finished second troit, where he scored and 17 the 2012 season. Hens in May and on the team with had a 5.40 ERA stolen bases Weber has broadcast 4,720 was 3-5 with a 111 . in five relief ap- in 99 games. … Made three pearances. … … Also played consecutive 5.05 ERA in 17 games on appearances. starts for Toledo Named Tigers in 20 games Struck out 40 in 66 innings here but at the end of 2011 and was 2-1 minor league pitcher of the year in with Atlanta, hitting .208 with four the radio. also walked 29. … Split the 2010 with a 1.64 ERA. … Spent most of 2010 thanks to an 11-5 record and runs scored. … Played for Gwin- All 144 season between Hi-A Lakeland, 2010 with Double-A Erie and was 2.74 ERA in 27 starts split between nett in 2010 and hit .300 with 88 games will where he was 7-4 with a 3.47 ERA 9-12 with a 4.08 ERA. … Finished Hi-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie. runs scored and led International be on radio in 16 starts, and Double-A Erie, 7-3 with a 4.06 ERA with the Sea- … 2-0 with a 1.14 ERA with the League in stolen bases (39). … this season, where he went 0-4 but had a 3.71 Wolves in 2009. … A 16th-round SeaWolves and 9-5 with a 3.01 ERA Single-season high 42 stolen bases with WCWA ERA. … Has fanned 359 batters in pick of the Tigers in the 2008 draft. with the Flying Tigers. for Double-A Mississippi in 2009. (1230 AM) 384.2 career innings in the minors. serving as the flagship, station while Weber Phil Nevin Leon “Bull” Durham A.J. Sager Matt Rankin WFOB (1430 Manager ■ Returns for his 12th season as Pitching coach Trainer AM) in Fostoria carrying 32 ■ In his second season with To- the Mud Hens’ hitting coach. … ■ Begins fifth season as Mud Hens ■ Enters his 12th season as Hens’ select games. ledo after lead- In his 17th sea- pitching coach trainer. … 17th All 72 home games will be ing Mud Hens to son as a profes- and his 11th as a year as a trainer a 67-77 record sional coach af- pitching coach in Tigers’ organi- televised on BCSN. last year. … In ter spending five in the Tigers’ or- zation. … Spent Weber will provide the radio his third year as years in the Ana- ganization. … two seasons at play-by-play for all contests, a manager with heim Angels or- Served as pitch- Hi-A Lakeland with the 72 home games simul- Tigers’ organi- ganization be- ing coach for (1999-2000), two cast on TV. For home contests zation after di- fore coming to Double-A Erie seasons at Short Weber will be joined by Jason recting Double- Toledo in 2001. in 2007 and was Season Jame- Griffin, who for the past 13 years A Erie to a 66-76 … Spent 10 sea- the pitching stown (1997-98) mark in 2010. … sons in the ma- coach at Lo-A and one year has also served as Hens director A 12-year pro jors with St. Lou- West Michigan at Hi-A Visalia of public/media relations, or who played for is, the Cubs and from 2002-06. (1998). … Train- Matt Melzak, who enters his Houston, Detroit, Anaheim, San Di- Cincinnati and hit .277 with 147 … Spent all or part of five different er for Honolulu in Hawaii Winter third year on the broadcasts. ego, Texas, Chicago Cubs and Min- home runs. … Named to the NL All- seasons in the majors pitching for League in 1997 and for Leones del Bill Clark will present nesota. … 2001 NL All-Star when Star team in both 1982 and ’83. … San Diego, Colorado and Detroit. Escogido in the Dominican Winter pregame and postgame shows he hit .306 (41 home runs and 126 His best season was in 1984, when … Also pitched for the Mud Hens in League in 2000. … A native of Mar- for the home radio broadcasts RBIs). …First overall pick in 1992 he had 23 home runs and 96 RBIs 1996 and ‘98. … Played both foot- ion, Ohio, who received a bach- draft. … Earned the Golden Spikes for Chicago. … His biggest home- ball and baseball at the University elor’s degree in community health as he has for the previous four award as college baseball’s best run total came in 1987, when he hit of Toledo and is a member of the and a master’s in athletic training seasons. player while at Cal State-Fullerton. 27 for the Cubs. Varsity “T” Hall of Fame. from Ohio University.

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