Cavaliers in the Pros: Season in Review

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The professional baseball season has come to a thrilling end following the St. Louis Cardinals’ seven-game World Series win over the Texas Rangers. It also was a great year for former Virginia Cavaliers in both Major League Baseball as well as Minor League Baseball. Six former Wahoos reached the Major League level, including Brandon Guyer, Michael Schwimer and Mike Ballard, who all earned their first big-league callups. In all, 33 former Virginia players were represented on professional rosters at the conclusion of the 2011 season.

Eight Cavaliers from the 2011 team were selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, including Danny Hultzen, who was taken second overall by the Seattle Mariners. Hultzen is the highest draft pick in Virginia baseball history. UVa had five players taken in the first 10 rounds of the ’11 draft.

Here is a quick season in review for the former Cavaliers who competed in professional baseball during the 2011 season.

Major League Baseball

Brandon Guyer (2005-07)
Tampa Bay Rays
• Homered off of Baltimore Oriole Zach Britton in his first major league at bat (5/7/11); 108th player in Major League history and third player in team history (Esteban Yan and Elijah Dukes) to homer in his first at-bat; first player to homer in his first plate appearance in team history
• Was traded by the Cubs to Tampa Bay in the Matt Garza deal prior to the season
• In his first season of Triple-A ball, Guyer batted .312 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI in 107 games at Durham
• Named Triple-A All-Star
• Called up from Triple-A Durham three times this season
• Ranked seventh among Rays prospects by MLB.com prior to this season
• Finished the season hitting .195 with two home runs and three RBI in 41 at bats with Tampa Bay
• Appeared in 15 games for the Rays

Javier Lopez (1996-98)
San Francisco Giants
• Season stats: 2.72 ERA, 53.0 IP, 1.28 WHIP, 40 K
• Appeared in 70 games with a 5-2 record
• Did not give up a home run in 53.0 innings
• Lefties hit .163 against him

Mark Reynolds (2001-04)
Baltimore Orioles
• Season stats: .221 AVG, 37 HR, 86 RBI, 6 steals
• Hit fourth-most home runs in the American League with 37
• Drew 14th-most walks in the AL with 75 and scored 19th-most runs in the AL with 84
• Tied Ian Kinsler (Texas) for the most multi-homer games in the season with five

Michael Schwimer (2005-08)
Philadelphia Phillies
• Called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on August 17, 2011
• Finished his first season in the majors with a 5.02 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 16 K
• Pitched 14.1 innings in 12 appearances for the Phillies
• Made his first Major League appearance at Washington Nationals on Oct. 1; pitched three innings and retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced (struck out the side in the seventh inning)
• Went 9-1 with 10 saves and 1.88 ERA in 46 appearances with Lehigh Valley
• Struck out 86 batters in 67 innings and held opponents to a .202 average with Lehigh Valley
• Named Baseball America Triple-A All-Star for Lehigh Valley

Ryan Zimmerman (2003-05)
Washington Nationals
• Hit .289 with 12 home runs, 49 RBI and 52 runs in 395 at bats
• Named National League Player of the Week on Aug. 22
• Hit a game-winning ninth-inning grand slam against the Phillies on Aug. 19 and a walk-off single on Sept. 3 against the Mets
• Was sidelined for more than two months when he tore his left abdominal while sliding on April 9

Minor League Baseball

David Adams (2005-07)
Tampa Yankees (A Advanced)
N.Y. Yankees – Florida State League
• Started the season with the Gulf Coast League Yankees where he hit .429 with 13 runs, 11 RBI and one home run in 56 at-bats
• Called up to the Tampa Yankees (A Advanced) where he hit .308 with six runs and four RBI in 52 at-bats
• Was called up to East Coast League Trenton Thunder (AA) at the end of the season after rehabbing a leg injury in the GCL and FSL

Kevin Arico (2008-10)
AZL Reds (Rookie)
Cincinnati Reds – Arizona League
• Did not pitch because of injury

Mike Ballard (2003-06)
Bowie Baysox (AA)
Baltimore Orioles – Eastern League
• Earned first Major League call-up on July 31 at Yankee Stadium but did not make a game appearance during this stint
• Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week on July 18
• Played for the International League’s Norfolk Tides (AAA) until joining the Bowie Baysox on June 5
• Norfolk stats: 10 G, 9 GS, 51.1 IP, 4.91 ERA, 38 K, 2-4 record
• Bowie stats: 17 G, 16 GS, 108.0 IP, 3.33 ERA, 112 K, 8-3 record, 0.94 WHIP
• Led Bowie in strikeouts (112) and WHIP (0.94)

John Barr (2008-11)
Mahoning Valley Scrappers (A)
Cleveland Indians – New York-Penn League
• Hit .241 with 19 runs, 24 RBI and five stolen bases in 162 at-bats

Tyler Cannon (2007-10)
Kinston Indians (A Advanced)
Cleveland Indians – Carolina League
• Played for the Lake County Captains (A) of the Midwest League and the Akron Aeros (AA) of the Eastern League in addition to the Kinston Indians
• Lake Country stats: .366 AVG, 18 runs, 17 RBI, .456 OBP, two SB, three HR in 93 at-bats
• Akron stats: .278 AVG, three runs, three doubles, two RBI in 18 at-bats
• Kinston stats: .246 AVG, 36 runs, six HR, four triples, 39 RBI in 309 at-bats

Andrew Carraway (2006-09)
Jackson Generals (AA)
Seattle Mariners – Southern League
• Had a 3.66 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 106 Ks in 137.2 IP
• Named Jackson Generals Pitcher of the Year
• Appeared in 28 games (started 21) and finished the season with a 9-5 record
• Held hitters to a .237 average
• Southern League Mid-Season All-Star
• Second-lowest ERA on the team (3.66)
• Led the team in WHIP (1.08)
• Pitched a complete game, one-hit shutout in which he struck out six and walked none against the Carolina Mudcats on June 17

David Coleman (2007-11)
Lake County Fielders (Independent)
North American Baseball League
• Hit .286 with nine runs and five RBI in 49 at-bats

Neal Davis (2007-10)
GCL Phillies (Rookie)
Philadelphia Phillies – Gulf Coast League
• Did not pitch because of injury

Sean Doolittle (2005-07)
Sacramento River Cats (AAA)
Oakland Athletics – Pacific Coast League
• Did not play in regular season because of injury
• Currently making switch from position player to pitcher

Jeremy Farrell (2006-08)
Altoona Curve (AA)
Pittsburgh Pirates – Eastern League
• Altoona stats: .260 AVG, 40 runs, 18 2B, five HR, 38 RBI, four SB in 312 AB
• Named Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star
• Sidelined for over a month with a right hand injury

Phil Gosselin (2008-10)
Lynchburg Hillcats (A Advanced)
Atlanta Braves – South Atlantic League
• Hit .264 with 60 runs, 24 2B, six 3B, six HR, 63 RBI, six SB in 424 AB
• Third on the team in runs scored (60), hits (112), total bases (166), walks (37)
• Tied for team-leader in triples (6)
• Tied for second-most RBI on team (63)
• Invited to play in Arizona Fall League

Dan Grovatt (2008-10)
West Virginia Power (A)
Pittsburgh Pirates – South Atlantic League
• Hit .284 with 70 runs, 30 doubles, five triples, eight home runs, 67 RBI and 21 stolen bases in 476 at bats
• Named South Atlantic League Mid-Season All-Star
• Led the team in runs scored (70), hits (135), RBI (67), total bases (199)
• Second on team in doubles (30), home runs (8)
• Tenth-most hits in the league (135)

John Hicks (2009-11)
Clinton Lumberjacks (A)
Seattle Mariners – Midwest League
• Hit .309 with 21 runs, nine doubles, two triples, two home runs, 26 RBIs in 139 at-bats
• Second-best average on team (.309)
• Fourth on the team in slugging (.446)

Danny Hultzen (2009-11)
Seattle Mariners
• Did not pitch during the minor-league season, but was invited to the Arizona Fall League
• Went 1-0 with 1.40 ERA in AFL; pitched 19.1 innings, allowing three ER, 16 hits and five walks while striking out 18
• Batters hit .225 against him in AFL
• Worked four shutout innings in two of his six starts
• Named to AFL All-Prospect Team and Rising Stars Game

Casey Lambert (2004-07)
Norfolk Tides (AAA)
Baltimore Orioles – International League
• Did not pitch because of injury

Jeff Lorick (2007-09)
Boise Hawks (A)
Chicago Cubs – Northwest League
• Had a 5.38 ERA and an 8-6 record with 75 strikeouts in 113.2 innings pitched with the Daytona Cubs of the Florida State League
• Went 6-3 in 18 games as a starter at Daytona
• Second on Daytona in innings pitched (113.2)
• Led Daytona in games started (18)
• Traded to Chicago Cubs on Aug. 19 as part of Derrek Lee deal

Pat McAnaney (2005-08)
Mobile BayBears (AA)
Arizona Diamondbacks – Southern League
• Did not pitch because of injury

Greg Miclat (2005-07)
Bowie Baysox (AA)**
Baltimore Orioles – Eastern League
• Hit .280 with 78 runs, 16 2B, three 3B, two HR, 24 RBI, 50 SB in 421 AB
• Hit .317 with a .412 OBP in 139 at-bats against lefties
• Named Eastern League Player of the Week on 7/11/11
• Led the team in stolen bases (50 out of 53) and walks (54)
• Second-most stolen bases in the league (50)
• Third-most hits on the team (118)
**Miclat was traded to the Texas Rangers on Dec. 11 (full story)

Mike Mitchell (2004-07)
Tulsa Drillers (AA)
Colorado Rockies – Texas League
• Hit .214 with 33 runs, nine 2B, two 3B, three HR, 21 RBI, 16 SB in 224 AB

Robert Morey (2008-10)
Greensboro Grasshoppers (A)
Florida Marlins – South Atlantic League
• Had a 5.14 ERA, 140.0 IP, 107 K, 7-7 record in 26 games (25 GS)
• Pitched a complete-game, five-hit shutout against the Savannah Sand Gnats with 9 strikeouts on 7/29/11
• Led the team in innings pitched (140.0), games started (25) and strikeouts (107)

Matt Packer (2007-09)
Akron Aeros (AA)
Cleveland Indians – Eastern League
• Finished with a 4.31 ERA, 1 CG, 169.1 IP, 129 K, and a 9-12 record
• 3.91:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio
• Led the league in IP (169.1) and was second on the team in strikeouts (129)

Jarrett Parker (2008-10)
San Jose Giants (A Advanced)
San Francisco Giants – California League
• Hit .253 with 81 runs, 25 2B, three 3B, 13 HR, 61 RBI, 20 SB in 486 AB
• Led the team in walks (74)

Steven Proscia (2009-11)
High Desert Mavericks (A Advanced)
Seattle Mariners – California League
• Hit .303 with 28 runs, 11 2B, one 3B, 12 HR, 42 RBI, three SB in 185 AB
• Hit .400 with six HR and 20 RBI in 60 at-bats versus lefties

Will Roberts (2009-11)
Mahoning Valley Scrappers (A)
Cleveland Indians – New York-Penn League
• Finished with a 3.27 ERA and 29 K, 1-3 record in nine games (8 GS) and 41.1 IP
• Held opponents to a .247 average
• Named New York-Penn League Pitcher of the Week on 8/8/11
• Had a 2.70 ERA as a starter

Beau Seabury (2006-07)
Modesto Nuts (A Advanced)
Colorado Rockies – California League
• Hit .274 with 21 runs 8 2B, 2 HR, 20 RBI in 106 AB
• Hit .385 in 26 at-bats against lefties

Kenny Swab (2010-11)
Burlington Royals (Rookie)
Kansas City Royals – Appalachian League
• Hit .243 with 11 runs, three 2B, one HR, 15 RBI in 111 AB
• Hit .344 in 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position

Tyler Wilson (2008-11)
Aberdeen IronBirds (A)
Baltimore Orioles – New York-Penn League
• Started the season with the Gulf Coast League Orioles (Rookie) before moving up to the Aberdeen IronBirds
• In six games with Aberdeen (6 GS), he pitched 30 innings, had a 2.10 ERA and struck out 24
• Held hitters to a .176 average with Aberdeen
• He had a six-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio with Aberdeen
• Led Aberdeen with a 0.77 WHIP (minimum 8.0 IP)
• In two games with the GCL Orioles, Wilson pitched three innings, struck out three and did not give up a hit

Cody Winiarski (2010-11)
Great Falls Voyagers (Rookie)
Chicago White Sox – Pioneer League
• In 17 games with the Voyagers, Winiarski pitched 20.0 innings, had 29 K, a 1.80 ERA, two saves and a 1-1 record
• Had a 7.25:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio
• Didn’t give up a single run in his first seven appearances
• Held opponents to a .224 average
• Tied for a team-best 1.05 WHIP among pitchers with over two innings
• Team went on to win league championship