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Futures Game: Team USA Bios
The following are player profiles for Team USA for the 2001 Futures Game, which will be played Sunday in Seattle. Statistics are through July 1:
C Toby Hall, Devil RaysNinth round pick in 1997 -- Playing for an organization that has had its share of struggles, Hall remains among the steadiest players in the Devil Rays' system. The five-year veteran has a .309 career average with 52 homers and 292 RBI in 452 games. This season has been the most productive for the 25-year-old backstop. Through Sunday, Hall was hitting .346 with a career-high 16 homers and 60 RBI with Class AAA Durham. He leads all minor leaguers with a ratio of just one strikeout every 23 plate appearances. Since becoming a catcher as a freshman at UNLV, Hall has developed a good sense of the strike zone, a strong presence behind the plate and showed the tools needed to become a front-liner.C J.R. House, PiratesFifth Round pick in 1999 -- House nearly left professional baseball last month to play quarterback at West Virginia University. House, who played baseball at Seabreeze High School in Orlando, Florida and was a standout quarterback at Nitro High School in West Virginia, decided on baseball after meeting with Pittsburgh Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy, interim general manager Roy Smith and manager Lloyd McClendon. House set national high school football records for total offense and career passing yards while hitting .596 with 15 homers and 55 RBI as a high senior. After being named Co-Player of the Year in the South Atlantic League last season, House got off to a slow start in 2001 and made two trips to the disabled list with a pulled rib cage muscle. He finished first in the SAL lst season with 21 home runs, a .348 batting average and .586 slugging percentage last season. He also was third with a .414 on-base percentage, 246 total bases and fourth with 90 RBI. House would have had a shot at the league's Triple Crown had he not missed a month with mononucleosis.3B Hank Blalock, RangersThird round pick in 1999 -- Before the last week of June, Blalock would have been known as a .300 career minor league batter who hits the ball hard to every part of the ballpark. That was all before the 20-year-old Californian hit for the cycle twice in a three-day span, becoming the first player in modern-day minor league history to accomplish the feat. Blalock, who began the season with Class A Charlotte of the Florida State League, was promoted to Class AA Tulsa of the Texas League on June 20. Since then, he has hit .422 (19-for-45) with four homers and 16 RBI, posting an .889 slugging percentage and .469 on-base percentage through July 1. On June 26 against Midland, he hit a three-run homer in the first inning, led off the fifth with a triple, singled in a run in the sixth and stroked a leadoff double in the eighth to complete his first career cycle. Blalock joined former major leaguer Billy Sample (1977) and Mel Barrow (1979) as the only Drillers to ever hit for the cycle. Two nights later, Blalock slugged a game-winning homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to complete a 5-for-5 night and his second cycle.3B Sean Burroughs, PadresFirst round pick in 1998 (9th overall) -- Burroughs missed a month earlier this season with a partially torn left meniscus. Since returning from the disabled list on May 25, the 20-year-old has hit .333 with four home runs and 23 RBI. Through July 1, he was batting .332 with four homers and 29 RBI in 54 games. A native of Long Beach, California, Burroughs twice has been named to SportsTicker's All-Prospect and All-Teen teams. While playing with Class A Fort Wayne in 1999, the 6-2, 200-pounder led the league with a .464 on-base percentage and was second with a .359 batting average. Burroughs' father, Jeff, was the top overall pick in the 1969 amateur draft and later won an American League MVP award. The younger Burroughs led his Long Beach team to consecutive Little League World Series Championships in 1992-93.2B Brent Butler, RockiesThird round pick in 1996 -- Butler is a versatile infielder who, after playing strictly on the left side his first couple of seasons, has finally found a home on the right side. The 23-year-old broke into professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals' organization and was acquired by Colorado after the 1999 season in an eight-player deal involving righthander Darryl Kile. The 6-foot, 180-pound infielder earned MVP honors while playing for Johnson City of the advanced Rookie Level Appalachian in 1996, his first season of pro ball. Butler led the league with 85 hits and was second with 132 total bases and 21 doubles. The following year, he made the jump to the Class A Midwest League and played 129 games for Peoria, hitting .306 with a career-high 15 homers and 71 RBI. In 1998, while with Class A Prince William, his average dipped to .286, although he established a career-high with 76 RBI. Through July 1, Butler was hitting .332 with seven homers and 38 RBI in 64 games for Class AAA Colorado Springs.1B Adrian Gonzalez, MarlinsFirst round pick in 2000 (1st overall) -- Since being selected with the top pick in last year's draft, the 19-year-old Gonzalez has posted a .328 batting average in 543 at-bats. The California native appeared in 53 games for the Marlins in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League before being promoted to Utica of the Class A New York-Penn League in late August. Through July 1, he was leading the minors with 112 hits, was tied for seventh with 72 RBI and ranked in the top 15 with a .349 average. Although he considers himself a line-drive hitter and not a power threat, Gonzalez has 12 homers in 76 games. Many around baseball compare him to Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Mark Grace. At 6-2 and 190 pounds, the lefthanded-hitting Gonzalez has excellent hand strength and quickness and drives the ball to all fields. Like Grace, he is an accomplished defensive first baseman who is agile around the bag.1B Nick Johnson, YankeesThird round pick in 1996 -- After missing the entire 2000 season with a strained muscle in his right hand, Johnson opened his 2001 campaign with Class AAA Columbus. The 6-3, 224 pound lefthanded hitter has struggled a bit this season. He was hitting .258 with 10 homers and 33 RBI in 64 games through July 1. Despite his struggles, Johnson has been able to continue one of his primary traits as a hitter, getting on base. He has drawn 44 walks and posted a .402 on-base percentage. In 1,524 career at-bats, he has 341 walks and 458 hits to go with a .451 OBP. The native of Sacramento, California makes his second trip to the Futures Game after being named to the inaugural team that played in 1999 at Fenway Park.SS Cody Ransom, GiantsNinth round pick in 1998 -- Ransom is in the middle of the best offensive season of his brief four-year professional career. Known primarily for his excellent range and his cat-like reflexes at shortstop, the 25-year-old was hitting .271 with a career-high 13 homers and 49 RBI in 81 games with Class AAA Fresno through July 1. Entering the year, he had 43 stolen bases and was caught 17 times. In 2001, Ransom is 12-for-12 in steals. Upon being drafted out of Grand Canyon College in Arizona in 1998, Ransom appeared in 71 games for Salem-Keizer of the rookie-level Northwest League, hitting .233 with six homers and 27 RBI. A year later, the Arizona native batted .275 with 11 homers in 99 games at Class A Bakersfield before being promoted to Class AA Shreveport in mid-August. He spent the entire 2000 campaign with the Captains and hit just .200 with 58 runs and 47 RBI in 139 games. One of the major problems for Ransom has been making contact. For his career, he has struck out 414 times and drawn just 161 walks in 1,387 at-bats.2B Chase Utley, PhilliesFirst round pick in 2000 (15th overall) -- Utley had an outstanding career at UCLA and finished the 2000 college season with a .382 batting average, 22 home runs, 69 RBI and 108 hits -- tied for second-best in school history. He earned first team All-America honors. The 22-year-old carried his hot hitting right into his first full professional season, posting a .307 average with a pair of homers and 22 RBI in 40 games with Class A Batavia of the New York-Penn League. The California native has struggled a bit in 2001, hitting just .228 in 74 games through July 1. His power numbers, however, have increased this season. The 6-1, 185 pounder has 15 doubles, nine homers and 33 RBI.OF Joe Borchard, White SoxFirst round pick in 2000 (12th overall) -- Borchard was drafted out of high school by the Baltimore Orioles but refused to sign, choosing instead to play football and baseball at Stanford. He is best known in the collegiate ranks as being one of only a handful of athletes to participate in both the Rose Bowl and the College World Series. As a junior in 2000, the 22-year-old Californian started 66 games for a Cardinal baseball team that reached the national championship game before falling to Louisiana State, 6-5. On the football field, Borchard gained national recognition by throwing for 324 yards and five touchdowns in a game against UCLA in the fall of 1999. After he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, Borchard played in seven games in the rookie-level Arizona League before skipping to Class A Winston-Salem of the Carolina League and then on to Class AA Birmingham. In 27 games among the three leagues, he hit .311 with two homers and 18 RBI. Through July 1, the 6-5, 220-pound switch-hitter posted a .285 batting average with 15 homers and 54 RBI for Birmingham.OF Adam Dunn, RedsSecond round pick in 1998 -- Dunn has made an impact everywhere he has gone this season, both with teams within his own organization and in visiting ballparks. The Texas native began the year with Class AA Chattanooga and hit .343 with 12 homers and 31 RBI in 39 games. The 21-year-old was promoted to Class AAA Louisville in mid-May and has hit .337 with 17 homers and 48 RBI in 43 games. Through July 1, he was second in the minors with 29 home runs and 79 RBI and seventh with 104 hits. Dunn was a two-time Southern League Player of the Week and already has won the award three times in the International League. The 6-6, 220-pound lefthanded hitter was offered a scholarship to play quarterback at the University of Texas after graduating from high school. He redshirted as a freshman in 1998 and left school a year later to concentrate on baseball. Dunn hit .281 with 16 homers and 79 RBI in 122 games for Class A Dayton last season.OF Jason Lane, AstrosSixth round pick in 1999 -- In his third season of pro ball, Lane quickly has become known for his ability to drive in runs. After being drafted in 1999, he appeared in 74 games for Class A Auburn and led the New York-Penn League with 59 RBI. A year later, while playing for Class A Michigan, he led the Midwest League with 104 RBI. Through July 1, the 24-year-old led all minor leaguers with 86 RBI in 81 games while playing for Class AA Round Rock. His season was highlighted by a 4-for-6 game against Arkansas on June 5 in which he had three doubles, a home run and a career-high eight RBI. The California native opened the season with a 14-game hitting streak. During onpe five-game stretch, the 6-2, 220 pounder had six homers and nine RBI. He recently was named Texas League Player of the Month for June.OF Ryan Ludwick, AthleticsSecond round pick in 1999 -- Ludwick is a dangerous power hitter. After slugging 33 homers and driving in 136 runs in 172 games over two seasons in the Class A California League, the 22-year-old has thrived in the hitter-friendly Texas League (AA) this year. Through July 1, he was hitting .255 with 20 homers and 76 RBI in 80 games for Midland. The Nevada native always has had a difficult time making consistent contact. For his career, he has struck out 265 times while drawing just 125 walks in 962 at-bats. In his first full season in 2000, the University of Nevada product hit .264 with 29 homers and 102 RBI for Modesto. He belted 25 of his 29 home runs over the final three months of the season and on June 8, 2000 became just the 10th player in the 59-year history of the California League to homer twice in one inning.OF Jamal Strong, MarinersSixth round pick in 2000 -- Strong torched his way through pitching staffs in the Class A Midwest League and is lighting up the advanced Class A California League. In 51 games with Class A Wisconsin, the 22-year-old hit .353, knocked in 19 runs and scored 41 times in 51 games. He posted a .429 slugging percentage and had a .478 on-base percentage before being promoted to San Bernardino on June 1. Since joining the Stampede, the 5-10, 180 pounder has hit .398 in 27 games, scoring 28 runs and posting a .492 OBP. After getting just one hit in his first 12 at-bats for San Bernardino, Strong was 23-for-35 in his next seven games. Through July 1, he had 46 stolen bases between the two leagues and was caught just eight times. A year ago, after being drafted out of the University of Nebraska, Strong had a .314 average in 75 games with 60 steals in 74 attempts and 63 runs scored.RHP Scott Chiasson, CubsFifth round pick in 1998 -- It is pretty safe to say that Chiasson has thrived since being converted from a starter to a closer for Class AA West Tenn. After starting for most of his pro career, the 23-year-old was moved to the bullpen this season. Through July 1, he was tied for fourth in all of minor league baseball with 18 saves. After being selected by the Royals in the fifth round of the 1998 draft, Chiasson was traded to Athletics the following June, completing a deal that sent Jay Witasick to Kansas City. Chiasson was acquired by the Cubs with the first pick in the Rule V Draft last December. He began his first season of pro ball in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League by going 2-0 with a 4.81 ERA in 13 games, all out of the bullpen. The following year, he started 13 of his 15 games for Class A Southern Oregon and was 2-2 with a 5.22 ERA. The Connecticut native was able to find his grove in 2000 while pitching for Class A Visalia. In 31 games, including 23 starts, he was 11-4 with a 3.06 ERA, striking out 150 and walking just 57 over 156 innings.RHP Nate Cornejo, TigersSecond round pick in 1998 -- Cornejo made a big splash at the beginning of the season, allowing just six runs -- two earned -- in 33 innings while winning his first five starts for Class AA Erie. His outstanding start was capped by a three-hit shutout against Bowie on April 28. Through July 1, the 21-year-old righthander was tied for third in the minors with 10 wins, going 10-3 with a 2.59 ERA. The Kansas native had allowed just 98 hits in 111 innings, striking out 90 and walking 37. This easily has been the best season for Cornejo, who entered 2001 with a 20-23 career record. The 6-5, 200-pound Cornejo split last year between Class A Lakeland and Class AA Jacksonville. He was 5-5 with a 3.04 ERA in 77 innings over 11 starts with Lakeland before being promoted. Cornejo went 5-7 with a 4.61 ERA in 91 2/3 innings in his first experience at the Class AA level.LHP Chris George, RoyalsFirst round pick in 1998 (31st overall) -- Considered to have the best arsenal in the Royals' organization, George pitched well enough as the fourth-youngest player in the Class AA Texas League last season to warrant a midseason promotion to Class AAA. This year, he is the Pacific Coast League's third-youngest pitcher. Between the two levels last season, George was 11-7 with a 3.68 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 142 innings. He was among the Texas League leaders in wins (8) and ERA (3.14) when promoted to the PCL in mid-July. George, who was 3-2 with a 4.84 ERA in eight starts for Class AAA Omaha last summer, picked up a gold medal as a member of the United States Olympic team. Through July 1, George was 9-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 17 starts for Omaha. He struck out 76 and walked 46 in 99 2/3 innings while allowing opponents to hit just .220.RHP Brett Myers, PhilliesFirst round pick in 1999 (12th overall) -- The Phillies do not have to worry about Myers ever wearing down on the mound. A former amateur boxer who was 12-0 with 10 knockouts in his career in the ring, Myers challenges hitters with a mid-90s fastball. After being taken by Philadelphia in the first round of the 1999 draft, the 20-year-old Floridian pitched seven games in his first pro season with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Phillies. The following year Myers was 13-7 with a 3.18 ERA in 27 games for Class A Piedmont. He ranked third in the league in wins and was second in innings pitched. Myers, who had a pair of complete games, fanned six or more in 12 starts, including a career-high 12-strikeout performance. The 6-4, 215-pound righthander began this season 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA in his first five outings for Class AA Reading. Through June 29, he was 7-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 15 games.RHP Nick Neugebauer, BrewersSecond round pick in 1998 -- Neugebauer is the most intimidating pitcher in the Brewers' organization if not all of minor league baseball. The 6-3, 225-pound righthander's fastball reaches the century mark on occasion, but his control always has been an issue. Neugebauer has struck out 409 but also issued 256 walks in 293 2/3 career innings. Through July 1, he fanned 110 and walked 42 in 85 innings while going 4-5 with a 3.60 ERA at Class AA Huntsville. An honorable mention on SportsTicker's All-Teen team last season, the righthander was 5-7 with a 4.01 ERA and 174 strikeouts in 128 innings pitched between Class A and AA. Neugebauer's ratio of 13.62 strikeouts per nine innings was best among all Class A starters, but he also issued 87 walks. Between the two levels, Neugebauer had 21 more walks (134) than any other minor league hurler, but his stingy .179 average against was the best of any minor league starter.RHP Josh Pearce, CardinalsSecond round pick in 1998 -- Through June 29, the native of Yakima, Washington was 6-8 with a 3.89 ERA in 17 games and 106 1/3 innings with Class AA New Haven. He opened up the year with a 3-0 record after four games, allowing just three earned runs and 16 hits in 27 innings. Upon being drafted in 1998, Pearce appeared in 14 games with New Jersey of the Class A New York-Penn League, going 3-7 with a 4.98 ERA, 78 strikeouts and 20 walks in 77 2/3 innings. The highlight of his rookie campaign was a two-hit shutout of Oneonta. The 23-year-old Pearce started the following season with Class A Potomac and pitched 10 games before being promoted to Class AA Arkansas. He was 10-9 with a 4.67 ERA between the two leagues.LHP Richard Stahl, OriolesFirst round pick in 1998 (18th overall) -- Originally signed to attend Georgia Tech, Stahl's stock rose as a senior at Newton (GA) High School, where he went 11-0 with a 2.40 ERA in 15 games, recording 146 strikeouts in 79 innings. He signed with the Orioles on August 23, 1999, the day he was due to begin classes at Georgia Tech. The Covington, Georgia native began the 2001 season with low Class A Delmarva but was promoted to Frederick after six starts. With Delmarva, the 6-7, 185-pounder went 2-3 with a 2.67 ERA in 33 2/3 innings, striking out 31 and walking 15. Since his promotion, Stahl has gone 1-1 with a 1.95 ERA in six starts. He has struck out 24 and wakled 15 in 33 innings.RHP Billy Sylvester, BravesSigned as an undrafted free agent in 1997 -- Three years removed from a nightmarish 0-11 season, Sylvester has proven he has the stuff to be a legitimate major league prospect. A South Carolina native, he had his 2000 season with Class A Myrtle Beach cut short when his left hand was broken by a bullpen gate. Sylvester was 3-0 with 16 saves and a 0.79 ERA in 32 outings at the time of the injury, allowing just 16 hits and 15 walks in 46 innings while striking out 48. Sylvester started this season with Class AA Greenville before being promoted to Class AAA Richmond in mid-June. While at Class AA, the 6-5, 218-pound righthander was 1-0 with 12 saves in 26 games, holding opponent's to a .176 batting average. Since moving a step closer to the big leagues, he has one save in six appearances, giving up four runs and five hits in 7 1/3 innings. Sylvester, who played collegiately for Spartanburg Methodist in South Carolina, is the only member of the Team USA roster who was not drafted.RHP Dennis Tankersley, Padres38th round pick in 1998 -- With every appearance Tankersley makes, the San Diego Padres are happy they were able to pry the young righthander away from the Red Sox as part of last year's trade for veteran third baseman Ed Sprague. The 22-year-old Tankersley opened the 2001 season with a combined 7-2 record and a 1.44 ERA in 87 1/3 innings between Class A Lake Elsinore and Class AA Mobile. He was 5-1 with a 0.52 ERA in the California League and is 2-1 with a 2.83 ERA in seven starts since being promoted. A year ago, he opened the campaign with Class A Augusta, where he was 5-3 with a 4.06 ERA in 15 starts before being traded. After the deal, the 6-2, 185-pound Missouri native appeared in 12 games for Class A Fort Wayne, going 5-2 with a 2.85 ERA, 87 strikeouts and 25 walks in 66 1/3 innings. In his rookie campaign in 1999, Tankersley held opponents to a .116 average in 35 2/3 innings with the Red Sox of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League.RHP Jerome Williams, GiantsFirst round pick in 1999 (39th overall) -- Williams, who will not turn 20 until December 4, is the youngest player on the Team USA roster and the Class AA Texas League's youngest player this season. He was 6-3 with a 5.26 ERA in 65 innings for Shreveport through July 1. Williams has allowed four earned runs or more in just six of 13 outings. One of the Class A California League's youngest performers last season, Williams also was one of its best. The Hawaii native was second in the Giants' organization and fifth in the hitter-friendly league with a 2.94 ERA. A member of SportsTicker's All-Teen team last year, he yielded five earned runs in his first outing, then never allowed that many for the rest of the season. The 6-3, 190-pound righthander held opposing hitters to a .201 average, seventh-best among all minor leaguers.RHP Jason Young, RockiesSecond round pick in 2000 -- One of the most highly touted pitchers in last year's draft, Young deterred many teams from drafting him because of his high price tag. The Rockies plucked him anyway and signed Young in late September. The 21-year-old Stanford product is in his first season of pro base with Class A Salem and is 6-6 with a 3.24 ERA in 15 games through July 1. Young had 77 strikeouts and 23 walks in his first 92 innings, while holding opponents to a .256 batting average. He has gone the distance twice this season, both in doubleheaders. Young posted 14 consecutive wins between 1999-2000 during his Cardinal career -- just three shy of a Pac-10 Conference record. The 6-5, 205-pounder posted a 22-5 career mark at Stanford with a 3.78 ERA in 293 innings. His 327 strikeouts rank fourth on the school's all-time list. |
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