Even More Transactions

I think that with this post, I’ll be completely caught up on transactions with Valley League alumni in professional baseball. Well, at least for a week or so!

Let’s take a look:

1. The Washington Nationals have released two players: Casey Selsor (Covington 2010) and Will Hudgins (Woodstock 2009).

Selsor was drafted in the 23rd round of the 2012 draft. Oddly enough, he went 0-10, 5.18, with a 1.62 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9, and 6.9 K/9 in 83 1/3 innings. (Odd in that he didn’t win a single game. Wins are a terrible way to judge a pitcher, it’s true, but 0-10???)

Hudgins was a 22nd round pick in 2012. He went 7-5, 3.14, with a 1.203 WHIP, and then the exact same BB/9 and K/9 as Selsor, but in 77 1/3 innings. Weird.

2. David Herbek (Haymarket 2008) was either released or he retired (I’ve seen both reported.) David was a 15th round pick in 2011 of the White Sox, and hit 253/344/369 in 756 at-bats, along with 86 walks and 169 strikeouts. I talked with one Valley League observer who claimed that David saved the team in Haymarket in 2008, as he went to Battlefield High School in Haymarket, and then had an excellent summer in ’08. The Senators went on to win a title in 2009.

3. The Oakland A’s released Trey Barham (Front Royal 2006), and farmhand Vincent Voiro (Woodstock 2010-11) retired.

Barham was drafted in the 25th round in 2008 out of VMI. He went 18-9, 3.29, with a 1.344 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9, and 7.6 K/9 in 276 innings. Trey is still pitching; he signed with Lincoln of the independent American Association. Through Wednesday, he’s pitched in 5 games.

Voiro was a excellent performer in the VBL. ATVL named him the #15 starter in 2010, and then the #2 starting pitcher in 2011. He was drafted in the 15th round in 2012, and proceeded to go 8-7, 3.65, with a 1.428 WHIP, 3.4 BB/9, and 7.2 K/9 in 138 innings pitched.

4. The Toronto Blue Jays released Shawn Griffith (Fauquier 2008) and Scott Shuman (Winchester 2007).

Griffith, a 37th round pick in 2009, went 16-13, 4.25, with 10 saves, a 1.368 WHIP, 5.3 BB/9 and 10.1 K/9 in 212 innings.

Shuman had an interesting go of it. He was drafted in the 19th round in 2009 by the Tampa Bay Rays. After 4 seasons in the Rays’ system, he was a minor league Rule 5 draft of the San Francisco Giants. He pitched in Double-A Richmond in 2013, but was released. The Blue Jays scooped him up, but released him before the season started. Scott was blessed with electric stuff, but he didn’t always know where it was going. This tells the story- he went 4-10, 4.89, with 19 saves, a 1.650 WHIP, 8.6 BB/9, and 14.1 K/9 in 206 innings.

5. Addison Maruszak (Woodstock 2006).  Addison’s in his own category. After being drafted in the 17th round in 2008 by the Yankees, Addison was released at the end of spring training this year. The Phillies picked him up. This is when it gets weird: the Phillies assigned him to Double-A Reading. On May 22, Addison played in right field for Reading. After the game, he was promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, which is within driving distance. Later that same day, Addison was put in to play third base. So he played at two different levels AND two different positions on the same day!

6. The St. Louis Cardinals released Jordan Walton (New Market 2010, Waynesboro 2011). Jordan hit 269/325/353 in 524 at-bats

after being signed as a free agent in 2012.

7. A.J. Kirby-Jones (Waynesboro 2009) was released by the San Diego Padres, but then signed by the Atlanta Braves. A 9th round pick in 2010, A.J. has hit 246/368/442 over 1356 minor league at-bats. (TRIVIA QUESTION: What does A.J. stand for? Answer below)

8. The Seattle Mariners released Jeremy Dobbs (Waynesboro 2009). Jeremy, a 33rd round draft pick in 2011, went 11-5, 5.46, with a 1.633 WHIP, 4.3 BB/9, and 7.2 K/9 in 161 2/3 IP.

9. Eddy Rodriguez (Luray 2006-7) has had a similar road to Maruszak. A 20th round pick in 2006, Eddy advanced to the major leagues in 2012 and hit a home run in his first major league at-bat. Back toiling in the minors, Eddy was released by Tampa Bay, but was subsequently signed by the Boston Red Sox. He hasn’t played for the Sox yet.

Phew. That was a ton of information! Now let’s see if I can stay on top of transactions from here!

A.J. is short for Antwoin Jarelle!