Taking a look around the International League
4/7/2010As the Mud Hens prepare for the coming season, here's a look at the competition they will face around the International League in 2010:
Columbus Clippers
Affiliate: Cleveland
Manager: Mike Sarbaugh
2009 record: 57-85
Top prospects: C Carlos Santana was the Eastern League MVP last year; RHP Jeanmar Gomez was Eastern League pitcher of the year.
Indianapolis Indians
Affiliate: Pittsburgh
Manager: Frank Kremblas
2009 record: 70-73
Top prospects: 3B Pedro Alvarez, the second overall pick in 2008, hit 27 home runs last year; RHP Brad Lincoln, a first-rounder in 2006, was 6-2 with the Tribe in 2009.
Worth noting: This season the Indians will celebrate their 15th anniversary at Victory Field.
Louisville Bats
Affiliate: Cincinnati
Manager: Rick Sweet
2009 record: 84-58
Top prospects: IF Todd Frazier hit .302 with the Bats last year and is the Reds' top prospect; 1B Yonder Alonso played for the Bats in the playoffs.
Worth noting: Sweet was named IL manager of the year, becoming the first manager in nearly 30 years to win the award in back-to-back seasons.
Charlotte Knights
Affiliate: Chicago White Sox
Manager: Chris Chambliss
2009 record: 67-76
Top prospects: RHP Daniel Hudson was 10-1 with a 2.27 ERA at three different levels last season; C Tyler Flowers hit 15 home runs and batted .297 between Double-A and Triple-A.
Worth noting: While the team wants to build a new ballpark, it signed a four-year lease extension. Knights Stadium will be renovated to expand the picnic area on the third-base side and increase the party deck on the right-field concourse.
Durham Bulls
Affiliate: Tampa Bay
Manager: Charlie Montoyo
2009 record: 83-61
Top prospects: OF Desmond Jennings, the Rays' top prospect, was MVP of the Double-A Southern League; RHP Jeremy Hellickson has a 2.71 career ERA.
Worth noting: The Bulls not only won the Governors' Cup last season, they also won the Triple-A National Championship over Memphis at Oklahoma City.
Gwinnett Braves
Affiliate: Atlanta
Manager: Dave Brundage
2009 record: 81-63
Top prospects: RHP Craig Kimbrel has a 1.98 ERA and 28 saves in two pro seasons; 20-year-old 1B Freddy Freeman may begin the season in Double-A, but he will eventually join the G-Braves.
Worth noting: The team's home field, which was called Gwinnett Stadium, was renamed Coolray Field for a local heating and cooling company that signed a 16-year agreement.
Norfolk Tides
Affiliate: Baltimore
Manager: Gary Allenson
2009 record: 71-71
Top prospects: The Tides could has as many as five of the Orioles' top eight prospects, including 3B Josh Bell, RHP Jake Arrieta, RHP Kam Mickolio and 1B Brandon Snyder.
Worth noting: Allenson, the International League MVP in 1978, needs 76 wins to reach the 1,000 mark for his minor-league career.
Buffalo Bisons
Affiliate: New York Mets
Manager: Ken Oberkfell
2009 record: 56-87
Top prospects: 1B Ike Davis, ranked as fourth-best Mets prospect; OF Fernando Martinez, hit .290 for Bisons and ranked as third-best prospect.
Worth noting: IF Mike Hessman is with the Bisons after five seasons with the Hens in which he became the team's career leader in homers (130) and RBIs (373).
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Affiliate: Philadelphia
Manager: Dave Huppert
2009 record: 71-73
Top prospects: LHP Joe Savery, first-round pick in 2007 who won 16 games last year; RHP Drew Carpenter, led minors with 17 wins in 2007.
Worth noting: The IronPigs will host this year's Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 14 at Coca-Cola Park. ... Lehigh Valley has never had a winning record at any point in its first two years of existence.
Pawtucket Red Sox
Affiliate: Boston
Manager: Torey Lovullo
2009 record: 61-82
Top prospects: LHP Felix Doubront has struck out 239 in 250.1 innings in his career; OF Josh Reddick, hit .277 for Double-A Portland last year.
Worth noting: Former Mud Hen Lovullo takes over the PawSox after eight seasons with Cleveland, including the last four in Triple-A.
Rochester Red Wings
Affiliate: Minnesota
Manager: Tom Nieto
2009 record: 70-74
Top prospects: 3B Danny Valencia, career .299 minor-league hitter; RHP Anthony Swarzek, second-round pick in 2004 who has won 45 minor-league games.
Worth noting: Former Orioles manager Joe Altobelli will be honored with a statue at Frontier Field. Altobelli has been a player, manager, general manager and broadcaster for the team.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
Affiliate: New York Yankees
Manager: Dave Miley
2009 record: 81-60
Top prospects: C Jesus Montero, the Yankees' top prospect, has hit .325 in his career; RHP Mark Melancon is being groomed to replace Mariano Rivera.
Worth noting: Miley needs 68 wins with the Yankees this season to reach 1,000 for his Triple-A career. He also has managed in Indianapolis, Louisville and Columbus.
Syracuse Chiefs
Affiliate: Washington
Manager: Trent Jewett
2009 record: 76-68
Top prospects: OF Justin Maxwell hit .307 in September with the parent Nationals; RHP Collin Balester won seven games last year and also made six starts for Washington.
Worth noting: RHP Stephen Strasburg, the top pick in last year's draft, begins the season in Double-A Harrisburg. The chances aren't good that he'll be with Syracuse when the Chiefs play in Toledo April 27-30.