Nuno sent to minors

Vidal Nuno's pitch to make the New York Yankees' opening day roster ended today. He was one of 11 players reassigned to the minors by the Yankees.

Nuno opened some eyes during spring training when he allowed only one run in 14 2/3 innings and was named the Yankees' outstanding rookie during the spring. One thing that worked against Nuno in his bid to make the big-league team was he's not on the Yankees' 40-man roster. To bring Nuno north, the Yankees would have to waive a player currently on the 40-man roster.

It is likely that Nuno will open the season as a starting pitcher in Class AAA.

Tom Cochran, another former Wild Things lefty, will begin the minor-league season in extended spring training in the Philadelphia Phillies system. Cochran was a starter in Class AAA last year. From what I've read, nothing is wrong with Cochran. He pitched 4 2/3 innings in a minor-league game today but will be kept in Florida until needed.

Nuno given Yankees' top rookie award

Former Wild Things pitcher Vidal Nuno was given James P. Dawson Award on Thursday. The award is given to the Yankees' outstanding rookie at spring training.

Nuno wins Dawson Award

Bando resigns as manager; Zeller promoted

Chris Bando has resigned as manager of the Wild Things. Bart Zeller, who managed Joliet the last two years and was recently hired as a coach by the Wild Things, has been promoted to manager.

Bando resigns, replaced by Zeller

New York-Penn League to Morgantown

It was announced Tuesday that the New York-Penn League intends to move one of its franchises to a yet-to-be-built ballpark in Morgantown, W.Va., in time for the 2015 season.

According to the Clarksburg (W.Va.) Exponent-Telegram, that franchise will be the Jamestown Jammers, the Pittsburgh Pirates' affiliate in the short-season Class A league.

The Morgantown ballpark, which will be built at University Town Center, just off the Star City exit of Interstate 79, will be shared by the New York-Penn League team and West Virginia University. There is a precedent for a successful college/pro partnership in that league with Penn State and the State College Spikes sharing Medlar Park.

We mentioned the Morgantown ballpark on this blog back in June of 2012. Remember the artist's renderings that look almost identical to Consol Energy Park?

So what does a ballpark in Morgantown have to do with the Wild Things? Well, it might pull away some fans in Greene County who make a visit or two to Washington to see the Wild Things, but it shouldn't be a major hit to attendance at CEP.

The significant impact, however, could be on the planned Frontier League move to Bridgeport, W.Va., which is only 37 miles south of Morgantown. The Wild Things' ownership group plans to put a team in a yet-to-be-built Bridgeport ballpark in 2014. Officials in Bridgeport announced in late January that site work could begin on the ballpark within 90 days, though no funding plans for the stadium have been finalized. The cost of the project has been estimated at $10 million and funding is expected to be a mix of public and private dollars. The Morgantown ballpark, which is estimated to cost between $16 and $18 million, will likely be financed, by tax increment financing (TIF).

This begs the question, is West Virginia big enough to build and support two new minor-league ballparks that will be drawing from much of the same pool of baseball fans?

Can Vidal Nuno make the Yankees' roster?

During every spring training, there are players who seemingly come out of nowhere and put together an impressive March. They either beat the odds by making a major league roster for opening day, or they at least make the general manager think long and hard before sending them back to the minors.

These are the feel-good stories of spring training.

This year, one such player might be former Wild Things pitcher Vidal Nuno, who has been making a strong case for a spot on the New York Yankees' roster come opening day.

Nuno, a lefty, was the Wild Things' opening day starter in 2011 (Darin Everson's second season as manager). He pitched six games for Washington, going 2-3 with a 2.83 ERA, before Everson received a phone call from a friend in the Yankees' player development office. The friend said the Yankees wanted some relief pitchers for their affiliate in the New York-Penn League. He asked if Everson knew of anyone in the Frontier League who could help. Everson quickly mentioned Nuno, who was a starter in Class A ball in the Cleveland Indians' system in 2010.

Nuno has rapidly moved up the ranks with the Yankees and was 9-5, 2.45 in 20 starts for Class AA Trenton last year.

This spring, Nuno has been in major league camp as a non-roster invitee, along with making a one-game exhibition stint playing for the Dominican Republic, which won the World Baseball Classic. In Grapefruit League games with the Yankees, the 25-year-old Nuno has allowed only one run and seven hits in 13 1/3 innings. Last week, he started for the Yankees against Boston and held the Red Sox to only two hits over five shutout innings.

When the Domincan Republic played an exhibition game against the Yankees in early March, DR manager Tony Pena "borrowed" Nuno to pitch for his team. Nuno threw four hitless innings against the Bronx Bombers. For his effort, Nuno was given a pat on the back and a souvenir Dominican Republic T-shirt and cap.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Nuno is a possibility for the last bullpen spot on the opening day roster.

"Obviously, Nuno has opened everybody's eyes and is taking a run at it, trying to force his way on," Cashman said. "We'll go with one lefty or we'll go with two."

While it's likely that Nuno will open the season in Class AAA so he can continue to be a starter and get more experience, it would quite be a feel-good story if he breaks camp with a spot in the major leagues.

Blast from the past

Noticed on Baseball America's minor-league transactions that former Wild Things outfielder Robbie Garvey was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Garvey played in 56 games for the Wild Things last year, batting .220 and going 17-for-27 in stolen-base attempts. He left the team in early August and was placed on the suspended list.

Three more added to roster

After trading two-year veteran Jhonny Montoya to the Atlantic League last week, the Wild Things had an opening on their roster for an experienced pitcher. They filled that spot Tuesday when they announced the signing of three players, including a pitcher who is a former second-round draft pick.

Washington signed left-handed pitcher Tyler Stovall, first baseman/outfielder Bryan Nicholson and catcher Maxx Garrett.

Stovall, who played in the Frontier League last season with the Normal CornBelters, was the Atlanta Braves’ second-round draft pick in 2008 out of high school in Hokes Bluff, Ala. Stovall (6-1, 200) spent four years in the Braves’ system, including two in Class A, before being released. A reliever in affiliated ball, Stovall signed with Normal last year and was used as a starter. He had a 2-9 record with a 5.70 ERA. He struck out 92 batters in 83 2/3 innings, but he also issued 91 walks.

Washington plans to use him as a relief pitcher.

"Tyler brings power throwing. He will work late out of the bullpen for us," Wild Things second-year manager Chris Bando said. "This former high draft pick of the Braves has electric stuff."

 

Stovall is the 12th pitchers under contract to the Wild Things. You can expect at least another four to be signed before camp begins.

 

An interesting draft note about Stovall: He was the Braves first of two 2nd-round picks in 2008. Atlanta's 3rd-round pick was Craig Kimbrel, who was the 2011 National League Rookie of the Year and is a two-time all-star. 

Nicholson (6-3, 225), a left-handed hitter from Garden Grove, Calif., was drafted in the 38th round by San Francisco in 2011 and spent two seasons in the Giants’ system. He batted .274 in rookie ball in 2011.

After being limited to only two games because of an injury as a junior, Nicholson had a breakout year as a senior at Concordia (Calif.) University, leading the Eagles to the NAIA national championship and posting team-bests in batting average (.400), home runs (9) and RBI (64).

"(Nicholson) should hit in the middle of our lineup," Bando said. "His former hitting coach described him as a monster bat."

 

Garrett, a native of Kennewick, Wash., played two years of junior college baseball, then transferred and played his final two seasons at Gonzaga, where he was the Bulldogs’ starter catcher last spring, hitting .228 with two home runs.

Garrett (6-0, 215) recently played in the California Winter League, where Wild Things coach Bart Zeller was an instructor.

"Maxx Garrett did an excellent job behind the plate," Zeller, a former major league catcher, said. "He is a hard-working young man with a passion for the game of baseball. In addition, he has demonstrated some power from the right side of the plate. I think our pitchers will like the manner in which he calls the game."

The Wild Things begin spring training in May and will begin their 11th Frontier League season May 17 at Schaumburg. The home opener is May 24 against defending league champion Southern Illinois.

Wild Things trade for power hitter

Late last summer, when discussing what the Wild Things needed to do to boost their offense for 2013, manager Chris Bando said the top priority was to find a power hitter who can play a corner position, either in the infield or outfield.

Washington made a move Friday to bring in one such player. The Wild Things traded their first-round draft pick (5th overall) at the upcoming Frontier League tryout, along with a player to be named later, to the Gateway Grizzlies in exchange for outfielder Rogelio Noris (pictured).

Noris was third in the Frontier League in home runs (21) last season and sixth in RBI (74).

A native of Mexico, Noris, who will turn 24 this week, has played six professional seasons. He spent five of those in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and played two years with the West Virginia Power in the Class A South Atlantic League.

Noris signed with the Lake Erie Crushers last spring and batted .250 with three home runs in 80 at-bats before being traded to Gateway. He became an impact player who helped the Grizzlies to the East Division title, batting .313 with 19 home runs in only 58 games.

So why did Gateway give up on Noris at what seems to be a bargain price? There are a number of reasons why players in the Frontier League get traded. Among those are roster restrictions, a player's desire to play for a team closer to home, etc.

There is no questioning Noris' power. He hit 15 home runs one year with West Virginia, and the Pirates thought enough of him that they gave him more than 700 at-bats in Class A.

The one rub against Noris is his plate discipline. He's the classic clout or out guy. Noris is a free-swinger to say the least. He struck out 144 times in one season in Class A. Last year, in 320 at-bats in the Frontier League, Noris whiffed 79 times. With Gateway, he struck out once every four at-bats (60Ks in 240 at-bats). That's just shy of the strikeout rate of former Wild Things power hitter Jacob Dempsey.

The big difference between Noris and Dempsey is in walk rate. Dempsey averaged a walk once every 6.7 plate appearances during his three years in Washington. Noris has averaged one walk per every 17.3 plate appearances for his career. Last season, Noris walked once every 31 plate appearances and drew only 11 walks all year.

One of the FL's most hitter friendly ballparks is found at Gateway, and a check of last year's numbers show that Noris didn't pile up his home run total while playing in home games. He hit 10 home runs at Gateway and eight on the road, including three in a game at Traverse City. That might have been the only three-homer game by a player ever at Traverse City, where there is no such thing as a cheap home run. He also had two-homer games against the Wild Things and Rockford.

Montoya traded; bad break for Yepez

The Wild Things were busy Wednesday clearing room on the roster for the potential signing of experienced players after the close of minor-league spring training later this month. Washington made two moves, trading pitcher Jhonny Montoya and placing outfielder Mario Yepez on the 60-day disabled list.

Montoya, who was used as both a starter and reliever in two seasons with the Wild Things, was dealt to the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic, which is widely considered the highest level of the independent leagues. Washington will receive a player to be named later in exchange for Montoya, a right-hander who has a 7-10 career record.

Montoya made 20 starts in 2011 and had a 4-7 record with a 3.76 ERA. Last year, Montoya was slowed by an injury early int he season and spent some time on the disabled list. He returned to pitch in 23 games (six starts) and post a 3-3 record with a 3.91 ERA. A hard thrower, Montoya struck out 149 batters in 179 innings over the two seasons.

"I am excited to see Jhonny Montoya get an opportunity on a higher level," Wild Things manager Chris Bando said. "He has a power arm that has earned him the opportunity before him."

Yepez, 24, was signed by Washington this offseason after playing six seasons in the Seattle Mariners' organization. After playing five games at Class AA and six at Class AAA last year, Yepez was expected to be an impact player. However, the Venezuela native recently fractured an ankle, an injury that is expected to require four or five months of rehabilitation.

With Montoya, Yepez and center fielder Darian Sandford apparently off the active roster, Washington has 11 players classified as Experienced -- the equivalent of more than one year of professional experience -- which is two under the Frontier League limit. The Wild Things will likely be looking to add an experienced outfielder or two next month.

Sandford's status and the WBC

Haven't seen anything on the Wild Things or Frontier League websites about this, but according to some tweets Washington outfielder Darin Sandford (pictured) has had his contract purchased by the Chicago White Sox. Sandford set the FL record with 71 stolen bases last year while playing for Washington and Southern Illinois. He was acquired from the Miners in a late-season trade.

* Has anyone been watching the World Baseball Classic? I didn't think so. But you might find it interesting that there is a Wild Things tie to the WBC. Former Washington catcher Blake Ochoa is one of three catchers on the roster for Spain, which begins Pool C play Friday against Puerto Rico.