2012 Canadians in College
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By Allan Simpson

For anyone who grew up in Canada and has enjoyed a lifelong passion for baseball, the news of Gary Carter’s untimely death last week hit home in a profound way.

Gary was the first player to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame wearing the cap of a Canadian team, and the heart-moving tributes to a fallen hero that have poured in since his passing from both sides of the border, particularly from Montreal, have only reinforced the notion that he was the most beloved ball player ever to play in Canada.

He was a Hall of Famer on every count—as a ball player who played the game the right way; as a kind, endearing person who had time for everyone who crossed his path; as a devoted family man. His loss was considerable, particularly since it served as another harsh, painful reminder of what was lost six years ago when the once-beloved Expos died a slow painful death.

I never had the privilege of meeting Gary Carter, in person, but I talked to him on the phone a few times on baseball-related matters in my role as the founding editor of Baseball America, which had its roots in Canada. He was always extremely courteous, and yet I never once mentioned to him that our paths were somewhat intertwined as I felt my own accomplishments were far too trivial in relation to his, to try and draw any parallels.

I was a rookie general manager in the Montreal Expos farm system in Lethbridge, Alberta, in 1975, the same year Gary was a rookie outfielder in Montreal and would go on to become the National League’s rookie of the year. Obviously, Gary was a popular topic of conversation among all the Montreal officials I came into contact with that summer in Lethbridge, where the latest wave of Expos prospects, including a young outfielder by the name of Andre Dawson, were being cultivated on the lowest rung of the player-development chain.

Coincidentally, the same person who was responsible for bringing Gary Carter to the big leagues on Sept. 16, 1974, then-Expos general manager Jim Fanning, was the same person who willingly gave me a couple of hours of his time a mere eight days later in his Montreal office, paving the way for me to become a general manager myself in the Expos system.

Over the next several years, Gary played the game with an unbridled spirit and enthusiasm, along with a conviction that endeared him to a rapidly-growing Expos fan base in Montreal and the province of Quebec, and even across Canada. He became the backbone of some of the greatest Expos teams ever, and it speaks to the star-crossed fate of that franchise that none of those teams reached the World Series—or, more poignantly, that the two Expos teams with the most significant post-season aspirations came along in the two seasons in major-league history most scarred by work stoppages, 1981 and 1994.

We’ll never know how truly great and enduring baseball could have been in Montreal as Carter was dealt away as a cost-cutting measure a short time after the team’s aborted run in 1981, and the fallout from 1994 was even more profound as it doomed the very existence of the franchise.

When it was determined that Gary Carter had brain cancer last spring, and subsequently came to Duke University Hospital for a diagnosis on the depth of his illness, I looked at that moment as my opportunity to finally reach out to Gary on a personal level, especially since I lived in the same North Carolina community, within a matter of minutes of where he was hospitalized and likely would be spending the next several weeks while undergoing treatment.

Having just been elected myself to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, much like Gary a decade earlier, I finally felt I had something to share that we both legitimately had in common.

My wife Jill initiated contact with the Carter family in her role as a volunteer on the cancer ward at Duke University Hospital, seeking out and spending time with Gary’s daughter Kimmy, and my intent was to initiate contact with Gary a couple of days later, after the extent of his cancer diagnosis became more clear. But when the best cancer physicians Duke had to offer determined that there was little they could do for Gary, the family left almost immediately for their Florida home, and my opportunity to finally meet Gary was lost. For good, as it turns out.

The outpouring of support and appreciation that has come from Montreal for one of the greatest athletic heroes the city has ever known has been profound, and made people in that city (baseball fans and otherwise) yearn again for a magical time when the Expos were thriving, and Carter was the team’s inspirational leader.

When word came Thursday that Gary had lost his gallant fight, I regretted immediately that I never got a chance to meet a true legend from my former homeland. But thousands of people in Montreal did, and I can take solace that their lives were enriched for the opportunity.

RIP, Gary Carter.

2012 Canadians in College
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By Bob Elliott

MARIANNA, Fla. — Alumni weekend can mean many things on each respective campus:

Catching up with old classmates, students cheering “Hire Us, We Want a Job!” as the graduates from decades past parade around the outside track or simply one alumni helping a current player.

At the Chipola College alumni weekend and home run derby, OF Sasha LaGarde (Pierrefonds, Que.) explained over a fine meal of Mexican food along with LHP Brian Bardis (St Constant, Que.) and RHP Jonathan Paquet (l’Ancienne-Lorette, Que.) how two-time, major-league home run champ Jose Bautista, who used to occupy the same Chipola outfield, had helped him, just as coach Jeff Johnson had helped him.

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Jacques Lanciault’s translation en Francais

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“A year ago he gave me a tape on hitting … I listen to it before every game,” LaGarde said. “I’m not sure who it is … but I know the voice well.”

Who could it be? The wise words of current hitting coach Dwayne Murphy?

Former Jays hitting coach and manager Cito Gaston?

“Steve Springer,” said Bautista the next day. “Chris Duffy gave it to me in 2001 when I was with the Pittsburgh Pirates.”

Springer is now a pro scout and a performance coach for the Jays, but his CD entitled Quality At-Bats, on the mental approach to hitting has been around for years.

When the Jays hired Springer to monitor the performance of their minor leaguers he instituted a quality at-bat program which teams keep track of the way they keep track of doubles, triples, home runs, RBIs and stolen bases.

LaGarde hit .261 with four doubles, two triples, a homer and 17 RBIs in 44 games.

Oh, and the centre fielder also had one memorable catch on the warning track as Chipola edged Northwest Florida State 6-5 in 11 innings to win the FCSAA state tournament championship at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland.

“They were down a run with two out and had runners at first and third, the guy hit it to left centre and I made a sliding gave-saving catch on the track,” LaGarde said.

Usually after the final out is registered there is a dog pile on the mound as the pitcher records the final out.

“A couple of guys came rushing out to me,” LaGarde said, “but most of them were on the mound.”

He also had two hits — giving him seven for the championship — knocked in a run and scored a run to help get Chipola back to the Alpine Bank JUCO World Series at Grand Junction, Col.

Chipola opened the Florida championships with a 3-1 win over Lake Sumter as LaGarde had a pair of hit.

Next came a 17-5 romp over Broward College.

LaGarde had a pair of hits in a 7-3 loss to Northwest Florida State.

He then tripled an knocked in a run in an 8-0 win over Santa Fe.

To reach the final Chipola blanked Polk State 5-0.

Chipola got off on the right foot as LaGarde had a pair of hits, including a second-inning two-run double, and knocked in three runs as the Indians beat Grayson County 19-13 before 5,632 fans.

LaGarde singled in a 3-2 loss to Navarro in front of 8,718.

“Playing in front of that many people was cool,” LaGarde said. “But after that Navarro loss we kind of ran out of gas.”

LaGarde singled for one of the Indians five hits as the Iowa Western Reivers eliminated Chipola with a 13-0 win.

Legendary scout Ray Callari, the only Canadian to get a World Series ring in 2010 from his employers the San Francisco Giants helped LaGarde get to Chipola.

“He runs 6.6, 6.7 yard dash and usually hits at the top of our lineup,” said coach Jeff Johnson, who coached Bautista, as well as Russell Martin, Adam Loewen and others.

LaGarde, who played for the LaSalle Cardinals in Ligue de baseball junior élite du Québec, had a choice: University of Buffalo or Clarendon College before LaGarde the decision was made to head to the baseball factory.

“There is not a lot to do here, but that’s why all the teams become families,” LaGarde said. In 2007, baseball, led by RHP Drew Parker (Surrey, BC), softball, plus men’s and women’s basketball all either won the state or the national championships.

LaGarde was injured hit in the calf by a curve ball.

“It was the strangest thing, I got hit with a breaking ball and the next day is began to swell,” said LaGarde, who this season is hitting .270 with a double and one RBI.

Bardis spent two seasons with the Canadian Junior National Team under coach Greg Hamilton, as well as pitching in the LBJÉQ for the Longueuil Ducs.

We saw Bardis get the win against San Jacinto with four innings of relief.

He took over in the sixth with a 2-1 lead and suddenly found himself pitching with two out and the bases loaded after a bloop, an infield hit and a walk. The next San Jac hitter hit a rope which nearly took the left fielder’s head off, but Jordan Poole made the grab.

Bardis allowed a run the next inning — after five scoreless innings State College of Florida, a 4-1 win as he pitched up the save and two scoreless against Shelton State as he gained the save in a 2-0 win — it was the first he’d allowed in eight runs to begin the season.

Chipola scored twice in the eighth to give Bardis the win.

Bardis spent the spring in 2011 with St. Petersburg College before transferring.

“I got my release after my freshman year,” Bardis said. “It’s more organized here than St. Pete’s.”

Working three innings in a 10-1 win over St. John’s River College, Bardis gained the win. He’s now worked four games picking up two runs and two saves and owns a find-it-if-you-can team-low ERA of 0.64. In 14 innings Bardis has walked six and struck out eight.

“Brian is a very good competitor with a good curve ball and change as well,” said Johnson, “he’s one of our best left-handers.”

Paquet is also a transfer, but not from St. Pete’s, from the University of Kentucky Wildcats.

Jacques Lanciault, the dean of Quebec amateur ball scribes, described Paquet as “a gem of Québec pitcher.”

The 6-foot-4 200 pounder was a 36th round pick of the Los Angeles Angels in 2009 and a 22nd round choice of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010, following the likes of Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.), James Paxton (Ladner, BC) and Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.) to UK.

“Kentucky wasn’t the right place for me, the program had some issues,” said Paquet, who pitched only 11 1/3 innings due to injury. He had a 4.76 ERA in four games, making three starts, as he allowed 15 hits and six runs, while walking five and striking out 10.

Paquet said he didn’t “get the right treatment” until he returned home where physiotherapist Jean-Phillippe Boivin of the Quebec City Capitales and chiropractor Phillippe Croisetiere got him back into throwing shape.

“I didn’t throw for six months,” said Paquet, bothered by a nerve problem from throwing too many curve balls.

He returned home and worked out with coach Jean-Philippe Roy’s St. Lawrence Lions, as well as the Diamants de Québec.

“I left Kentucky on good terms, they gave me my release,” said Paquet.

We saw Paquet take the loss in a 9-1 setback to Walter State on alumni weekend. He pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing three runs on six hits and three walks, while fanning four.

In his debut, he took the loss in a 9-3 setback to Miami-Dade, allowing four runs — one earned — on four hits, as he fanned two. Next, he had a no decision against Pensacola, pitching five innings and allowing one run on one hit and two walks, while striking out four.

Paquet gained the victory in a 7-2 decision over Wallace State-Dothan, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on four hits and three walk, as he fanned four.

To date, Paquet is 1-2 with a 4.02 ERA, walking eight and fanning 14 in 15 2/3 inning.

“Paquet- has had his fastball clocked anywhere from 86-90 MPH,” said Johnson. “He shows a very good change up. He should be in among our top three in conference rotation and he’s added a good curve ball.”

At the Canada Cup, Paquet hurled five scoreless against British Columbia, allowing only three hits, walking two and striking out five. Against Ontario, he pitched a complete-game shut out giving up two hits and no walks, striking out five. His cousin Frederik Henry played for the New Jersey Devils.

Chipola grads to reach the next level

Name, Canadian hometown, Round, Minors/Majors

Right-handers

Dennis Lewallyn, 1st round, 12 years, Dodgers, Rangers, Indians, 34 games in majors, Dodgers, Indians

Jason Green, Port Hope, Ont., 30th, 8 yrs. Astros system, 14 games, Astros

T.J. Large, 46th, 6 yrs Red Sox system

Allan Horne, 11th, 5 yrs, Yankees system

David Mixon, 20th, 5 yrs Giants system

Patrick Corbin, 2nd, 3 yrs., Angels

Ryan Chafee, 3rd, 3 yrs., Angels

Left-handers

Bobby Jones, 44th, Brewers, Rockies, Mets, Royals systems 11 seasons, 95 games Rockies, Mets, Red Sox,

Adam Loewen 1st, 5 years Orioles systems, 49 games Jays, Orioles

Catchers

Russell Martin, Montreal, 17th, 5 yrs minors, Dodgers, 792 games Dodgers, Yankees

Tyler Flowers, 33rd round, 6 yrs. minors, 56 games White Sox

Cole Armstrong, Surrey, BC, 16th, 9 yrs Braves, White Sox, Angels systems

Infielders

Eric Yelding, 1st, 10 yrs. Jays, Astros, Cubs, Indians, Mariners systems, 368 games Astros, Cubs

Mat Gamel, 4th, 7 yrs Brewers system, 75 ganes Brewrs

Ricky Jones, 33rd, 9 yrs Orioles, Twins system, 16 games Orioles

Charlie Dees, 38th, 3 yrs Orioles, Rangers systems

Ivan Naccarata, 21st, Montreal, Que., 3 yrs Mets system

Outfielders

Jose Bautista, 20th, 7 yrs Pirates system, 885 games Blue Jays, Pirates, Royals, Rays, Orioles

Hosken Poewell, 1st, 6 yrs. Twins, Brewers, 594 games with Jays, Twins

Rene Tosoni, Port Coquitlam, BC, 36th, 5 yrs Twins, 60 games Twins

Darren Ford, 18th, 7 yrs Brewers, Giants, 33 games Giants

Ricardo Nanita, 14th, 9 yrs, White Sox, Nationals, Blue Jays

Dennis Carter, 1st, 7 yrs., Cardinals system

Buck Showalter, 5th, 7 yrs. Yankees system

Blake Balkcom, 5th, 3 yrs. Angels system

LeVon Washington, 2nd, 1 yr. Indians system

Marc Bourgeoiss, Granby, Que, 42nd, 1 yr Diamondbacks system

And the fifth annual Chipola alumni home run derby

Team Mathis

Jeff Mathis, Angels, Jays 5

Blake Balkcom, Chipola, Angels minors 4

Adam Bigale, Chipola 1

Moises Feliz, Chipola, Cumberland 1

Jake Mathis, Chipola, Alabama-Huntsville 1

Total: 12

Team Bautista

Jose Bautista, Chipola, Jays 5

Fernando Isa, Chipola, Louisville 2

Allan Horne, Chipola, University of Floria 0

Lane Floyd, Chipola, Kennesaw State 0

Total: 7

Team Smith

Charlie Dees, Chipola, Orioles, Rangers minors 1

Jeff Bosse, Chipola, Stetson 0

Travis Anderson, Chipola, Florida State 0

Richie Smith, Chipola, Florida State 0

Total: 1

Semi-finals

Bautista 12

Balkcom 9

Jeff Mathis 8

Isa 6

Final

Bautista 6

Balkcom 5

2012 Canadians in College
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By  Danny Gallagher

The phone call Jim Fanning had been expecting for weeks and months finally came Valentine’s Day.

Fanning, 84, was told by an official with Citizenship and Immigration Canada that he had gained approval to become an official Canadian citizen and that he would be formally recognized Saturday, Feb. 18 at a ceremony in London, Ont., where he lives.

For a man, who had lived in Canada constantly since 1968 when he joined the ranks of the expansionist Montreal Expos’ franchise as general manager, the move to become a citizen of his adopted country took 44 years.

An employee of the Toronto Blue Jays since 2000 as a good will ambassador across Canada, the Chicago-born Fanning had been thinking of applying for citizenship status for several years.

“It was about Aug. 1 of last year that I applied,’’ Fanning said in an interview this week. “I thought it was the right thing to do. Canada has been a great place for me. I have lived a lot of my adult life here. I have always been well received. I really owe it to Canada because this country has been so good to me.

“My wife Maria is from Canada and my two children Cynthia and Frank were born in Canada. It’s nice to become a citizen of a second country and it’s nice to be a citizen in two of the greatest countries in the world. I feel privileged.’’

Fanning’s good friend George Springate of Montreal, who is Canada’s senior citizenship judge, presided over Saturday’s ceremony that included the recognition of 25 others who were granted Canadian citizenship.

Fanning and his family were sworn to secrecy not to leak any pre-ceremony information that he would be honoured. It was all hush-hush until the ceremony concluded.

“I’m a proud Canadian, I know that,’’ Fanning said.

Fanning has been privileged to work for Canada’s two, sole major-league baseball teams but he never imagined that when he arrived in Montreal in 1968 that he would stay in the country for so long.

“The first highlight, the first thrill for me in all of my time with the Expos was opening day in New York in 1969,’’ Fanning said. “That will always stick to me. It was the first ever game in the majors for a Canadian team, spanking new uniforms, the Canadian flag flew over a major-league park for the first time, there was the singing of Oh Canada for the first time in a major-league park. We won the game.

“The most memorable day was a week later in Montreal for the first major-league game in Canada. We won that game, too.’’

Fanning so happened to be the only field manager to guide the Expos to a post-season berth in their 36 seasons of existence and that came in 1981 when they lost the NL Championship Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Of course, Fanning is fitting in just fine with the Jays, too.

“As a good will ambassador for the Blue Jays,’’ Fanning explained, “I go wherever they ask me to go, whereever they send me, to a banquet, a school, a church, clinics. And I do a lot of work for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys, Ont. which inducted me as a member in 2000.’’

Fanning has been in pro baseball in some form or another since 1950 when he joined the Chicago Cubs organization as a minor-league player in Springfield, Mo.

2012 Canadians in College
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By Danny Gallagher

Gary Carter showed in Jamestown, N.Y. in the summer of 1972 for a short-term, rookie season in the Montreal Expos’ organization and he couldn’t believe what he saw.

“This is pro baseball?’’ the kid from the other side of the U.S. in California muttered to himself. “There was hardly anyone in the stands and they had horrible facilities. It was a rude awakening.’’

It was in that quaint upper state New York town that then Expos general manager Jim Fanning witnessed something special in the budding catcher and it was intangibles moreso than offensive and defensive prowess that stood out at first.

“My first impression of him came that first day I saw him in Jamestown where we brought in a lot of our young drafted players,’’ Fanning, 84, said in an interview this week. “I saw hustle, enthusiasm, zest. He was all over the place, running here and there. I saw great ability, all of the good stuff in a player you have signed. He was really exciting plus he had the size and strength. He was something special.’’

Jamestown aside, Carter’s outlook on a potential career improved as he made his way up the ladder in the Expos organization. In only two years, he got a glimpse of the majors when he was called up by the Expos for a cup of tea in 1974.

Then in 1975, he was up for good, securing 503 at-bats and he responded with 17 homers  and 68 RBI, sometimes platooning behind the plate with Barry Foote, a guy very much admired by Expos skipper Gene Mauch, Carter became the No. 1 catcher in 1977, especially after a jarring spring training injury he incurred when he slammed into a brick wall.

“Carter was running for a fly ball and he hit the brick wall hard and I mean really hard. He split his head open and there were a lot of stitches,’’ Fanning said. “It wasn’t long after that we decided that Carter would be catching only.’’

Thus, the beginning of a Hall of Fame career that saw him star on those talented Expos teams from 1978-81, particularly the 1981 squad that lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series. He played 10 full seasons with the Expos before being traded to the New York Mets after the 1984 season.

Carter, who died of brain cancer Feb. 16, was a work of art and showmanship. In the batter’s box, one saw Carter’s persona at work: he would tug at his left-shirt sleeve before each and every pitch, an unconscious, subtle flaunting of his muscles and of course, to try and get himself relaxed., the way New York Yankees star Derek Jeter does in putting his right hand back to tell the umpire that he’s almost ready to face the pitcher.

“Doing that was just something to get comfortable at the plate,’’ Carter told a Montreal writer in the 1990s. “It got you into a comfort zone and got you mentally prepared. I didn’t realize all those things in the batter’s box until I bought a video-play machine for $1,200 in California in 1980. That’s when those machine started coming out.  I would see myself on the machine tugging on my sleeves.’’

Some of his Expos teammates thought he was hot-dogging with his sleeve pulling, omni-present smile and his eagerness to go out of his way to talk to the media. One teammate once said, “You couldn’t put enough mustard on that hotdog.’’

He would earn the nickname Kodak Kid and some called him Camera.

“Gary was the most personable player the Expos ever had,’’ Fanning said, laughing about the nickname Camera. “He had more personality than anyone on the team ever had. He was a great interview. He would do so many interviews before a game that we had to cut him down a lot because he had to get ready to play the game.

“Carter satisfied more fans than anyone else on the team put together. On the road, when we were leaving the ballpark to go to the hotel, he was the last guy on the bus because he was signing autographs. He had to tell the bus driver to wait a few minutes.’’

Carter would talk the talk and walk the walk and he backed it up with a stellar offensive and defensive career. He played one of the dirtiest positions in baseball, an almost thankless task. He played hurt, participated in more than 2,000 games, hit 324 homers and drove in 1,225 runs and was an all-star 12 times. He also a key figure in the New York Mets drive to a World Series win in 1986.

And as much as Carter wanted to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown wearing a Mets’ hat, hall officials advised him that he would have to wear an Expos hat. Carter would gradually take this snub in stride.

“People will remember me as an Expo,’’ Carter said years ago. “My identity is with the Expos, not anyone else. I’ve had the luxury and the pleasure of coming back to the organization where I started. Not many players can say that. The happiest day for me was signing with the Expos in 1972 and then coming back for the 1992 season. The saddest day was when I was traded to the Mets in 1984.’’

Expos majority owner Charles Bronfman decided to jettison Carter after the 1984 season because he regretted giving Carter an eight-year contract worth $16-million after the 1982 season.

“I was Charles’ scapegoat,’’ Carter told this writer years ago.

In exchange for Carter, the Expos received pitcher Floyd Youmans, infielders Hubie Brooks, outfielder Herm Winningham and catcher Mike Fitzgerald. Carter spent five years with the Mets and then played single seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants before returning to the Expos for the 1992 season. By then, he was a figment of his former self, batting .228 with five homers and 29 RBI.

In his last plate appearance, Carter uncorked a flyball over the head of former teammate and Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson for a double to score the only run of the game. He would not play again. He wanted to say he finished his career with a hit.

But there were other reasons for quitting then. He wanted to spend more time with his family and his body was hurting big-time after all those years behind the plate.

“My body was crying out to me. I didn’t want to hang on. I didn’t want to be remembered for hanging on,’’ Carter said.

“Carter had a fantastic career,’’ Fanning said. “He was an excellent, accurate thrower, a great catcher, who loved to play more than anything else. He was a money player just like he did with the Mets in the 1986 World Series. If you needed a big hit, he got you one. If you needed a big play, throwing somebody out, he could prove that.

“He was a crowd pleaser. He hustled all the time on very single pitch the whole game. His presence was seen by everybody in a game. All of the pitchers loved pitching to him. When a team came into town for a series, he’d look at the scorecard and tell the pitchers off the top of his head about the opposing players without any notes.

“To boot,’’ Fanning said, ‘’he was a tough guy, a man’s man.’’

(Danny Gallagher was a former Expos’ beat writer for the Ottawa Sun.)

2012 Canadians in College
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2011 Canadians in the Minors

By Kevin Glew

The first image you saw when you visited Baseball Canada’s website on Friday was a photo paying tribute to Gary Carter.

It’s a testament to the legendary Expo’s enduring impact on baseball in this country that our national baseball body has chosen to honour Carter, who played his last game in the big leagues in 1992, so prominently.

No, the man nicknamed “Kid,” who passed away on Thursday after a valiant battle with brain cancer at age 57, was not Canadian, but the way he embraced the city of Montreal and its culture made him, at the very least, an honorary Canuck.

And for those of us who grew up watching those exciting late ’70s and early ’80s Expos teams, no player was more captivating than Carter.

“Due to the bond he had with Canadians, his legacy as one of the cornerstones of the Montreal Expos franchise will live on through his tens of thousands of fans in Montreal, throughout the province of Quebec, and all the way to each coast,” said Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame president & CEO, Tom Valcke, who befriended Carter when the Expos great was inducted into the St. Marys, Ont.-based ball shrine in 2001.

Montreal native, Daniel Plamondon, who served as the Expos bat boy from 1976 to 1978, shared similar feelings about Carter.

“When you think about the Expos, you think about Gary Carter. It’s as simple as that,” he said in an interview in early February.

A teenaged Plamondon would help Carter learn French, while the catching star would assist him with his homework.

“I think Gary was the only Expos player that I would see take a French newspaper and read it,” he said. “Gary took the time to learn the language. Gary loved the people in Montreal and the people loved him.”

Aside from immersing himself in the culture and signing countless autographs, Carter was also an all-star on the field. In parts of 12 seasons in Montreal, “Kid” would club 20 or more home runs in six different campaigns and capture three Gold Gloves. And during the Expos’ lone post-season appearance in 1981, Carter would hit .429 in 10 contests to propel the club to within one win of a National League pennant.

“Gary was not your typical home run hitter,” shared Bill Atkinson, a relief pitcher from Chatham, Ont., who was Carter’s teammate from 1976 to 1979, in a late January interview. “He was a line drive hitter. The big thing was, Gary was consistent. If he went 0 for 3 one night, he’d go 2 for 3 the next night.”

Atkinson, who Carter once said had the best curve ball he ever caught, also enjoyed throwing to the Hall of Fame receiver.

“Gary and I used the hook (curve ball) a lot,” said Atkinson with a chuckle. “We had a lot of things set up so that we didn’t even have to put a sign down.”

Toronto Sun columnist Bob Elliott, who will receive the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s J.G. Taylor Spink Award this July, has been covering baseball for more than 30 years and he says that Carter was the best catcher that he ever saw on an everyday basis.

In an article in Friday’s paper, Elliott, who was on the Expos beat from 1979 to 1986, shared a clubhouse exchange between Pete Rose and Carter.

“In the spring of 1984 at West Palm Beach, Al Oliver was entertaining writers and saying how he was headed for Cooperstown since he had more hits than Yankee great Lou Gehrig,” wrote Elliott. “After Oliver headed for the field, Pete Rose, rolling his eyes listening to Oliver, yelled (to Carter) across the clubhouse: ‘Hey Kid, there’s a difference between you, I and Al. He thinks he’s going. We know we’re going.’ Well, Rose was right about Carter.”

In a blockbuster deal that broke the hearts of Expos fans, Carter was traded to the Mets on Dec. 10, 1984. In five seasons in New York, Carter would participate in four all-star games and help the Mets win the 1986 World Series. His two-out, two-strike single in the 10th inning of Game 6 of that Fall Classic ignited the Mets’ rally that led to Mookie Wilson hitting the ground ball that dribbled between Bill Buckner’s legs.

Carter was welcomed back to Montreal in 1992 for his final big league campaign. In all, in parts of 12 seasons with the Expos, Carter suited up for 1,503 games (second in franchise history) and walloped 220 homers (third in franchise history). For his efforts, his No. 8 was retired by the club in 1993.

And 10 years later, just as Charlie Hustle had predicted, Carter was enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, becoming the first player to be featured in an Expos cap on their plaque. He was known for his strong arm as well, as in 1981 (above) when William Nahikian and Paul Mogan of Eraser Mate flank a rendering or Paper Mate’s Eraser Award which goes to the catcher who has the best success throwing out opposing runners.

Throughout his 19-year career, Carter was renowned for the strong relationships he developed with the fans and the media. A deeply religious man and model of clean living, the curly-haired catcher’s combination of ebullience and athleticism helped transform him into one of Canada’s most popular sports figures. It’s no wonder then that so many tributes have poured in from the Canadian baseball community since his passing.

Yankees catcher Russell Martin, who grew up in Montreal, offered his condolences on Twitter in both French and English.

“Lost one of our very best, RIP Gary Carter,” tweeted Jason Dickson, vice-president of Baseball Canada and former big league pitcher.

Former Toronto Blue Jay Paul Hodgson, who hails from Marysville, N.B., offered his thoughts about Carter on his Facebook page.

“RIP Gary Carter; Played against Gary. Didn’t know him well. He played hard and was nice to people. A fine ambassador for Major League Baseball. Today, they make five times the cash, live like royalty and are out of touch with people who pay their salary. That wasn’t Gary Carter. He was something special for baseball and it’s fans,” wrote Hodgson.

Carter will also be remembered as a man who always made his family his priority. Atkinson, who maintained a friendship with Carter long after his playing days, says there was nothing that Carter wouldn’t do for his wife, Sandy, his three kids Christy, Kimmy and D.J. and his grandkids.

Plamondon has similar recollections.

“Gary was always family,” he recalled. “When he left Jarry Park, Sandy was always out there waiting for him. So after a game, he would go straight home. He was a family man. He was never out in the bars. He was never in the hotels. On the road trips, you never saw him in the hotel bars.”

So while thousands across Canada mourn the loss of a great player and baseball ambassador, Carter’s most important legacy might be what he was away from the field – a devoted husband, a loving father and a doting grandfather.

“Gary Carter took the tough hops and thanked God for the compliment. He was an inspiration to Canadians and fans beyond our border, on the field, off the field, and throughout his final battle in our world against the demon of cancer,” said Valcke. “No matter what pitch was thrown at him, it was like ‘Kid’ just kept fouling them off, refusing to give in, a hundred times over. He was a class act, a gentleman, a gamer, a leader, and a role model for youth who desired to play the game the way it should be played, with pride, passion, unbridled enthusiasm and pure joy. We are proud to have inducted Gary Carter into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, along with Dave McKay, in 2001, and we are thankful that he now rests in a place where he no longer suffers. Due to the bond he had with his precious family, his legacy will live on through his amazing children, Christy, Kimmy and D.J.”

By Todd Devlin

At the end of February, White Sox prospect Mike Blanke will embark on his second spring training as a pro. But this time he’ll be rubbing elbows with Chicago’s major leaguers, as the catcher has earned a non-roster invite to big league camp.

“I was excited,” the 23-year-old Blanke said of receiving the news. “Last year was my first full year in A-ball, so just to be invited to spring training means a lot. It shows they have confidence in me and believe I have the potential to play with those guys.”

The Granby, Quebec-born catcher was one of 10 players within the White Sox system to earn a non-roster invite. Eight others outside the organization also received similar invites to Glendale, Arizona, where pitchers and catchers will report next Thursday.

This is just the latest positive turn in Blanke’s career since the end of the 2011 season, which he split between Single-A Kannapolis and single-A Winston-Salem. Last fall, while participating in the Arizona Instructional League, the young catcher was summoned to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League (AFL) to replace fellow Sox catching prospect Josh Phegley, who suffered a wrist injury. It was a great opportunity for Blanke, who was placed on the taxi squad and was eligible to play on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

“They saw that I was catching well and playing well in the Instructional League, and they thought I was ready to play at that level [AFL],” said Blanke, a former 14th-round draft pick (2010). “It was a big honour, and I improved a lot over there.”

In limited at-bats, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound catcher managed five extra-base hits (including two home runs) in nine games for the Solar Sox. Along the way, he also managed to impress Pirates pitching prospect Gerrit Cole (No. 1 overall pick in 2011) for his work behind the plate.

“He did great, especially for catching me,” Cole said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. “I throw a little different than most guys with the approach and my stuff. We got together before the first inning and tried to break down a couple hitters. Then we got in a flow.”

Blanke’s time in the AFL no doubt played a role in his being invited to big-league camp this spring, and Nick Capra, Chicago’s director of player development, thinks the opportunity will be beneficial for the backstop.

“It’ll be good experience for him,” Capra said. “He’ll get accustomed to how the big leaguers do things, and working with our big-league catchers is going to help him down the road somewhere.”

Capra says he hopes Blanke “asks questions and gets as much information as he can” throughout Spring Training since the youngster still has plenty to learn.

“He’s a very athletic kid, but he’s green,” Capra said. “He hasn’t really done a whole lot of catching. His strength right now is probably his arm. He receives the ball well and catches the ball well, but there’s still a lot to learn there.”

Where Blanke likely needs to improve most, Capra says, is on the mental side of the game. That became self-evident to the youngster when he endured a lengthy slump during the middle of last season. The struggles came as a bit of a shock to the catcher, who had hit .377 as a senior at the University of Tampa, where he was known to hit a bomb or two.

He was named a Pioneer League all-star in his first pro season hitting .329. Inn 2011, he finished with a .246 mark with nine home runs and 43 RBIs in 115 games between Kannapolis and Winston-Salem.

“I had a tough few months adjusting last year,” Blanke said. “I was turning bad games into maybe three or four bad games because once I started struggling I was trying to do too much to get out of it. I was trying to swing harder and do more, but baseball is not that type of game.”

But the 23-year-old managed to get out of his funk, developing more patience and getting back to doing what landed him in the pro ranks in the first place. As a result, he enjoyed a strong final month of the season, highlighted by the first two-homer game of his career on August 31. That capped a stretch in which he hit .345 (20-for-58) with five home runs, 11 RBIs and a 1.016 OPS over 17 games. He carried that success into the Arizona Fall League and then into the offseason, where he says he’s been working hard at improving all facets of his game.

“I’ve really stayed focused, and I have nothing else on my mind other than being successful this year,” Blanke said. “I’ve taken more concentrated swings this offseason, and I’ve made a lot of improvements. I’m excited for the new year.”

Where he’ll start the 2012 season is yet to be determined. Capra says Double-A is “wide open prospect-wise” at the catcher position, but it’s more likely that Blanke will start the year at Winston-Salem and then move up to Double-A Birmingham sometime during the season.

Regardless, he’s gaining steam in the eyes of both White Sox brass and the general baseball community. MLB.com’s recent White Sox organizational preview had Blanke listed as the 17th-best prospect in the system, noting his ‘plus arm’ and 37 percent caught stealing rate in 2011.

For his part, Capra sees a high ceiling for the young catcher.

“The kid’s got a chance to play in the big leagues,” Capra said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be as an everyday catcher, but he’s got the tools to play in the big leagues. It’s just a matter of how he develops along the way.”

A trip to big-league spring training this year will certainly help in that development, and Blanke says he’s ready to make a great impression.

“I feel like I’m 10 times better than last year,” he said. “I’m really on a mission to prove myself and show that I have the talent to play at that level.”

2012 Canadians in College
2012 Canadians draft list
2011 Most Influential Canadians
Letters of Intent
2011 All-Canadian College team
2011 Canadians in the Minors

By Chris Toman

Adam Loewen is set to embark on another year of uncertainty. At this point in his career, he’s used to it.

The Baltimore Orioles selected Loewen with the fourth overall pick in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft as a left-handed pitcher out of Surrey, B.C.

After climbing through Baltimore’s farm system, Loewen got the call to the big leagues and made his MLB debut in May 2006. Two years later, in July 2008, Loewen pitched the last game of his career.

Loewen required surgery to repair a stress fracture in his pitching elbow in the middle of the 2007 season and was never able to recover from the injury.

It couldn’t, however, keep Loewen away from the game.

In October 2008, after reaching an agreement with Baltimore to be released, Loewen signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays — this time, as an outfielder.

In Rick Ankiel-like fashion, Loewen made his triumphant return to the big leagues on Sept. 7, 2011, and singled in his fourth plate appearance off Boston’s Daniel Bard.

He spent the rest of the month with Toronto and, ironically enough, hit his first major league home run against the Orioles — a game-tying shot — at Rogers Centre in his third game in the majors as a position player.

“Playing with the Blue Jays in September was really a dream come true,” Loewen said last month at an event in Toronto. “I don’t use those words lightly. I grew up watching them and they were my favourite team, so to actually play for them was incredible. I wasn’t nervous at all because of what I’ve been through the last three years. I felt comfortable out there, but at the same time I was really excited to play in front of my home country. It was the icing on the cake.”

Loewen, 27, was an exceptional two-way player growing up, but, as a 6-foot-6 power lefty, he was destined to be a star on the mound.

In 2004, Will Lingo of Baseball America ranked Loewen as Baltimore’s No. 1 prospect. Lingo had this to say about him at the time:

“With two plus pitches and the possibility for two more, Loewen has legitimate No. 1 starter potential.”

The two plus pitches were a 90-95 mph fastball and a 12-to-6 curveball that Lingo considered his best pitch.

Lingo added: “Loewen would have been drafted early as a power-hitting outfielder if he wasn’t such a promising pitcher.”

Last season, playing in Triple-A for the Las Vegas 51s in the Pacific Coast League, Loewen displayed the power that Lingo spoke of years ago. He hit .306 with 17 home runs and 85 RBIs over 134 games.

Things were finally starting to come together for Loewen as a hitter, but it wasn’t an easy process grinding through Toronto’s minor league system.

“The first two years were really tough mentally,” Loewen said. “But last year was the least of my struggles. I started to see results that I hadn’t been seeing before.”

He hit .300 for the first time in pro ball and set career highs in nearly every offensive category, while playing all three outfield positions and some first base, too.

Despite his success in the minors, Loewen’s time with the Blue Jays didn’t last long. He was outrighted off Toronto’s 40-man roster this past winter and, as someone who was out of options on his contract, he would have had to make the Blue Jays’ 25-man roster out of Spring Training or risk being waived.

With an already crowded outfield in place, there was no room for Loewen in Toronto.

It didn’t take long, however, for the pitcher-turned-outfielder to get another chance with a big-league club.

Loewen signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets, a deal that included an invitation to spring training, just weeks after he closed the chapter on his Blue Jays career.

He’s eager to make the most of it.

“My goal is to break camp with the Mets,” Loewen said. “This is the first year I have the opportunity to do that since playing with the Orioles in 2007-08. Now I’m going into camp with a chance to make the team. It’s really up to me, so I’m embracing that opportunity.”

Given his age, Loewen should have been entering his prime as an established big-league pitcher. Instead, he’s fighting to stay in the game as a position player.

“Every once in a while I miss it,” Loewen said about being on the mound. “But really, I know that’s over with and hitting is my future. I tried that and pitched until I couldn’t pitch anymore and I’m completely content with where I’m at right now.”

2012 Canadians in College
2012 Canadians draft list
2011 Most Influential Canadians
Letters of Intent
2011 All-Canadian College team
2011 Canadians in the Minors

By Kendall Rogers and Allan Simpson

Few college baseball teams are more motivated than Georgia Southern entering the 2012 campaign.

The Eagles were one of the nation’s hottest teams at the conclusion of last season. They lost a tough regular season series finale to Appalachian State before rattling off four wins in the Southern Conference tournament to advance to the NCAA postseason.

With starting pitchers Chris Beck and Andy Moye in two in addition to home run champion Victor Roache, the Eagles were picked by many to surprise in the Columbia, S.C., Regional.

That certainly didn’t happen. The Eagles dropped a hard-fought affair to eventual national champion South Carolina before N.C. State eliminated them from the postseason with a tough 5-2 setback.

The way last season ended was heartbreaking for Georgia Southern, and they’ll do everything in their power to turn the tide this spring.

Again this season, the Eagles welcome back one of the nation’s premier ace pitchers in Beck, who also happens to be an elite prospect after going 9-5 with a 3.23 ERA in 103 innings last season. He also struck out 109 and walked 40. The Eagles also are led by hard-hitting outfielder Roache, who only solidified his status as an elite prospect with a strong first half to the Cape Cod League season last summer.

Though the Eagles headline the SoCon, teams such as College of Charleston, Elon and Samford aren’t far behind.

The Cougars have some holes to fill offensively, but still return elite-hitting outfielder Daniel Aldrich. But most important for the Cougars is the return of a pair of excellent starting pitchers in senior Josh Renfro and highly touted junior Christian Powell.

Elon is very much in the mix for the conference crown with the return of talented starting pitchers Dylan Clark, Kyle Webb and David Whitehead. Clark had a 2.78 ERA last season, while Webb had a 2.80 ERA and Whitehead had a 4.84 ERA.

Samford is another interesting team to watch. The Bulldogs, too, have a solid weekend rotation with Kyle Putkonen, Charles Basford and Josh Martin leading the way, while junior left-hander Lex Rutledge is one of the game’s best pitchers and prospects.

The race for the top spot in the SoCon ought to be a dandy.

Trevor Edwards (Toronto, Ont.) of the University North Carolina-Greensboro Spartans earned pre-season, all-conference honours.

HOW THEY STACK UP
Overall/conference won-loss records from 2011 indicated; expectation level denoted — College World Series= CWS, NCAA Super Regional= SR, NCAA Regional= R

No Team                           W L W L
1 Georgia Southern – R 36 26 18 12
2 College of Charleston – R 39 22 18 12
3 Samford 37 23 18 12
4 Elon 36 21 23 7
5 Appalachian State 33 27 15 15
6 Western Carolina 23 31 12 18
7 UNC Greensboro 34 20 22 28
8 Furman 24 33 13 16
9 The Citadel 20 36 8 22
10 Wofford 22 33 9 21
11 Davidson 18 30 8 21

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

Pos Name Class School Stats
C Trevor Edwards Jr. UNC Greensboro .338-6-37
1B Saxon Butler Sr. Samford .355-9-61
2B Ross Heffley Sr. Western Carolina .419-11-65
3B Zack Briggs Sr. Appalachian State .293-5-32
SS Eric Phillips Sr. Georgia Southern .390-4-39
OF Victor Roache Jr. Georgia Southern .326-30-84
OF Daniel Aldrich So. College of Charleston .347-22-73
OF Phillip Ervin So. Samford .371-4-41
DH Mac Doyle Sr. Wofford .300-10-46
UT C.K. Irby So. Samford .211-2-7; 2.48, 36 1/3 IP
SP Chris Beck Jr. Georgia Southern 9-5, 3.23, 103 IP, 40 BB/109 SO
SP Christian Powell Jr. College of Charleston 8-1, 3.09, 81 2/3 IP, 29 BB/63 SO
SP Josh Renfro Sr. College of Charleston 9-3, 3.66, 96 IP, 21 BB/77 SO
RP Lex Rutledge Jr. Samford 3-2, 3.32, 62 1/3 IP, 18 BB/63 SO

Player of the Year: Victor Roache, of, Georgia Southern
Pitcher of the Year: Chris Beck, rhp, Georgia Southern
Top Freshman: Cole Limbaugh, rhp, Samford
Top Transfer: Cody Martin, 3b, College of Charleston

THE REST OF THE STORY

* Appalachian State expects productive campaigns from several players, including junior second baseman Hector Crespo. Crespo might have plenty of potential at the plate, but his speed is outstanding. Crespo ran a 6.60, 60-yard-dash during fall workouts … Sophomore outfielder Preston Troutman had an outstanding fall, while freshman left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Springs is one to watch. Springs was 84-88 with his fastball in the fall and has an above-average curveball and changeup. Has good feel for the game for such a young player … Also keep an eye on right-handed closer Nate Hyatt. He has a fastball that touches 94, and also possesses a good slider.

* College of Charleston junior right-handed pitcher and No. 2 starting pitcher Christian Powell is one to watch this spring. He had a solid sophomore campaign last season. But interestingly, he has a fastball that touches 96. He’s considered a high-level prospect … Senior right-handed pitcher David Peterson likely will strictly be a reliever this spring, but could start at times. He worked hard during fall workouts and is now 92-95 with his fastball. Additionally, junior Jake Zokan tops out at 88-90 with his fastball, and also possesses a solid breaking ball … In terms of candidates to improve the most this season, keep a close eye on sophomore third baseman Brandon Glazer. Already a solid defender, Glazer is expected to make strides at the plate.

* Davidson has an interesting starting pitcher to watch in Ryan Overcash. The senior right-handed pitcher has a very good changeup and good command. He went 2-6 last season with a 4.03 ERA in 58 innings. He also struck out 32 and walked 13, while opponents hit him at a .271 clip.

* Elon always seems to be solid, and that isn’t expected to change this spring. The Phoenix has an interesting outfielder to watch in senior Jake Luce, who ran the 60-yard-dash in 6.50 seconds during fall workouts … In terms of pitchers, really keep an eye on sophomore right-hander David Whitehead. Whitehead made more strides in the fall and topped out at 94 mph with his fastball. He’s consistently 90-93 with an above average curveball. He’s developing his changeup and is a tireless worker … Also keep an eye on freshman two-way player Michael Elefante, who will get significant playing time this season. He has impressive arm strength behind the plate and is very accurate. He’s also 88-90 on the mound. Hitting-wise, he has plus power but must improve his overall plate discipline.

* Furman sophomore outfielder Hunter Burton had an impressive fall and is expected to have a breakout campaign for the Paladins. Interestingly, he ran a 6.65 60-yard-dash in the fall, giving the Paladins some very legitimate speed to work with … Junior right-handed pitcher Matt Plate is one to watch with a 93 mph fastball, while freshman Elliott Warford has impressed the coaches. He’s consistently 88-90 with his fastball with a plus breaking ball. He’s also a good athlete and a guy who only will continue to get better as he gets bigger and stronger … Other notables: Sophomore pitcher Tyler Wood was 86-88 in the fall, Nate Smith is a quality left-hander who was in the upper 80s in the fall with command, while Will Muzika is expected to have a solid offensive campaign … Lastly, reliever Drake Browne, who made 31 appearances last season, will miss the 2012 campaign because of Tommy John surgery.
* Georgia Southern expects an immediately productive campaign from freshman catcher Chase Griffin. Griffin really impressed the coaches with a strong fall, thanks to his power at the plate and quality in the field. He likely will serve as a first baseman or outfielder in his first campaign with the Eagles … Right-handed pitcher Chris Beck, one of the nation’s elite prospects, topped out at 97 mph with his fastball during fall workouts … Also worth noting, junior outfielder Scooter Williams is a guy to watch. Williams only hit .279 with six RBIs and four doubles last season. But he has the ability to create problems with his speed, clocking at 6.50 in the 60-yard-dash during the fall.

* Samford sophomore outfielder Phillip Ervin has a solid bat at his disposal, but he also has incredible speed. Ervin clocked in at a 6.40 in the 60-yard-dash during fall workouts. Interestingly, Ervin also pitched in the fall, where he was up to 92 with his fastball … Keep an eye on stud left-hander Lex Rutledge. Rutledge topped out at 97 in the fall and is expected to be a very high-round pick this summer … Also on the mound, Arthur Strauss was 91-93 in the fall with good sink and a very solid slider, while freshman Cole Limbaugh is one to watch with a 88-90 fastball and great feel.

BREAKING DOWN THE TOP PROSPECTS
Draft Class of 2012 unless otherwise noted

1. CHRIS BECK, rhp, Georgia Southern — Projected Round: 1
Potential early first-rounder has clean arm, consistently around plate with three plus pitches in 94-96 FB, 80-83 slurve, 84 CH

2. VICTOR ROACHE, of, Georgia Southern — Projected Round: 1
Had monster SO season, leading nation with 30 HRs; power bat is easily best tool, but also at least average on bases, in field

3. LEX RUTLEDGE, lhp, Samford — Projected Round: 1-2
Power LHP with FB that peaks at 97, nasty CU; so-so 2011 season as starter (5-6, 3.71) impacted by back spasms; will close

4. CHRISTIAN POWELL, rhp, Charleston — Projected Round: 2-4
6-5 RHP found extra gear on FB in fall, peaked at 96; should build on 2011 success (8-1, 3.09), add to SO total (63 in 82 IP)

5. PHILLIP ERVIN, of, Samford (Class of 2013) — Projected Round: 3-5
Plays much bigger than 5-11/190 frame with quick bat, foot speed, strong outfield arm; topped team with .371 average as FR

6. DAVID WHITEHEAD, rhp, Elon (2013) — Projected Round: 5-8
Debuted with 6-2, 4.84 record, but more expected of 6-5/235 RHP, 2010 draft; complements 90-93 FB with improving CU/CH

7. DANIEL ALDRICH, of, Charleston — Projected Round: 6-10
Hi-profile talent; hit loud .347-22-63 as R/S FR in 2011, huge LH raw power is only obvious tool, lot of holes in uppercut swing

8. TAYLOR SANDEFUR, rhp, Western Carolina — Projected Round: 6-10
Lost for year with shoulder injury after 2-3, 8.86 season, but has lively 95-96 FB; command of 4-pitch mix when on his game

9. TYLER HOLLSTEGGE, rhp, UNC Greensboro — Projected Round: 8-12
Moves to head of rotation as JR from combined set-up/closer role (3-1, 5.18, 4 SV); chance to take off with 88-94 FB, plus SL

10. ALEX SWIM, c, Elon — Projected Round: 8-12
Solid receiver with plus arm; hit .280-0-33 in 2011, excellent bat control (11 SO/236 AB), needs to get stronger to add power

11. JOSH ADAMS, rhp, Georgia Southern — Projected Round: 8-12
Plagued by inconsistency last spring (9-6, 4.79), summer (2-4, 5.47), but ideal 6-2/195 frame, sinking FB at 88-93, solid SL/CH

12. ARTHUR STRAUSS, rhp, Samford — Projected Round: 8-12
Emerged as legit talent as SO (0-1, 1.10, 16 IP, 8 BB/21 SO) with sinking FB at 91-93; needs to solidify stock with defined role

13. COLE LIMBAUGH, rhp, Samford (Class of 2014) — Projected Round: 8-12
Big upside in 6-4/180 RHP, late-round draft of Mets out of HS; will be midweek starter as FR; FB at 88-90, more velo in tank

14. NATE HYATT, rhp, Appalachian State — Projected Round: 8-12
Best FB on App roster at 93-94; starter in 2011 (6-5, 4.26, 89 IP, 56 BB/70 SO), slated to close as JR; needs better command

15. C.K. IRBY, rhp, Samford (2013) — Projected Round: 8-12
6-1/185 RHP had solid FR year (5-1, 2.48, 36 IP/35 SO) with command of 88-91 FB, solid CU; has no defined role for 2012

16. DAVID PETERSON, rhp, Charleston — Projected Round: 10-15
6-5/190 RHP was late-round Astros draft as JR; 3-year starter (5-6, 4.52), moves to set-up role as SR; FB a steady 92-95 in fall

17. AUSTIN PRITCHER, rhp, The Citadel — Projected Round: 10-15
Top starter for Cadets as SO (5-3, 4.61, 84 IP, 27 BB/77 SO); nothing is plus, but sound command of 88-91 FB, breaking ball

18. TYLER FILLIBEN, 3b, Samford (2013) — Projected Round: 10-15
Tall, rangy athletic 3B spent FR year out of position at SS (.251-0-21, 21 E); better suited for corner, but power needs to come

19. JAKE ZOKAN, lhp/of, Charleston — Projected Round: 12-20
Went 4-2, 3.54 (41 IP, 16 BB/41 SO) in swing role as SO, moves to rotation as JR; FB at 88-90, has plus CU, best CH on staff

20. NATE SMITH, lhp, Furman — Projected Round: 12-20
Was 3-5, 5.88 as SO, but has the raw stuff (high-80s FB), command of 4 pitches, opportunity as No. 2 starter, to improve worth

21. ERIC PHILLIPS, 2b/ss, Georgia Southern — Projected Round: 15-25
Solid, dependable 3-year starter; led team in hitting/steals as JR (.390-4-39, 26 SB), solid at SS, can play anywhere on field

22. BRANDON GLAZER, 3b, Charleston (2013) — Projected Round: 15-25
Royals 24th-rounder in 2010 got 7 at-bats as FR, takes over at 3B this spring; has raw power, plus defender/arm strength

23. ADAM MARTIN, c, Western Carolina (2013) — Projected Round: 15-25
Had sound FR year (.291-5-24), won Alaska League HR Derby in summer; defensive skills/frame may be better suited for 1B

24. GARRETT KOSTER, ss, Elon — Projected Round: 15-25
Tools stand out, but performance lags; has big arm, raw power, 6.7 speed, but hit .223-6-25 (52 SO/139 AB), .890 fielding avg

25. BRANDON MILLER, of, Samford — Projected Round: 12-20
Catcher-turned-OF has impressive power (.270-14-47), arm strength in athletic 6-1/210 frame; needs to make better contact