Elliott: Thorman, Armstrong, Henderson, Vitale head to Arizona Fall loop

Scott Thorman (Cambridge, Ont.), shown in the middle above as manager of the Wilmington Blue Rocks, will manage the Arizona Fall League’s Surprise Saguaros. Photo: Delaware Online.com

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Scott Thorman is headed back in the Arizona Fall League next month.

Thorman (Cambridge, Ont.) has his Wilmington Blue Rocks in first place in the class-A Carolina league with a 78-55 record (.595 winning mark) in the Kansas City Royals system.

Thorman will manage the Surprise Saguaros composed of the best prospects from the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals and the Royals. Looking after the pitchers will be Mike Anderson (Rangers), while Ken Joyce (Yankees) will handle the hitters. The other coaches are Kyle Moore (Orioles) and Larry Pardo (Nationals).

In 2004 with the Grand Canyon Rafters the former first-round pick in 2000 -- highest rated Canadian position player ever selected -- played with the likes of future major league position players Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur, Curtis Granderson, Jason Bartlett, Rob Bowen, Mike Cervenak, Mitch Jones, Jason Kubel, Fred Lewis, Tony Pena, Jr., Ryan Raburn and Chris Shelton

Future big leaguers on the mound for Grand Canyon were: Jesse Crain, Macay McBride, Scott Baker, J.D. Durbin, Sam Marsonek, Zach Miner, Scott Munter, Mark Woodyard and San Francisco Giants farmhand Chris Begg (Uxbridge, Ont.).

There will be three Canucks coaching in the Fall League. With the Glendale Desert Dogs -- composed of the best from the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals will be pitching coach Jim Henderson (Brewers) and hitting coach Cole Armstrong (White Sox), who will serve under manager Luis Bolivar (Reds). Henderson served as a pitching coach and a scout this season.

Carson Vitale (Victoria, BC) of the Seattle Mariners will serve as a coach with the Peoria Javelinas, which has players from the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates San Diego Padres and Mariners.

Cesar Martin of the Blue Jays will manage the Scottsdale Scorpions compiled of the best youngsters from Atlanta Braves. New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and the Blue Jays. The strength and conditioning coach will be Ryan Maedel of the Blue Jays.

Over 2,900 of nearly 5,000 Fall Leaguers have reached the majors, including 296 big-league All-Stars and 22 MVPs.

Included on the MVP list of winners are Albert Pujols three times and two by Mike Trout. Mookie Betts, Ryan Braun, Kris Bryant, Josh Donaldson, Jason Giambi, Josh Hamilton, Bryce Harper, Ryan Howard, Joe Mauer, Andrew McCutchen, Justin Morneau, Dustin Pedroia, Buster Posey, Jimmy Rollins, Giancarlo Stanton, Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) and Christian Yelich won the others.

Plus nine Cy Young Award winners led by Max Scherzer with three and Roy Halladay with a pair. The other winners: Jake Arrieta, Chris Carpenter, Dallas Keuchel and Brandon Webb.