Results tagged ‘ Dylan Bundy ’
Dash to a million: Notable players
Since it opened in April of 2010, there have been numerous great players to play on BB&T Ballpark’s field. Here we have compiled a list of the some of the greatest players to play here in the park’s short history:
Jackie Bradley, Jr.: A member of the 2012 Salem Red Sox and the 2012 Carolina League All-Star team, Bradley was the Opening Day left fielder for the Boston Red Sox this year.
Dylan Bundy represented the Frederick Keys at last year’s All-Star Game (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
Dylan Bundy: The right-hander made 12 starts for the Frederick Keys last year, and tossed a scoreless inning for the Carolina League in last year’s All-Star Game. He came into 2013 as the number two rated prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America.
Adam Dunn: The slugger came with the White Sox when they played the Dash at BB&T Ballpark in an exhibition game prior to the 2011 season. Mostly a designated hitter the last several years, Dunn had a string of five consecutive seasons with 40 or more home runs from 2004-2008 and is fifth among active players with 413 career home runs.
Billy Hamilton: The speedster represented the Bakersfield Blaze on the California League All-Star team last season and stole two bases in the first inning of the All-Star Game. Hamilton set a record for stolen bases in a minor league season in 2012 with 147 swipes.
Eric Hosmer: Now in his third season as the everyday first baseman for the Kansas City Royals, Hosmer played in the Carolina League with the Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2009 and 2010. In 2010, he won the league’s batting title after posting a .354 average.
Paul Konerko, who played against the Dash here in 2011, is one of the best hitters of his generation.
Paul Konerko: Now in his 17th season in the big leagues, Konerko was another member of that 2011 White Sox squad that played at BB&T Ballpark in March of that year. The first baseman has 1,352 RBIs in his career, ranking him fifth among all active players.
Manny Machado: A shortstop while coming through the Baltimore Orioles’ system, the 2011 Key alum made the big leagues late last season where he played down the stretch and in the playoffs at third base. Now in his first full season with the Orioles, Machado is the team’s regular third baseman.
Wil Myers: The 2012 Minor League Player of the Year, Myers applied his trade for a long time in the Kansas City system before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays this past off-season. Considered one of the best hitting prospects in the game, Myers hit .346 in 58 games for the Blue Rocks in 2010.
Addison Reed: Now the closer for the White Sox, the hard-throwing righty had a brief stint with the Dash during the 2011 season. Reed appeared in 15 games out of the Winston-Salem bullpen, posting a 1.59 ERA in 28.1 IP.
Anthony Rizzo: Now the proud owner of a new contract extension that will keep him with the Chicago Cubs through at least 2019, Rizzo was once a Red Sox farmhand. The first baseman played for Salem in 2009 and 2010 before being traded to San Diego in the Adrian Gonzalez deal, and eventually to the Cubs prior to 2012.
A record-setting crowd watched Chris Sale make his professional debut on July 2, 2010.
Chris Sale: On July 2, 2010 the southpaw made his professional debut here at BB&T Ballpark in front of what was then the highest attendance in the park’s history at 7,268. Sale would reach the big leagues later in the 2010 season, and is now the ace of the White Sox rotation. In his most recent outing, he nearly threw a perfect game against the Angels.
Andrelton Simmons: The shortstop hit .311 during the 2011 campaign as a Lynchburg Hillcat, and also did some damage as a Hillcat in the 2012 Carolina League Playoffs while on a rehab assignment. Simmons hit two home runs in the playoffs including one against the Dash in the Mills Cup Finals. He is now the regular starting shortstop for the Atlanta Braves.
Come join us tonight as we celebrate the one millionth fan in BB&T Ballpark’s history! One lucky fan will be randomly selected to play a game of chance to win either one million dollars, a two-year lease on a vehicle from Flow Auto, or two Dash tickets for life!
If you can’t make it to the park, join me here at 6:45 for the Pregame Dash with first pitch to follow at 7. Tonight’s game will also be broadcast on 600-AM WSJS in the Winston-Salem area. Talk to you then!
- Rob
Carolina Countdown: Frederick Keys
Our look around the Carolina League continues with the Frederick Keys, who have won three championships since 2005. Let’s break down the future Orioles.
CAROLINA COUNTDOWN: Frederick Keys
Introduction: The Frederick Keys are affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles, and Camden Yards is only 50 miles away from Frederick’s Harry Grove Stadium. The Keys have won the Carolina League title four times, most recently in 2011.
Last season: Frederick did not parlay their 2011 title into success in the standings a year ago. The Keys tumbled to a 27-43 first-half record and a last-place finish in the Northern Division. Buoyed by the presence of top prospect Dylan Bundy, the Keys bounced back in the second half to record a 35-34 mark, falling just a game and a half shy of the top spot in the Northern Division’s second-half chase.
Minor was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers but chose baseball over basketball.
Manager: Ryan Minor will be at the helm for Frederick this year, his first as the Keys’ manager. Minor comes to Frederick after spending three seasons managing the Orioles’ Low-A affiliate, the Delmarva Shorebirds. With the Shorebirds, Minor collected a record of 166-252. A basketball and baseball star at Oklahoma University, Minor was drafted by the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers with the 32nd pick of the 1996 NBA Draft. However, when the Orioles drafted him the same year in the 33rd round of the MLB Draft, he chose baseball over basketball. While a member of the Orioles’ organization, Minor played in two games for the Keys back in 2000. He would go on to play in parts of four seasons in the majors, including three with Baltimore.
System: Baseball America ranks the Orioles’ farm system 17th in baseball, but the duo of Bundy, a consensus top three prospect in all the minors, and fellow right-hander Kevin Gausman is one of the best in the minors. Bundy climbed all the way to Baltimore in his first professional season in 2012, while Gausman is projected to be a quick riser, too. Beyond the Bundy-Gausman connection, the Orioles are without many high-end prospects, per Baseball America. However, young players like Manny Machado and Matt Wieters have put the Orioles in a great spot at the big league level.
Best promotion: While bobblehead nights for Bundy and Machado may bring the most fans to Harry Grove Stadium this year, the Keys’ annual “Fredneck Night” on June 21st takes the best promotion award. Fredneck Night, named for the nickname for Frederick locals, will feature WWE legend Sgt. Slaughter, who will be running a Fredneck Boot Camp throughout the game.
Minor was the man who ended Cal Ripken Jr.’s Ironman streak (Chicago Tribune).
Fun fact: While Keys’ Manager Ryan Minor didn’t have a very lengthy big league career, he will always be known for what he did on September 20, 1998. On that day, Minor replaced Cal Ripken Jr. in the lineup, ending Ripken’s streak of 2,632 games played. When Minor found out that he was replacing Ripken Jr. in the lineup, he asked, “Does he know?”
Keys in Winston-Salem: Frederick will makes three trips to BB&T Ballpark this season, two of which come in May. The Keys will be here from May 6-8 and May 27-30, with their final visit from July 21-23.
Tomorrow: Check back tomorrow as the countdown continues with the reigning Mills Cup Champions–the Lynchburg Hillcats.
- Rob
Why The Dash Are Thankful
Thanksgiving week is here, and the Dash wish you and yours a tremendous holiday weekend. We are thankful for so much, so we wanted to share some of these things with you, our loyal readers.
The Dash are thankful for…
- all 305,515 fans who visited BB&T Ballpark for the 2012 season.
- an All-Star season, capped by a 9-1 victory in the Midsummer Classic.
- having the MVP (Dan Black) and the Manager of the Year (Tommy Thompson) in Winston-Salem.
- the decimal .630. It was the Dash’s 2012 winning percentage, good for the best in full-season minor league baseball.
- large windows in the control room so that they can see T-Rock bust a move to “Tricky” and “Call Me Maybe.”
- Brady Shoemaker’s first-half dominance.
- Kevan Smith’s playoff prowess.
- having the opportunity to see highly-touted prospects Jackie Bradley, Dylan Bundy, Billy Hamilton and George Springer, among others, play at BB&T Ballpark.
- the potential of the 2013 squad, with players like Courtney Hawkins, Erik Johnson, Scott Snodgress and Keenyn Walker candidates to begin the season in the Triad.
- the fact that things like Bolt, Lemonheads, ZOOperstars mean something to folks in Winston-Salem.
- a beautiful ballpark that features family-friendly entertainment all summer long.
- the 2013 season, which is just 136 days away.
Have a tremendous Thanksgiving, and thank you so much for reading this blog all season long. Enjoy your turkey.
- Brian
MiLBY Voting Is In
The Dash finished sixth in voting for the 2012 “Team of the Year” MiLBY award, Minor League Baseball announced this morning.
Winston-Salem received eight percent of the votes and finished ahead of Elizabethton, Vancouver, St. Lucie, Wisconsin, Akron and Springfield. All of these teams except for St. Lucie won their league’s championship in September.
The Hudson Valley Renegades, Tampa Bay’s short-season A affiliate and the New York-Penn League’s champion, won the Fans’ Choice MiLBY by mustering an impressive 29 percent of the votes. The Asheville Tourists, Colorado’s Low-A unit, finished second in the voting but claimed the Staff’s Choice MiLBY after winning the South Atlantic League crown and finishing behind only Winston-Salem for the top regular season mark in full-season minor league baseball.
The Dash also fell just short of besting three Triple-A clubs–Reno, Pawtucket and Indianapolis–in the vote. That trio finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
Winston’s 87-51 record was the best in full-season baseball, and the Dash also finished with a minor league-best 48 victories at home. The Dash’s playoff run fell short in the Mills Cup Finals, though, when Lynchburg won the best-of-five set in four games.
Thanks to all the fans who supported the Dash by voting online! Winston-Salem could still take home a MiLBY when the “Home Run of the Year” is announced Friday. Keenyn Walker’s homer against highly-touted prospect Dylan Bundy from July 20 is one of 12 nominees.
Here is a full list of the nominees and winners.
- Brian
Three Winston-Salem Stars Honored
Erik Johnson became the Dash’s ace after his promotion in July (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
Baseball America released its Top 20 Prospects ranking for the Carolina League, and three men who donned the Dash purple this season made the list.
Infielder Carlos Sanchez placed sixth, which was the highest ranking for a Winston-Salem player. Righty Erik Johnson is 11th on the list, while outfielder Trayce Thompson checks in at 18th.
The 20-year-old Sanchez led all Carolina League qualifiers with a .315 batting average. In 92 games with the Dash, Sanchez scored 58 times and drove in another 42 runs. A member of the World Team in the 2012 MLB Futures Game, Sanchez earned promotions to Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte before the season ended.
Johnson joined the Dash July 21 and went 4-3 with a 2.74 earned run average in eight starts. He was the club’s Game 1 starter in their playoff run last month. Before his stint in Winston-Salem, the former California Golden Bear boasted a 2.30 ERA in nine efforts with Low-A Kannapolis.
Finally, Thompson slugged his way to a spot on this prestigious list. The former second-round pick finished tied for the league lead with 22 home runs, and he paced the circuit with 90 RBI. Like Sanchez, Thompson also made a stop in Double-A Birmingham before finishing the season with Triple-A Charlotte during its playoff run in the International League.
Only Salem and Myrtle Beach (four apiece) had more players on this list. Frederick’s Dylan Bundy finished atop the rankings, followed by a Salem triumvirate of Xander Bogaerts, Matt Barnes and Jackie Bradley, Jr. Myrtle’s Cody Buckel finished in fifth.
Interestingly enough, the only player on this list who never appeared in a game at BB&T Ballpark was Potomac’s Nathan Karns, who finished 15th overall.
Congrats to Carlos, Erik and Trayce!
- Brian
Vote For the Dash As MiLB’s Best Team
VOTE HERE
Thanks to an 87-51-1 mark that was the best in full-season minor league baseball, the Dash are one of the 12 nominees for the 2012 MiLBY “Team of the Year” award.
The Dash finished with the second-best record in Winston-Salem history since the franchise joined the Carolina League as a charter member in 1945. Winston also finished with a 48-23 record at home, which was good for the best in full-season minor league baseball.
Winston-Salem featured more than 20 players who were promoted to Double-A or Triple-A by the end of the season. Slugger Dan Black earned the CL’s Most Valuable Player award, while skipper Tommy Thompson took home the Manager of the Year honor.
In addition to the Team of the Year nomination, Keenyn Walker’s home run against Dylan Bundy, a highly-touted pitching prospect who recently joined the Baltimore Orioles, has been nominated for the Home Run of the Year. The home run was Walker’s first in High-A, and it came during his first at-bat at BB&T Ballpark.
To vote, click the link above and navigate through the bar on the right-hand side. You do not have to vote for every category, but you do have to fill out the information at the bottom of the page.
Support the Dash in the MiLBY awards!
- Brian
One All-Star Ballot
Dan Black could finish the season atop the CL in many categories (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
PLEASE NOTE: These selections do NOT represent the award winners in the Carolina League. This is merely my opinion on the end-of-season awards.
The Carolina League’s end-of-season All-Star Team should be announced sometime this week, and it is a vote involving media members, general managers and skippers. Here are my best guesses, along with a few others who deserve mention (in alphabetical order).
CATCHER: Braeden Schlehuber (Lynchburg)
The All-Star reserve earns this spot, but it was one of the toughest ones to pick. Winston-Salem’s Mike Blanke made a late surge and certainly could get this spot.
Close calls: Mike Blanke (Winston-Salem), David Freitas (Potomac), Evan Gattis (Lynchburg)
FIRST BASE: Dan Black (Winston-Salem)
He won’t win the triple crown in the CL, but he will come closer than anyone else. The Big Black Bear has been one of the circuit’s most consistent hitters all season long.
Close calls: Chris Garcia (Lynchburg), Travis Shaw (Salem)
Carlos Sanchez finally gets his All-Star selection (Dan Barber/W-S Dash).
SECOND BASE: Carlos Sanchez (Winston-Salem)
It was embarrassing that Sanchez did not make the All-Star team, but this should be a nice consolation. That, and being in Triple-A Charlotte now.
Close call: Tommy La Stella (Lynchburg)
SHORTSTOP: Xander Bogaerts (Salem)
Boston’s second-best prospect is now a Portland SeaDog, but he was a force offensively in the Carolina League.
Close calls: Nick Ahmed (Lynchburg), Marcus Semien (Winston-Salem)
THIRD BASE: Michael Almanzar (Salem)
Almanzar needed a second season in High-A ball, but he improved greatly from year one.
Close calls: Giovanni Urshela (Carolina), Christian Villanueva (Myrtle Beach)
OUTFIELDERS: Jackie Bradley, Jr. (Salem), Brady Shoemaker (Winston-Salem) and Trayce Thompson (Winston-Salem)
Bradley, Jr., and Shoemaker were the CL’s two best players in the first half, and Thompson boasted the most gaudy numbers on the circuit.
Close calls: Michael Earley (Winston-Salem), Jeremy Nowak (Frederick)
UTILITY INFIELDER: Travis Shaw (Salem)
It was tough to pick among many great players for this final spot, but Shaw was a key cog in Salem’s huge first half.
Close calls: Jesus Aguilar (Carolina), Ronny Rodriguez (Carolina), Semien
Michael Earley has had a huge first season in full-season ball (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
UTILITY OUTFIELDER: Michael Earley (Winston-Salem)
Earley had a career year, and he definitely belongs somewhere on this list. He fits in well here.
Close calls: Kevin Keyes (Potomac), Nowak
DESIGNATED HITTER: Aaron Baker (Frederick)
With all of the great first basemen in the CL, Baker had to fight to get on this roster despite his big power numbers.
Close call: Jeremie Tice (Carolina)
STARTING PITCHER: Cody Buckel (Myrtle Beach)
Buckel’s 1.31 ERA in 13 starts was ridiculous, and he still places 14th in the CL in strikeouts despite playing in Double-A Frisco for much of the second half.
Close calls: Matt Barnes (Salem), Dylan Bundy (Frederick), J.R. Graham (Lynchburg), Gus Schlosser (Lynchburg)
RELIEF PITCHER: Ben Rowen (Myrtle Beach)
This was one of the tougher selections, but Rowen has been electric as a submarine specialist.
Close calls: Juan Jaime (Lynchburg), Mike Olmsted (Salem), Taylor Thompson (Winston-Salem)
Brady Shoemaker’s first half was enough to earn my MVP vote (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Brady Shoemaker (Winston-Salem)
Shoemaker carried the Dash past a loaded Salem squad in the first half. If he had been in the CL throughout the season, the Indiana State product could have posted some ridiculous numbers.
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Cody Buckel (Myrtle Beach)
The numbers were just too good.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Tommy Thompson (Winston-Salem)
This isn’t even a conversation. If he isn’t the unanimous choice, voters don’t know what they are doing. Thompson has taken the Dash to the brink of minor league baseball’s best record despite significant turnover.
Agree? Disagree? Let me know.
But you have to like the fact that Winston-Salem paces the All-Star team with five representatives, plus the MVP and Manager of the Year.
- Brian
Dash Set To Square Off With Bundy
(Photo courtesy of the Frederick Keys).
Winston-Salem boasts the best offense in the Carolina League, with league-leading figures in batting average (.279) and runs per game (5.6). Tomorrow night at BB&T Ballpark, the Dash will have quite an assignment. Frederick right-hander Dylan Bundy, the fourth-overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft, is scheduled to start.
Bundy is 3-2 with a 3.42 earned run average in five High-A starts this season. The Tulsa, Okla., native began his minor league career in Low-A Delmarva, where he did not allow an earned run in 30 innings of work.
This will not be Bundy’s first appearance inside BB&T Ballpark. He tossed a scoreless sixth inning during the California-Carolina League All-Star Game eight days ago.
Winston has a highly-touted prospect taking to the mound, too. Righty Jake Petricka will start for the Dash.
Mike had a chance to chat with Bundy prior to the game Tuesday, and you can listen to that interview below. Also, tickets can be purchased for tomorrow’s game here.
- Brian
Sanchez Has Quite A Future
Dash infielder Carlos Sanchez received a prestigious distinction Thursday afternoon when he was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game July 8 in Kansas City, where the MLB All-Star Game will be held two days later.
Carlos Sanchez will represent the Dash in the All-Star Futures Game July 8 in Kansas City (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
The Futures Game is a showcase of the top prospects across all levels of minor league baseball. Sanchez is one of eight infielders on the World team roster and will face the U.S. squad Sunday, July 8 in Kauffman Stadium.
The 19-year-0ld Venezuela native is in the midst of a breakout season for the Dash in his fourth year of professional baseball. Sanchez leads the league with 85 hits and has a .327 batting average through 66 games. In addition, he has 32 RBI, a home run, and has scored 41 runs this season.
Sanchez is the first Dash player to be selected to the Futures Game while on the active roster. Former 2009 Dash pitcher Daniel Hudson was selected to the 2010 Futures Game.
The Futures Games is a place to watch the top prospects in all of minor league baseball, and selection to the game is often indicative of future success in the major leagues. This will be the 14th edition of the Futures Game. The previous 13 years have yielded 88 players that went on to play in the MLB All-Star Game.
Sanchez will compete alongside fellow Carolina League players Xander Boagerts (Salem), Jesus Aguilar (Carolina), and Yordano Ventura (Wilmington) on the World team roster. The U.S. team roster has two pitchers from the Carolina League in Matt Barnes (Salem) and Dylan Bundy (Frederick).
On July 8 the future stars of Major League Baseball will take the field when 25 of the best prospects from the United States face off against 25 of the best international players in the minor leagues. It is a high honor bestowed upon the Dash’s young infielder. This season Sanchez has proved himself to be among the best in the Carolina League. Now he will look to see where he stacks up against the best in baseball.
-Mike
