Arizona Winter League
Ethan Rosebeck Signs with the Slammers
Date:03/14/2018 Source:Arizona Winter League
Ethan Rosebeck has been signed by the Joliet Slammers of the the Frontier League! Rosebeck, a 6'1" RHP out of Vail, Arizona, finished the AWL season with an ERA of 5.48 in 21.1 innings, 23 Ks, and 14 BB. Prior to attending the AWL, the 25 year old graduate of Pima CC, played with Garden City, Roswell, and Tuscon of the Pecos League. He also has time with the Joplin Blast...
Ichiro Usui Signs with New Jersey
Date:03/10/2018 Source:Arizona Winter League
Ichiro Usui, recently named the 2018 AWL MVP, has signed with the New Jackals of the Can-Am League. Usui, a member of Brooks Carey's Team Canada, led the league in hitting and finished with astounding .500 batting average. He tied for the league lead in hits with 19 in 38 at bats, and only had two strikeouts to his name. When asked about Usui, Carey (Manager of the New Jersey...
Whatley Signs with New Jersey
Date:03/09/2018 Source:Arizona Winter League
INF Kevin Whatley has signed with the New Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am League. Whatley, a 22 year old infielder out of Fairborn, Ohio, hit .333 during the AWL season with 1 double, 3 triples, 2 homeruns, and 8 RBI in 39 at bats for Team Canada and AWL Manager Brooks Carey. Carey, who was named the Manager of the New Jersey Jackals in the offseason, was impressed enough to offer Whatley a ...
Erickson Signs with Normal
Date:03/08/2018 Source:Arizona Winter League
Cody Erickson, a 23 year old Catcher/Utility Player from Cave Creek, Arizona, has signed with the Normal Cornbelters of the Frontier League. Erickson hit .333 during the AWL season with 1 double, 2 triples, 4 RBIs, and 4 stolen bases. He managed to only strike out 3 times in 30 at bats, however it was his versatility on defense that caught the eye of Cornbelters' Manager Billy Horn. ...
Ovalles Wins Most Improved Player Honors
Date:03/06/2018 Source:Arizona Winter League
Jonathan Ovalles has been named the 2018 Arizona Winter League Most Improved Player. Ovalles finished second in the ERA race with a 1.15 ERA in 15.2 innings pitched. He only gave up four runs and struck out 19 while posting a 2-1 record for the Butch Hobson led Algodoneros. Ovalles attended the 2017 AWL, but didn't have quite the success that he had this season. He finished w...
Ruff Wins Pitcher of the Year!
Date:03/03/2018 Source:Arizona Winter League
Rich Ruff, a RHP out of Chicago, Illinois, has been named the 2018 Arizona Winter League Pitcher of the Year. Ruff finished the season with a league leading .88 ERA in 20.1 innings pitched. The former New York Mets Draft Pick finished with a 2-1 record for the San Luis team under former Red Sox Manager Butch Hobson. He finished third in strikeouts with 29, only 1 behind the leaders and yi...
Carp Wins AWL Defensive Player of the Year
Date:03/02/2018 Source:Arizona Winter League
Jay Carp has been named the 2018 Arizona Winter League Defensive Player of the Year. Carp, a 23 year old catcher out of Fontana, CA, was one of a handful of returning AWL players this season. Carp played college ball at Chaffey College in CA, and following last year's AWL season, played for the Utica Unicorns in the United Shore Professional Baseball League. He was signed late in the ...
Usui Named 2018 AWL MVP
Date:03/01/2018 Source:Arizona Winter League
Ichiro Usui has been named the 2018 Arizona Winter League MVP. Usui, a member of Brooks Carey's Team Canada, led the league in hitting and finished with astounding .500 batting average. He tied for the league lead in hits with 19 in 38 at bats, and only had two strikeouts to his name. Prior to attending the AWL, the left hand hitting 21 year old outfielder from Japan played a...
Pascual Santiago Added as AWL Instructor
Date:01/18/2018 Source:Arizona Winter League
Santiago, a native of Blue Island, Illinois, is the latest to join the Arizona Winter League coaching staff. While new the AWL, Santiago will find a familiar face when he joins Greg Tagert, whose staff he was a part of for three seasons with the Gary Southshore Railcats. During his tenure with the Railcats, he served as an Assistant Coach and First Base Coach, and was along for their run to the Am...
Former Red Sox Manager Butch Hobson Joins Staff
Date:12/11/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
Former Boston Red Sox Manager Butch Hobson Joins AWL Staff Butch Hobson, former Manager of the MLB’s Boston Red Sox, and current Manager of the Chicago Dogs (American Association), is the latest to join the Arizona Winter League coaching staff. In addition to managing the Red Sox from 1992 to 1994, Hobson also played for the Red Sox from 75’-80’, the then Califo...
Brooks Carey Returns for 11th Season!
Date:12/07/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
Brooks Carey, manager of the Frontier League's Normal CornBelters, returns for his record setting 11th season! Carey is considered by many as the Godfather of Arizona Winter League coaches, as he has been here since the beginning. "It's obviously well run. I wouldn't be going out for my eleventh year in a row if it weren't a good league," said Carey. &qu...
Cliburn Returns for 2nd Season
Date:11/09/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
Stan Cliburn returns for his second AWL season. Cliburn is the current Manager of the New Britain Bees of the Atlantic League and won the Atlantic League Manager of the Year Award in 2016. Cliburn brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Arizona Winter League and was the first Atlantic League (widely considered the highest level of the Indy ball), to join the AWL staff. Last season Cli...
Railcats Manager Returns to AWL
Date:10/30/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
Railcats Manager Greg Tagert returns for his 6th Arizona Winter League Season. Tagert, Manager of the Gary Southshore Railcats in the American Association, is the winningest skipper in Railcats history. The two-time Northern League Manager of the Year (2007, 2009), Tagert, in 18 seasons as a manager, has remarkably never posted a below-.500 record. Tagert most recently won the Manager of the Year...
AWLer Colin Willis Named Rookie of the Year
Date:09/07/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
PNC grad Colin Willis named Rookie of the Year by American Association Hilary Smith - NWI Times GARY — Colin Willis' road to the RailCats ran through Purdue North Central. The Sheboygan, Wisconsin, native played baseball with 'Cats manager Greg Tagert's son Joshua, who recommended Willis multiple times. Tagert saw Willis enough that he was recommending hi...
In the News: Justin Lemanski
Date:08/17/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
CSJ alumni advance baseball careers Justin Lemanski signed with the Mustangs out of Nicholasville, Ky. The team is part of the Thoroughbred Baseball League. Lemanski was a utility player for most of his student-athlete career, appearing in multiple infield positions and was a contributor on the mound as well. Lemanski finished his senior year with 35 hits, two home runs and...
AWLer Kyle Richards Signs with Gateway
Date:08/17/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
Richards Signs with Gateway RHP/OF Kyle Richards has been signed by the Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League. Richards (24), was a late addition to the AWL this past season, after stints in the USPBL and the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association. Although he joined mid-season, he arrived with a purpose, to focus instead pitching. After spending the previous couple of seasons...
In the News: Andre Solomon
Date:08/15/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
Norristown grad Andre Solomon signs professional baseball contract in Kentucky By: Ed Morlock, The Times Herald Andre Solomon took a big step in his baseball career Tuesday June 6 when he signed a contract with the Lexington Paints of the Thoroughbred Baseball League in Kentucky. It’s been a long journey for the 27-year old who spent his childhood moving back-and-forth between Norristown ...
In the News: Michael Baca
Date:08/15/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
Baca adjusting to rookie season in Atlantic League with New Britain Bees Written by DAVID GLOVACH STAFF WRITER NEW BRITAIN - Down in the New Britain Bees dugout, Michael Baca is soaking in as much as he can. It is his first season of professional baseball and there is a lot to learn, he says. At 24, Baca is the second-youngest player on the Bees roster behind only Anthony Marzi, who alread...
In the News: Jordan Hinshaw
Date:08/15/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
New Britain Bees outfielder Jordan Hinshaw settling in nicely with new team Written by KIMBERLY PENA SPECIAL TO THE HERALD NEW BRITAIN - New Britain Bees outfielder Jordan Hinshaw has been with the team for just a couple of days, but he has certainly found himself at home. Hinshaw made his debut for the Bees Wednesday in game two of a doubleheader against the Long Island Ducks, going 0-for...
In the News: TJ Pruneda
Date:08/11/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
T.J. Pruneda is keeping his dream alive Dan Brood - Pamplin Media Group Baseball. For T.J. Pruneda, it's been a journey. But not just any journey. It's been a roller-coaster of a journey. Some ups. Some downs. Maybe some disappointments. Likely some promise. It's a journey that's taken him places. Now, that baseball journey has led Pruneda to Mexico. And he's pretty ...
AWLer Benny Collesano Signs with Traverse City
Date:07/29/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
From the Taverse City Website: Collesano was signed by the Beach Bums on July 29th from the Thoroughbred Baseball League where he was 0-0 with a 3.85 ERA. Previous Experience: Collesano made his pro debut with the Oregon City Mud Turtles of the Mt. Ranier League in 2015, going 0-1 with a 2.86 ERA. In the winter of 2016, he played for the Laredo Apaches of the Arizona Winter Le...
In the News: Ryan Fitzgerald
Date:07/17/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
GARY —Playing baseball in the American Association isn't easy. Many hotel stops and eating dinner out of a bag at times can be difficult. Home cooking is something a pro player usually hears in a country song. Tune the slide guitar now. But RailCats shortstop Ryan Fitzgerald is getting the best of both worlds this summer. The native of Burr Ridge, Illinois, is living at home wi...
Villaescusa Signs with New Britain
Date:03/08/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
AWLer Ivan Villaescusa signs with the New Britain Bees of the Atlantic League. Villaescusa came to the AWL this season following a lengthly playing career that includes stops in the Angels Organization, getting as far as High A ball, as well as the United League, Mexican League, Golden League, and American Association. The switch hitting catcher, born in San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico, who...
AWLer Zach Rapacz to Normal Cornbelters
Date:03/06/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
AWLer Zach Rapacz signs with the Normal Cornbelters of the Frontier League. Rapacz, a native of West Richland, WA, came to the AWL after attending both Columbia Basin CC and George Fox University. The versatile OF/1B hit .386 during the AWL season and showed some pop as he hit 6 doubles, 1 triple, and 2 homeruns. When asked about Rapacz, Brooks Carey, Manager of the Cornbelters a...
Fitzgerald and Delaney Sign
Date:03/02/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
AWLers Ryan Fitzgerald and Daniel Delaney have been offered pro contracts with the Gary Southshore RailCats and Schaumburg Boomers respectively. Fitzgerald, from Burr Ridge, Indiana, played at Creighton University before attending the AWL. The infielder hit .279 with 4 doubles, 1 triple, and 1 homerun during the season. In addition, the coaches were very impressed with his glove as he was...
AWLer TJ Pruneda Signs with the Algodoneros de San Luis
Date:03/01/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
AWL LHP TJ Pruneda has signed a contract with the Algodoneros de San Luis. The Algodoneros play as a member of the Liga Norte de Mexico, a Minor League Baseball-organized farm system in Mexico. Prior to attending the AWL, Pruneda played for the Roswell Invaders of the Pecos League where he was 5-1 with a 6.28 ERA in 76 innings. He had an impressive 47 Ks with only 16 walks. Originally from Oregon,...
AWLer Kida De La Cruz Signs with Angels
Date:02/28/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
We are pleased to announce that AWL RHP Kida De La Cruz has been signed by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization. During the 2017 AWL Season with Team Canada, De La Cruz went 4-0 with a 2.10 ERA in 21 1/3 innings, striking out 27 with only 11 walks for manager Brooks Carey who manages the Normal Cornbelters during the Frontier League season. When asked about Kida, Carey says he's, &qu...
Game Recaps: 2/12/17
Date:02/13/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
Game 1: Yuma Tejanos vs. Team Canada Canada beats Yuma Tejanos 6-2 in a good pitchers duel aside from a few errors. Michael Hahn went the distance for Canada going 7 innings and giving up just 4 hits, 2runs and only 1 earned run. Corey Andrade walked 3 times and scored 2 runs. LF Zach Rapacz also had a Double and an RBI. Gus Constantino had 2 hits and an RBI for Yuma. Starting Pi...
Game Recaps: 2/8/17
Date:02/09/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
Game 1: Yuma Tejanos vs. Laredo apaches It was a wild game as Yuma beats Laredo 13 to 10. Dalton Cozart went 3-4 with a Walk and 2 runs scored. Trevor Greg scored 4 times and Justin Lemanski walked 3 times with a run scored. For Laredo, Austin Fraker had 3 BB, 3 Runs and 3 RBI. Game 2: Team Canada vs. Edmonton Capitals Canada routs Edmonton 14-0 with the 10 run rule ca...
Game Recaps: 2/7/17
Date:02/09/2017 Source:Arizona Winter League
Game 1: Edmonton Capitals vs. Team Canada Edmonton beats Team Canada 10-2 in the opening game on Tuesday. Irving Garcia started for Edmonton and went 2 innings and gave up 1 run. Solid relief pitching from Yutah Kudoh and Aaron Wells. Wells struck out the side in the 6th and had 5 strikeouts in 2 innings. Ryan Fitzgerald walked and scored 3 runs. Game 2: Laredo Apaches vs. Yuma T...
