Alabama Baseball in the Major and Minor Leagues
4/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Former University of Alabama baseball players prepare to continue their careers on the diamond as they suit up for Major and Minor League Baseball teams this spring.
Two former Crimson Tide stars made Major League rosters for opening day. Andy Phillips, who played at the Capstone from 1996-1999, will be the backup first baseman for the perennial power New York Yankees. Phillips played in 27 games for New York last season, hitting a homerun and four RBI in 40 at-bats. On April 24, 2005, his first Major League game of the '05 season, Phillips shined with a four RBI game and hit his second career big league homer off Texas Rangers pitcher Matt Riley.
One of Alabama's best pitchers, Lance Cormier, will be the closest big leaguer to home this season with a spot in the Atlanta Braves bullpen. Cormier, who won 31 games and threw 289 strikeouts in 129 innings pitched for the Tide, was acquired by the Braves this off-season in a three player deal which sent Braves catcher Johnny Estrada to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Ten former Tide players are on Minor League rosters this year, including five on Triple-A rosters and two in Double-A's Southern League.
Former Tide slugger Dustin Mohr, who has had previous stints with the Minnesota Twins and Colorado Rockies, will suit up for the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Mohr was one of four Alabama players in 1997 to hit 20 or more homeruns in a single season. The foursome, which also included G.W. Keller, Roberto Vaz and Robbie Tucker, is the only foursome in NCAA history to hit 20 or more homers in a single season.
The most decorated catcher in Alabama baseball history, Jeremy Brown, will begin the 2006 season with the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Brown, who played at the capstone from 1999-2002, was the winner of the 2002 Johnny Bench Award, which is given annually by the Greater Wichita Sports Commission to the nation's top catcher. The Hueytown native is one of only two Southeastern Conference catchers to ever with the award.
Adam Pavkovich, who made SEC and NCAA All-Tournament teams in 2003 as the starting shortstop for the Crimson Tide, starts off the season with Triple A's Salt Lake Bees. Pavkovich was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2003 draft.
Paul Phillips, who played for the Tide in 1998, will suit up for the Triple-A Omaha Royals this season. In 67 at-bats last year with the Kansas City Royals, Phillips drove in nine runs and hit one homer.
Frank Menechino, who played at the Capstone from 1992-1993, will begin the year with the Louisville Bats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Menechino spent the past three seasons with the Oakland Athletics.
Taylor Tankersley and Dax Norris will be suiting up for teams in Double-A's Southern League, the league that includes three teams in the state of Alabama: the Birmingham Barons, Mobile Baybears and Montgomery Biscuits.
Tankersley, who had 11 career saves and 232 career strikeouts for Alabama, will start the year with the Carolina Mudcats. Tankersley pitched at the Capstone from 2002-2004. He was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the first round of the 2004 draft.
Norris, the Tide's catcher from 1995-1996, begins the season with the Mississippi Braves, Class-AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Norris was a Super Smith First Team All-American in 1996 when he hit .370 with 49 RBI and 21 doubles.
Three pitching standouts from last season's team begin the season on Single-A rosters.
The Crimson Tide's all time leader in strikeouts, Brent Carter, will start 2006 in California with the Lake Elsinore Storm, Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. From 2002-2005, Carter threw 307 strikeouts. He also has 25 career wins, tied for third in the Alabama record books.
T.J. Large, who went 7-4 with a 3.46 ERA last season, begins the year with the Greenville Drive in Greenville, South Carolina. Large was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 2005 draft.
Trey Shields, who also pitched at the Capstone last season, will begin the season across the border, suiting up for the Vancouver Canadians, single-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.
Stay with Rolltide.com all season long to keep up with the progress of these former Tide stars as they take the field in Major and Minor League ballparks in the 2006 season.
