by Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
This summer LSU is showcasing a number of former standout athletes in the minor leagues. The minor leaguers are battling their way up the system with dreams of one day wearing a big league uniform.
Three 2001 squad members have already bolted into the minor league mix.
Jason Scobie is playing with the Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets, Single-A) ball club. Baseball’s return to Brooklyn has caused a media frenzy this summer and Scobie began seeing his first action in the past two weeks. He posted his first professional win (1-0) and has a 1.23 ERA in 14.2 innings of work.
Former first baseman Bryan Moore is playing in Johnson City, Tenn. (Cardinals, Rookie League). He is currently batting .179 (12 of 67) with six RBI in 23 games.
Roy Corcoran, whom opted to sign a free agent contract after not being drafted played for the Montreal Expos’ Gulf Coast League team in Florida (Rookie), earning a win and a 0.00 ERA in 2.1 innings pitched. After a move to Single-A Jupiter (Fla.) where he pitched two innings of scoreless ball in early July, he has returned to the Gulf Coast Expos.
LSU currently has six players in the Triple-A ranks. Brandon Larson, after a brief stint in the big leagues, has been sent back down to the Louisville Redbirds (Reds-AAA). He is batting .241 (65 of 270) with nine home runs and 35 RBI.
Warren Morris, who spent most of last year as the Pirates starting second basemen, is now playing in Nashville (Pirates-AAA). He is batting .308 (65 of 211) with 15 doubles, five home runs and 38 RBI.
A major league veteran, Lyle Mouton is trying to make a comeback to the big leagues in Toledo, Ohio (Tigers-AAA). The power hitting Mouton is batting .342 (51 of 149) with nine home runs and 27 RBI’s in 39 games.
Harry Berrios is playing in Oklahoma City (Rangers, AAA). He is batting .239 with five home runs and 26 RBI’s.
Two Tiger pitchers are excelling in Triple-A. Kurt Ainsworth, who is noted a being one of San Francisco’s top prospects, has seen a lot of action in Fresno (Giants, AAA) this season. In 103.1 innings pitched, Ainsworth has a 6-7 record and a 5.23 ERA.
Brett Laxton is playing in Rosenblatt Stadium where he starred in the 1993 College World Series. Laxton is playing in Omaha (Royals, AAA). He sports a 2-3 record and a 4.53 ERA.
Five former LSU Tigers are playing in Double-A this summer.
Brad Cresse, leader of the 2000 National Championship team, is in El Paso (Diamondbacks, AA) where he is batting .273 (78 of 286) with eight home runs and 46 RBI. His colleague behind the plate in 2000, Ryan Jorgensen, is playing in West Tennessee (Cubs, AA). After beginning the summer in Dayton, Fla. (Cubs, A) and batting .282 in 54 games, Jorgensen has seen little action in Tennessee with only three games played and 11 at bats. He has a .091 batting average.
Ace pitcher Doug Thompson of the 1997 National Championship team, is pitching for Carolina (Rockies, AA). Thompson is 0-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 15.2 innings pitched. He began the 2001 season in Salem (Rockies, High A) where he posted a 2-2 record and a 4.02 ERA in 17 games before being called up to Double-A.
Meanwhile, Patrick Coogan has thrown 109 2/3 innings of work with the New Haven Ravens (Cardinals, AA). He’s 8-5 with a 5.17 ERA in 19 appearances. Coogan’s Catholic High and LSU teammate Chris Demouy has a 2-0 record and a 6.11 ERA in 20 relief appearances with the Arkansas Travelers (Angels, AA).
LSU has eight players competing in Single-A.
Leading the way in a great story is Blair Barbier. Barbier, one of LSU’s most popular players, was not drafted after 2000’s National Championship season. However, he signed a free agent contract with the Chicago Cubs. He is now playing in Lansing (Cubs, A). Barbier is batting .334 (105 of 314) with eight home runs and 45 RBI.
Former SEC player of the year Eddy Furniss is also making pitchers frantic with his hot bat. Furniss is playing in Visalia, Calif. (Athletics, A). He is batting .335 with five home runs and 29 RBI. Furniss played 15 games with the Midland (Texas) Rockhounds where he batted only .204 in April before moving to California.
Cedrick Harris also began the season batting .204 in 16 games with the Double-A El Paso Diablos before being demoted to Lancaster, Calif. (Diamondbacks, A). Harris is batting .269 (45 of 167) with five home runs and 23 RBI.
Brad Hawpe has cooled off a little in Asheville (Rockies, A) this summer. After lighting the place on fire last summer in which he drew comparisons to Todd Helton, Hawpe is batting .267 (65 of 243) with 16 doubles, 15 home runs and 52 RBI. Hawpe is still considered one of the Rockies most promising prospects.
Another Tiger first basemen, Jeff Leaumont is playing in Tampa (Yankees,A). He is batting .246 (60 of 244) with six home runs and 21 RBI this season.
The MVP of the CWS Championship game in 2000, Trey Hodges, is pitching in Myrtle Beach (Braves,A). Hodges has seen a lot of action sporting a 10-5 record with a 3.42 ERA in 17 games and 108 innings of work. Hodges has struck out 82 batters while walking only 14.
The ace of the 2000 staff, Brian Tallet, is pitching in Kinston (Indians, A). Tallet has posted a 7-5 record, with a 2.81 ERA in 115 1/3 innings pitched.
A third member from the 2000 staff, Heath McMurray is pitching in Ogden, Ore. (Brewers,R). McMurray is 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 13 innings pitched.
If any former LSU baseball player was omitted from this list, LSUsports.net would like to apologise and request that information be sent to lsuwebmaster@eatel.com