June 9, 2008

USF is well represented in the minor league baseball ranks, with eight on current rosters. Three of those are playing in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.

Tagg Bozied, one of USF's most prolific hitters, is having success at first base for the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins. Through 42 games, Bozied is batting .302 (45-for-149) with six doubles, one triple, six homeruns, 17 RBI, 25 runs scored, 14 walks, and three stolen bases.

Nick Pereira and Jesse Foppert both toe the rubber for the Fresno Grizzlies, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Pereira is currently 5-6 with a 5.71 ERA in 12 starts. In 64.2 innings, Pereira has 54 strikeouts and just 27 walks. Foppert is 1-0 with a 5.16 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 16 relief appearances (29.2 innings).

Stefan Gartrell, drafted in 2006 by the Chicago White Sox, is currently playing for the Birmingham Barons of the Double-A Southern League. In 52 games this season, Gartrell is batting .247 (40-for-162) with eight doubles, one triple, three homeruns, 17 RBI, 21 runs scored, 21 walks, and two stolen bases. In the last three seasons, Gartrell has moved from the Rookie level Bristol Sox, to the Class-A Kannapolis Intimidators of the South Atlantic League, and on into his current position in Double-A.

Last year's No. 25 overall draft pick by the Chicago White Sox, Aaron Poreda, is throwing for Class-A Advanced Winston-Salem Warthogs of the Carolina League. In 12 starts, he is 5-5 with a 3.31 ERA. Poreda has one complete game, 46 strikeouts and just 18 walks in 73.1 innings pitched.

Also in Class-A Advanced is Scott Cousins, who is playing for the Florida Marlins' affiliate, Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League. Cousins is batting .286 (16-for-56) in 15 games, with four doubles, eight RBI, eight runs scored, five walks, and five stolen bases.

Daniel Morales and Luke Sommer are also listed on active rosters, but have yet to begin their seasons. Morales (Class-A Short-Season Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the New York-Penn League/Cleveland Indians) went 2-1 with a 4.63 ERA in 15 appearances last season. In 23.1 innings pitched, Morales struck out 21 while only walking 11. Sommer (Rookie AZL Cubs/Chicago Cubs) batted .237 (42-for-177) with 11 doubles, six triples, two homeruns, 31 RBI, 25 runs scored, and 12 walks in 49 games in 2007.