Dons Professional Baseball Update

Oct. 26, 2009

As professional baseball winds down, we here at USFDons.com wanted to check in on some former Dons and see how they are doing in professional baseball. Here is a quick rundown of 12 ex-Dons in pro ball.

Class of 2008:

Right-handed pitcher Evan Frederickson, drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers as a compensation pick in the first round, played the year with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the Class-A Midwest League. In 29 games (16 starts), Frederickson went 3-9, 5.27 ERA, with two saves. In 97.1 innings, he struck out 92 opponents. The Timber Rattlers finished the season seventh in the Midwest League Western division.

2009 Stats:

Second baseman Joey Railey, drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 21st round, spent time with three teams in 2009, but finished with the Eugene Emeralds (Class-A Short Season, Northwest League). In Eugene, Railey batted .283 in 26 games. He had three doubles, 13 RBI, and three stolen bases. The Emeralds finished fourth in the Northwest League West division. Over the summer, including stops with the Lake Elsinore Storm (Class-A California League) and Fort Wayne Tincaps (Class-A Midwest League), Railey batted .255 in 30 games with 26 hits, 13 runs scored, three doubles, 15 RBI, 15 walks, and five stolen bases.

2009 Stats:

Left-hander Matt Baugh, drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 29th round, played the entire summer with the Tri-City (Washington) Dust Devils (Class-A Short Season, Northwest League). Baugh went 0-3, 9.35 ERA in 7 starts. In 26.0 innings, he struck out 29 and walked just eight. The Dust Devils finished first in the Northwest League East Division. The Salem-Keizer (Oregon) Volcanoes defeated the Dust Devils in the League Championships.

2009 Stats:

Outfielder Kyle Morgan (36th Round - Pittsburgh Pirates) saw time with two teams this season, starting out with the State College Spikes (Class-A Short Season, New York-Penn League) before being promoted to the Class-A West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League. Finishing the season in West Virginia, Morgan batted .296 in 43 games, with 47 hits, 34 runs scored, 12 doubles, nine homeruns, 32 RBI, and one stolen base. The Power finished fourth in the South Atlantic League Northern division. Overall, Morgan batted .274 in 63 games, with 62 hits, 47 runs scored, 16 doubles, one triple, 12 homeruns, 49 RBI, 21 walks, and four stolen bases.

2009 Stats:

Class of 2007:

San Francisco's highest ever draft pick, lefty Aaron Poreda (1st Round - 25th overall; Chicago White Sox) is currently the only former Don in the Major Leagues. He was promoted to the White Sox roster on June 9, 2009. He made his debut three days later in Milwaukee. Against the Brewers, Poreda tossed 1.2 innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three batters, including the first batter he faced to close out the seventh inning. In 10 games with Chicago, Poreda went 1-0, 2.45 ERA. In 11.0 innings, he struck out 12. Poreda was then traded to the San Diego Padres at the July 31st trade deadline. In San Diego, Poreda went 0-0 in four relief appearances. San Diego finished fourth in the National League West.

2009 Stats:

Outfielder Luke Sommer (30th Round, Chicago Cubs) has moved to the pitching mound. This year, with the Daytona Cubs (Class-A Advanced, Florida State League), the Canby OR native finished 2-4, 2.13 ERA in 51 relief appearances. In 72.0 innings, Sommer struck out 67 while only walking 11. The Cubs finished fifth in the Florida State League North division.

2009 Stats:

Class of 2006:

San Francisco's highest draftee after the 2006 season, outfielder Scott Cousins (3rd Round, 95th overall, Florida Marlins), played the 2009 season with the Jacksonville Suns (Double-A Southern League). The Reno, NV native batted .263 in 130 games, with 127 hits, 60 runs scored, 31 doubles, 11 triples, 12 homeruns, 74 RBI, 42 walks, and 27 stolen bases. The Suns finished second in the Southern League South division.

2009 Stats:

San Francisco native Stefan Gartrell (31st Round, Chicago White Sox) spent time with two teams this summer, first with the Birmingham Barons (Double-A Southern League), then he was promoted to Chicago's Triple-A affiliate, the Charlotte Knights (International League). In Charlotte, Gartrell batted .265 in 31 games, with 30 hits, 14 runs scored, 11 doubles, one triple, four homeruns, 16 RBI, and seven walks. The Knights finished fourth in the International League South League. Overall, he batted .281 in 132 games, with 133 hits, 86 runs scored, 31 doubles, five triples, 23 homeruns, 89 RBI, 53 walks, and six stolen bases.

2009 Stats:

Class of 2005:

The only draftee from 2005 still playing, Nick Pereira (10th Round, San Francisco Giants), started the season with the Connecticut Defenders (Double-A, Eastern League). In three appearances, Pereira was 0-1, 4.91 ERA. In 11.0 innings he struck out seven and walked 10. He is currently a member of the AZL Giants (Rookie, Arizona League), but hasn't pitched.

2009 Stats:

Class of 2001:

Drafted in the second round by the San Francisco Giants in 2001, Jesse Foppert was traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2005, and then re-signed as a free agent by the Giants in 2005. He is currently listed on the Reserve list, but did play with the Connecticut Defenders (Double-A, Eastern League). So far this season he is 0-3, 6.27 ERA in 10 appearances (eight starts). In 33.0 innings, Foppert has 22 strikeouts.

2009 Stats:

Tagg Bozied, drafted in the third round by the San Diego Padres, has had an eventful career in the minor leagues, even making a trip to Taiwan to play with the Brother Elephants. He is currently back in the states, and spent the summer with the Indianapolis Indians (Triple-A, International League), an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 56 games, Bozied batted .288 with 62 hits, 32 runs scored, 17 doubles, one triple, five homeruns, 18 RBI, 21 walks, and four stolen bases. The Indians finished third in the International League West division.

2009 Stats:

Class of 1996:

Joe Nelson, drafted in the fourth round by the Atlanta Braves played part of the season on the Tampa Bay Rays Major League roster. In 42 games (all in relief), Nelson went 3-0, 4.07 ERA. In 40.1 innings, he had three saves and 36 strikeouts. He then moved back to Triple-A, playing with the Durham Bulls (International League). With the Bulls, Nelson went 2-2, 6.23 ERA in 13 relief appearances. In 17.1 innings, he struck out 14 batters. The Bulls won the International League Championships this summer.

2009 Stats: