Former Cougars finding their homes in pro baseball

Former Cougars finding their homes in pro baseball
Several former Barton County Community College baseball players are settled in for another season of baseball as the season gets underway. So far five formers players are already underway with their seasons while 3 more await the beginning of their seasons. Jason Stanford and Nate Field will again start the season just one step from the big leagues, pitching in AAA. Jeff Christy is up to AA to start the season and Steve Edlefsen has moved up to Advanced A. Pitching in A right now is Derek McDaid with Ronald Morales slated to go back to rookie ball. Ryan Phillips and Chad Lee have all fought injuries and have not been assigned yet.

Jason Stanford
Stanford signed with the Washington Nationals over the winter but is now back in the Cleveland Indians organization pitching for the Buffalo Bison, the AAA affiliate of the Indians. Stanford struggled in his stay with the Nationals organization, going 2-2 with a 10.05 ERA as AAA Columbus Clipper. Since his return to the Indians organization, Stanford has been impressive, starting 3 games and coming out of the bullpen once for a 1-1 record and a 1.66 ERA. Stanford spent a good portion of late season in the Cleveland Indians bullpen to end last season.

Nate Field
Field also changed teams over the winter, signing with the New York Mets and has spent time closing for the New Orleans Zephyrs at AAA. Field has appeared in 16 games this season, posting a 1-1 record with 3 saves. He has posted a 7.04 ERA with a stretch of rough outings. In his last 3 appearances, Field has not allowed a hit or a run. He has 16 strikeouts in 15.1 innings of work.

Jeff Christy
Christy has move quickly up the ladder for the Minnesota Twins, now as the starting catcher in AA in just his 2nd full season in pro baseball. This year Christy starts with the New Britain Rock Cats, where he has played in 12 games, hitting .209. Christy spent a lot of last season in New Britain after starting the year at Advanced A Fort Myers. Christy is looked at as a very good defensive catcher trying to improve on his offensive skills to continue his rise toward the big leagues.

Steve Edlefsen
Edlefsen is another player starting at a higher level than the previous as he moves up to the San Jose Giants, the Advanced A team for San Francisco. Edlefsen was drafted just last summer. So far this season he is 1-1 with a 2.75 ERA throwing out of the San Jose bullpen in middle relief. He has allowed just 6 earned runs – 3 of those in 1 game – over 19.2 innings with 14 strikeouts.

Derek McDaid
McDaid returns to the Fort Wayne Wizzards, the Class A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. In 11 relief appearances this season, McDaid has an ERA of 2.30 with 9 strikeouts in 15.2 innings and a save to his credit. McDaid has allowed just 2 earned runs over his last 10 outings for a 1.32 ERA. Opponents are hitting just .194 against the right-hander.

Ronald Morales
Morales will be back at Great Falls this year probably throwing out of the bullpen. Morales began his pro career last summer with Great Falls, appearing in 23 games with a 3.32 ERA. The rookie league team for the Chicago White Sox will not start its season until June.

Ryan Phillips
Phillips has pitched the last 2 season with Greenville Drive in the Boston Red Sox organization battling injuries along the way. Last season at Greenville, Phillips was 3-4 with a 4.17 ERA over 22 games – 13 of them starts. He starts the year in extended spring training, rehabbing an injury.

Chad Lee
Lee also will start the season in extended spring training with the Oakland A's minor league system after fighting injuries his 1st 2 years in pro ball as well.