Aug. 20, 2009

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - A number of former University of Miami baseball players are having strong seasons on the professional diamond this year. With 14 former `Canes currently in the majors or at the Triple-A level, Miami is well-represented at the elite levels of baseball.

Within the last week, Cesar Carrillo (2004-05) earned his first Major League Baseball win with the San Diego Padres, Aubrey Huff (1997-98) was traded from the Baltimore Orioles to the Detroit Tigers, and Gaby Sanchez (2003-04) was called back up to the majors by the Florida Marlins.

Last month, Jemile Weeks (2006-08) played in the All-Star Futures Game in St. Louis just days before Ryan Braun (2003-05) batted clean-up for the National League in the MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium.

In addition to the more established players, several former `Canes from the 2009 UM squad are already off to hot starts, including Kyle Bellamy (Single-A Kannapolis) and Chris Herrmann (Rookie League Elizabethton).

Below are some of the top performers among former `Canes in pro ball this season (statistics as of Aug.19):

Major League Baseball
Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers (at UM from 2003-05)
- 2009 National League All-Star (started in right and batted clean-up)
- Hitting .313 with 26 homers, 87 RBI and 86 runs scored in 117 games
Aubrey Huff, Baltimore Orioles/Detroit Tigers (at UM from 1997-98)
- Hitting .252 with 13 homers, 72 RBI and 51 runs scored
- Ranked second among all Orioles in RBI before being dealt to Detroit

Others: Chris Perez, Cleveland (at UM from 2004-06) - 1-1, 3.89 ERA, 39.1 IP, 47 K; Pat Burrell, Tampa Bay (at UM from 1996-98) - .228, 12 HR, 45 RBI, 34 runs

Triple-A
Kevin Howard, Toronto Blue Jays/Las Vegas 51's (at UM from 2000-02)
- Hitting .314 with 12 homers, 46 RBI and 43 runs scored in 72 games
Brendan Katin, Milwaukee Brewers/Nashville Sounds (at UM from 2004-05)
- Hitting .247 with 20 homers, 85 RBI and 61 runs scored in 113 games

Others: Jon Jay, St. Louis Cardinals/Memphis Redbirds (at UM from 2004-06) .274, 8 HR, 48 RBI, 54 runs, 17 SB, 118 GP; Danny Valencia, Minnesota Twins/Rochester Red Wings (at UM from 2005-06) .309, 6 HR, 36 RBI, 27 runs, 52 GP

Double-A
Ricky Orta, Seattle Mariners/West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (at UM from 2004-06)
- Owns a 3-2 record with a 1.94 ERA, striking out 41 in 41 2/3 innings
Tommy Giles, Los Angeles Dodgers/Chattanooga Lookouts (at UM in 2006)
- Hitting .247 with 20 homers, 85 RBI and 61 runs scored in 113 games

Others: Danny Figueroa, Baltimore Orioles/Bowie Baysox (at UM from 2002-05) .316, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 35 runs, 6 SB, 67 GP; Paco Figueroa, Baltimore Orioles/Bowie Baysox (at UM from 2002-05) .301, 0 HR, 17 RBI, 27 runs, 10 SB, 50 GP

Single-A
Blake Tekotte, San Diego Padres/Fort Wayne TinCaps (at UM from 2006-08)
- Hitting .261 with 12 homers, 53 RBI, 74 runs scored and 29 stolen bases in 117 games
Kyle Bellamy, Chicago White Sox/Kannapolis Intimidators (at UM from 2007-09)
- Is 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA, striking out 17 in 12 1/3 innings of work
- Was called up to Kannapolis after just three appearances in Bristol (Rookie League)

Other: Mark Sobolewski, Toronto Blue Jays/Lansing Lugnuts (at UM from 2007-08) .258, 3 HR, 35 RBI, 42 runs scored, 6 SB, 79 GP

A-Short Season
Jason Hagerty, Seattle Mariners/Eugene Emeralds (at UM from 2007-09)
- Hitting .231 with five homers, 23 RBI and 31 runs scored in 39 games

Other: Ryan Jackson, St. Louis Cardinals/Batavia Muckdogs (at UM from 2007-09) .213, 0 HR, 13 RBI, 21 runs scored, 50 GP

Rookie League
Chris Herrmann, Minnesota Twins/Elizabethton Twins (at UM in 2009)
- Hitting .289 with seven homers, 25 RBI and 35 runs scored in 48 games
John Housey, Seattle Mariners/Pulaski Mariners (at UM from 2007-09)
- Owns a 2-2 record with a 2.67 ERA, striking out 28 in 30 1/3 innings of work

Other: Glenn Cook, Chicago Cubs/AZL Cubs (played football at UM from 2003-08) .169, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 8 RBI, .322 OBP, 29 GP.

Independent
Charlton Jimerson, Newark Bears (at UM in 1998-01)
- Hitting .312 with 16 homers with 41 RBI, 64 runs scored and 27 stolen bases in 78 games

Other Minor League Notes
- Jemile Weeks, Oakland A's (at UM from 2006-08) - Was hitting .299 with seven homers, 31 RBI and 29 scored with Single-A Stockton before recently being called up to Double-A Midland.

- Yonder Alonso, Cincinnati Reds (at UM from 2006-08) - Hit .302 with seven homers, 37 RBI and 21 runs scored with Single-A Sarasota before being called up to Double-A Carolina. He is currently rehabbing from an injury in the Rookie Gulf Coast League.

- Scott Maine, Arizona Diamondbacks (at UM from 2005-07) - Was 3-3 with a 2.66 ERA, striking out 46 in 47 1/3 innings at Double-A Mobile before recently being called up to Triple-A Reno.

- Cesar Carrillo, San Diego Padres (at UM from 2004-05) - Was 8-6 with a 4.47 ERA, striking out 71 in 137 minor league innings before being called up to the Padres.

- Gaby Sanchez, Florida Marlins (at UM from 2003-04) - Was hitting .296 with 14 homers, 48 RBI and 50 runs scored in 76 games before being called up to the Marlins.

For a full listing of former Hurricanes in the pros, click here.