May 6, 2010

Strasburg makes Triple-A debut on Friday; Maxwell raised in MC

Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals’ phenom pitching prospect, is scheduled to make his Triple-A debut on Friday for Syracuse, when the Chiefs play at home against Gwinnett in an International League game. It was Gwinnett, the top farm club of the Atlanta Braves, that was the no-hit victim of Oriole minor leaguer Chris Tillman of Norfolk on April 28. Strasburg was promoted to Triple-A on Tuesday after dominating the Eastern League. His teammates in Syracuse will include outfielder Kevin Mench, a former University of Delaware star with major league experience. Mench hit .306 with 14 RBIs in his first 85 at-bats this season for Syracuse. Justin Maxwell, who grew up in Montgomery County, hit .333 in 15 at-bats for Syracuse last month before being called up to the big leagues with Washington. Pitcher Josh Wilkie, a former standout at George Washington University, is 2-2 with an ERA of 2.51 in his first nine games for Syracuse.

In other baseball news, Mike O’Connor, who grew up in Ellicott City and also played college ball at George Washington, is pitching for the top farm club of the New York Mets. O’Connor, who appeared in the big leagues for the Nationals, pitched at the Triple-A level last season with Washington, San Diego and Kansas City. The left-hander is 0-1 with an ERA of 4.09 in his first 10 games out of the bullpen for Buffalo in the International League. The hitting coach for Buffalo is Jack Voigt, a former player in the Orioles’ minor league system.

Former Maryland Terp pitcher Brett Cecil (Dundalk, DeMatha Catholic High) retired the first 19 batter while pitching for Toronto against Cleveland earlier this week. He allowed just one hit in eight innings as the Jays won, 5-1. Cecil is 2-1 with an ERA of 2.61 in three starts for Toronto after starting the season at the Triple-A level. Cecil is scheduled to pitch Saturday in Chicago against the White Sox. SOURCE: Explore Howard

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