March 16, 2011
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Mizzou baseball team is busy with its 2011 regular season, but it is also busy tracking the careers of several former players that have seen a lot of success at the major league and minor league levels. Over the next few days, MUTigers.com will look at the former Tigers that are seeing success at both the major league and minor league levels. After taking a look at the Tigers on major league rosters on Monday, March 14, it is now time to look at the Tigers in the minor leagues.
Trevor Coleman - C
In his first year of professional baseball, Trevor Coleman hit .184 in 114 at bats for the Everett AquaSox (Seattle Mariners short-season team). In 2010, he improved at the dish, hitting .216 in 282 appearances at the plate for the Mariners high-A farm team, the High Desert Mavericks. Coleman has been a wall behind the plate with an incredible fielding percentage of .989 in his two years of professional ball. Look for Coleman to keep climbing up the ranks of the minor leagues and seeing a lot of playing time with the Mavericks once again and quite possibly the Mariners' AA club, the Jackson Generals, in 2011.
Tyler Clark - P
Former Tiger pitcher Tyler Clark has been in the minors for only a short time, however he has taken advantage of his short opportunity and has posted some great statistics. In 2010, with the Connecticut Tigers (short-season farm team), Clark was 3-1 and posted a 2.05 ERA in 44.0 innings of work. He only surrendered one homerun during those 44 innings and kept opposing hitters to a .234 average. Clark will most likely be on the mound for the two Single-A affiliates of the Detroit Tigers in 2011, the West Michigan Whitecaps or the Lakeland Flying Tigers.
Greg Folgia - OF
Former Tiger Greg Folgia has seen a great amount of action in the minor leagues since being drafted in 2009 by the Cleveland Indians. At the plate, Folgia has tallied a .247 average the past two years. However, his play in the field has been incredible. Folgia has a .980 fielding percentage while playing mainly the corner outfield positions and in 2010, he only committed one error in 105 games. With a dependable glove like his, look for Folgia to continue to play Single-A ball for the Cleveland Indians organization with the Lake County Captains, as well as see some time with the AA club, the Akron Aeros.
Rick Zagone- P
The Orioles drafted Rick Zagone, a left-handed pitcher, in the sixth round of the 2008 draft. Zagone has posted solid numbers in his three years in the minors. He is considered one of the most consistent pitchers in the Orioles' system and is the number one projected starter for the Bowie Baysox, the AA team affiliated with the Orioles. He could see time in the bullpen for the Norfolk Tides AAA team with good spring training.
Aaaron Senne-OF
Aaron Senne was selected in the 10th round of the draft in 2010 by the Marlins. In the 2010 season Senne was the ranked fifth among all Marlin minor leaguers in batting average and fourth in on base percentage, while playing for the Jamestown Jammers. This season, Senne will look to make a jump to the Class A Grasshoppers and continue to move up within the Marlin's minor league system.
Nick Tepesch- P
Tepesch was selected in the 14th round of the 2010 draft by the Texas Rangers along with fellow Tiger alum, Brett Nicholas. Tepesch did not play in the 2010 season but has signed for the 2011 season with the Rangers organization.
Brett Nicholas- C
Catcher Brett Nicholas was the highest Mizzou player taken in the 2010 draft, selected in the sixth round by the Rangers. He moved up quickly from the rookie team to the Class A short season squad. His batting average over the 2010 season was .242, with a .318 on base percentage.
Ryan Lollis- OF
Drafted in the 37th round of the 2009 draft by the Giants, Ryan Lollis is making great steps in the minors. He has an opportunity to make the Class A advanced team, the San Jose Giants, after spending last season with the Augusta GreenJackets, the Giants' A team. He was second in batting average for the 2010 season among all Giants minor leaguers, with 112 hits and an on base percentage of .345.
Brock Bond - INF
Since being drafted by the Giants in the 2007 amateur draft, Brock Bond has split time between the Double-A and Triple-A levels. He spent the majority of the 2010 season at Triple-A with Fresno and hit .285 and boasted an on-base-percentage of .397 in 117 games. He scored 62 runs and drove in 35 more. At just 24 years old, Bond should challenge for a roster spot with the Giants this season and could be among the mid-summer call-ups.
Evan Frey - OF
Since being drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 10th round of the 2007 amateur draft, Evan Frey has been moving up the minor league system. He has spent the last two years of his career playing with the Mobile Bay Bears and had a great season in 2010. In fact, he hit .286 and has an OBP of .373 in 131 games in 2010. He also scored 87 runs and drove in 49 more while finishing with a career-best 67 walks. Frey will look to move up to the Triple A level this season, and with another year like 2010, that step should not be too far away.
Michael Liberto - INF
Michael Liberto, a former infielder with the Tigers, spent last season with the Burlington Bees. He played in 10 games last season and had just 38 plate appearances and walked three times, drove in three runs and scored two more. He is now with the the Kansas City Royals organization and will look to move up the ranks with them.