July 5, 2003
Two former Notre Dame baseball players recently signed free-agent contracts with Major League organizations and were to report to their respective single-A teams. Outfielder Kris Billmaier (Woodinville, Wash.) – who started one full season at each outfield position with the Irish (including center field in 2003) – has signed with the Detroit Tigers organization and reported to the Lakeland Tigers of the Florida State League while pitcher Matt Laird (Bellaire, Texas) was a free-agent signee of the Chicago Cubs and is set to begin his pro career with the Boise Hawks of the Northwest League.
Notre Dame now has sent 35 players on to professional baseball during the nine-year tenure of head coach Paul Mainieri, with the program’s 17 active pro players including nine who have joined the pro ranks during the last two years. This marks an unprecedented second consecutive season that four Notre Dame seniors have moved on to pro ball, with pitchers J.P. Gagne (Colorado Rockies, 13th round) and Ryan Kalita (Cubs, 17th round) selected earlier in the MLB draft. The only other seasons in which four-plus ND seniors went on to pro baseball came in 1990 (4), ’93 (5) and ’96 (5).
Laird will have the chance to face two former ND teammates in the Northwest League, as Gagne and Andrew Bushey are members of the Tri-City Dust Devils. Billmaier will be the second former ND player currently in the Florida State League, with catcher Paul O’Toole playing for the Daytona Cubs.
Billmaier made a name for himself during the NCAA Tournament throughout his career, becoming the third Notre Dame player ever named to three NCAA all-regional teams (in 2000, ’02 and ’03; O’Toole and Matt Haas are the others to do so) while his .448 career batting average in the NCAA Tournament (39-for-87, with 20 RBI) ranks third in Irish history. That NCAA average was nearly 160 points above his career batting average at ND (.290), to go along with 140 RBI, 38 doubles, 76 walks and 15 home runs in 217 games played (which ranks 11th in the ND record book). He hit .271 in 2003, with 43 RBI, 24 walks, 18 doubles and 5 home runs.
Laird – whose 69 career appearances rank seventh in the ND record book – was the one of the
Matt Laird – who turned in a gutsy complete game in the 2003 BIG EAST title-game showdown vs. Rutgers – signed as a free-agent with the Chicago Cubs organization.
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heroes of Notre Dame’s 2003 postseason, coming out of the bullpen to toss the team’s only nine-inning complete game of the season in the BIG EAST title-game victory over Rutgers (11-3) before logging another solid start in the NCAA elimination-game win over San Diego. He enjoyed possibly the best all-around season of his Irish career in ’03, posting a 4.22 ERA, 3-1 record and one save in 20 appearances, with 48 strikeouts, 20 walks and 46 hits allowed (.236 opponent batting avg.) in 53.1 innings. He capped his four seasons at Notre Dame with a 3.96 career ERA, a 13-4 record and six saves, plus 119 Ks, 59 walks and 138 hits allowed in 143.1 innings.
Billmaier was a team tri-captain and third team all-BIG EAST Conference selection in 2003, after leading the Irish in doubles (18), runners advanced (41), games played (63) and started (62). He also ranked second on the ’03 team in RBI (43), home runs (5) and at-bats (236), third in hits (64) and 2-out RBI (13) and fourth in runs (42), total bases (99), walks (24) and leadoff on-base pct. (.400). His other ’03 stats included a .271 batting avg., a triple, 4 times hit-by-pitch, 25 strikeouts, a .419 slugging pct. and .339 overall on-base pct., 6 sacrifice bunts, 7 sac. flies, 1-of-2 on stolen bases and a .992 fielding pct. (1 error in 131 fielding chances, with 4 fielding assists).
He finished his career ranked 11th in the ND record book for games played (217), 10th in at-bats (731), 9th in hit-by-pitch (21), 10th in sac. bunts (19) and 6th in total sacrifices (31). His other career stats included a .290 batting avg. (.354 in 2000, .257 in ’01, .313 in ’02), 200 starts, 128 runs, 212 hits, 38 doubles, 2 triples, 15 home runs, 140 RBI, 76 walks, 83 Ks, 7-12 on SBs and 17 errors.
Laird ranked third on the nationally-ranked 2003 pitching staff in strikeouts (8.1), groundball outs (11.0) and fewest hits allowed (7.8) per 9 innings, plus appearances (20, 18 coming in relief), games finished (7) and groundout-to-flyout ratio (1.5). He also ranked fourth on the ’03 staff in Ks (48), low opponent batting avg. (.236), Ks “looking” (17) and batting by opposing righthanded hitters (.220) – plus fifth in low walks per 9 IP (3.4), batting by lefthanded hitters (.264) and batting with runners on base (.238). His other 2003 stats included a 4.22 ERA, 3-1 record (1 save), the team’s only 9-inning complete game of the season, 46 hits allowed, 20 BB and 7 wild pitches in 53.1 innings. His final career numbers with the Irish include a 3.95 ERA, 13-4 record and 6 saves, plus 119 Ks, 59 walks, 138 hits allowed and 20 wild pitches in 69 appearances (7th-most in ND history), 11 starts and 143.1 innings.
Former Notre Dame pitcher Aaron Heilman owns a 2.77 ERA in his first two starts with the New York Mets.
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MLB UPDATE – Two former Notre Dame righthanders continue to make news on the big-league level, as Aaron Heilman (Logansport, Ind.) has posted a 2.77 ERA in his first two starts with the New York Mets (13.0 IP, 11 H, 3 BB, 4 Ks) while Brad Lidge (Englewood, Colo.) remains one of the top candidates for National League rookie of the year as a top setup man with the Houston Astros (2.72 ERA, 4-1, 1 save, 10.3 Ks per 9 IP, 57 Ks, 25 BB, 34 H in 49.2 IP, .195 opp. batting avg., 12 “holds”) … see more on each below.
The above individuals are part of 17 former Notre Dame players currently playing on various levels of pro baseball – including three league all-stars in Texas League players Steve Stanley and Danny Tamayo and Midwest League player Brian Stavisky (see full list and stats below).
Here are some website links for earlier stories on Heilman and Lidge, plus helpful links for tracking minor-league players (also see June 23 und.com story on Heilman’s call-up and Lidge’s role in six-pitcher no-hitter; see websites for New York Times, New York Daily News, New York Post, Newsday, Houston Chronicle, etc., for daily coverage of Heilman and Lidge):
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/nym/news/nym_news.jsp?ymd=20030622&content_id=387707&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyn
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/interleague/astros_nohitter_03.jsp
http://und.ocsn.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/heilman_aaron01.html
http://und.ocsn.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/052301aaa.html
http://www.baseball-links.com/links/Minor_Leagues/
Notre Dame 2003 Pro Baseball Update (July 2, 2003)
Former Irish pitcher Brad Lidge picked up the win as the fourth of six pitchers in the Houston Astros’ historic no-hitter vs. the New York Yankees and is a top candidate for NL rookie of the year.
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Former Notre Dame Baseball Players In Pro Baseball (stats as of July 2, 2003)
Andrew Bushey
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Kris Billmaier (RHP; Tigers single-A Lakeland Tigers, Florida State League) – recently signed with Detroit Tigers organization as free-agent.
Matt Bok (C/OF; Dodgers single-A Ogden Raptors, Pioneer League) – batting .375 (3-for-8 in 4 GP), with 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B, SF, BB, K (season started in mid-June).
Andrew Bushey (C/1B; Rockies single-A Tri-City Dust Devils, Northwest League) – batting .259 (7-for-27) in 8 GP … RBI, 4 R, 3 BB, 4 Ks … .259 slugging, .333 on-base … 3 starts at 1B, 1 at C, 1 at 3B, 3 Es … earlier hit 0-for-8 in 4 GP with Ashville Tourists (RBI, 2 R, 3 BB, K, 3 starts at C).
Craig Counsell
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Craig Counsell (IF; Arizona Diamondbacks) – on DL after 31 GP … was batting .276 (32-for-116) … 10 RBI, HR, 3B, 4 2B … 18 R, 29 BB, 16 Ks, 5-7 SB … .353 slugging, .387 on-base … .991 fielding (1 E) while splitting time at 2B, SS and 3B.
J.P. Gagne (Rockies single-A Tri-City Dust Devils, Northwest League) – owns 1.23 ERA, 1-1 record and 3 saves in 7 GP … 7 H (.292 opp. avg.), 2 BB, 3 Ks, 0 HR in 7.1 IP.
Aaron Heilman (New York Mets) – has made an impressive debut with the New York Mets, posting a 2.77 ERA and 0-1 record in 2 starts … 11 H (.224 opp. avg.), 3 BB, 4 Ks in 13.0 IP … 2 HR, 2 WP, 20 groundouts … 0-for-4 batting (BB, R, 3 Ks) … posted 3.24 ERA and 6-4 record in 16 GS with triple-A Norfolk (Va.) Tides of the International League (99 H, .274 opp. avg., 32 BB, 71 Ks in 94.1 IP … 5 HR, 2 HB, WP … 0-for-5 batting, 2 Ks).
Ryan Kalita (Cubs draftee, yet to report to minor-league team due to illness)
Paul O’Toole
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Tim Kalita (LHP; Tigers double-A Erie Sea Wolves, Eastern League) – owns 7.15 ERA and 0-5 record in 15 GP/10 GS … 75 H (.344 opp. avg.), 23 BB, 29 Ks in 50.1 IP … 7 HR, 2 HB, 5 WP, BK.
Matt Laird (RHP; Cubs single-A Boise Hawks, Northwest League) – recently signed with Chicago Cubs organization as free-agent.
Brad Lidge (RHP; Houston Astros) – one of top candidates for NL rookie of the year, as top setup man … owns 2.72 ERA, 4-1 record and one save in 42 GP … 34 H (.195 opp. avg.), 25 BB (6 of them intentional), 57 Ks in 49.2 IP … 1 HR, 4 HB, 2 WP … .312 opp. slugging, .307 on-base … 12 holds, 1.8 K-to-BB ratio, 10.3 Ks per 9 IP.
Chris Michalak (LHP; Rockies triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Pacific Coast League) – owns 4.83 ERA, 6-7 record and a save in 20 GP/14 GS … 113 H (.294 opp. avg.), 37 BB, 62 Ks in 95.0 IP … 18 HR, 5 HB, 2 WP, 3 BK, 2 Es … also batting .174 (4-for-23, 2 RBI, R, 3 sac. bunts, BB, 7 Ks).
Christian Parker
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Paul O’Toole (C/3B/1B; single-A Daytona Cubs, Florida State League) – batting .207 (18-for-87) in 32 GP… 10 RBI, 0 HR, 3 2B … 10 R, 15 BB, 2 HBP, 18 Ks … 5 sac. bunts, 3-3 SB … .241 slugging pct., .337 on-base pct. … 16 starts at C, 5 at 1B, 1 at 3B … 3 Es.
Christian Parker (RHP; Yankees triple-A Columbus Clippers, International League) – owns 6.95 ERA and 1-6 record in 8 GS … 61 H (.335 opp. avg.), 14 BB, 21 Ks in 44.0 IP … 3 HR, 2 HB, WP … also has made five 2003 starts with double-A Trenton Thunder (2.83, 1-2, 17 H/.172 opp. avg., 11 BB, 9 Ks in 28.2 IP, HR, HB) and one with single-A Tampa Yankees (1.80, 0-0, 6 H, BB, 6 Ks in 5.0 IP, HB).
Steve Stanley
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Steve Stanley (CF; A’s double-A Midland Rockhounds, Texas League) – named to league all-star team … batting .291 (84-for-289) in 76 GP … 24 RBI, 2 3B, 4 2B … 43 R, 39 BB, HBP, 43 Ks, 8-14 SB … 7 SH, 2 SF … .318 slugging, .375 on-base … 70 starts in OF, 3 Es.
Brian Stavisky (A’s single-A Kane County Cougars, Midwest League) – named to league all-star game … batting .268 (48-for-179) in 54 GP … 19 RBI, HR, 3B, 7 2B … 30 R, 32 BB, 4 HB, 46 Ks, 2-2 SB, 4 SH … .335 slugging, .391 on-base … 9 OF starts, 1 E.
Danny Tamayo (RHP; Royals double-A Wichita Wranglers, Texas League) – joined Stanley in Texas League all-star game … owns 4.25 ERA, 8-7 record in 16 GS … 89 H (.253 opp. avg.), 39 BB, 61 Ks in 91 IP … 7 HR, 3 HB, 13 WP.
Brant Ust
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Brant Ust (IF; Tigers triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, International League) – recent call-up to Toledo, where he is batting .225 (20-for-89) in 28 GP … 7 RBI, 3B, 2 2B … 5 R, 4 BB, 19 Ks … 2 SH, SF … .270 slugging, .263 on-base … 27 starts at 3B, 1 at SS, 1 at 2B, 5 Es … his 2003 stats with double-A Erie Sea Wolves: .286 (46-for-161) in 45 GP, 25 RBI, 5 HR, 2 3B, 11 2B, 24 R, 7 BB, HBP, 26 Ks, SH, 2-2 SB, .472 slugging, .320 on-base, 15 starts at 3B, 14 at SS, 13 at 2B, 8 in OF, 1 at C, 7 Es.