Sept. 7, 2005
Notre Dame’s 17 former players currently active in professional baseball are wrapping up their 2005 summer seasons, led by three major leaguers: Houston Astros closer Brad Lidge, fellow righthander Aaron Heilman (New York Mets) and infielder Craig Counsell (Arizona Diamondbacks).
Three others have remained active on the triple-A level: RHP Danny Tamayo (Omaha Royals), LHP Chris Michalak (Tucson Sidewinders) and RHP Christian Parker (Colorado Springs Sky Sox). Steve Stanley and Brian Stavisky – two key leaders of the 2002 College World Series team – have been reunited in the outfield with the Oakland A’s double-A affiliate in Midland, Texas (both had a strong first half of the ’05 season) while their former teammate Matt Macri saw his season end prematurely after being promoted to the Rockies double-A team in Tulsa, Okla.
Two former Notre Dame players – lefthander Chris Michalak and infielder Brant Ust – also currently are competing in the Netherlands with Team USA, at the first-ever Baseball World Cup (see upcoming story on und.com).
Here’s an updated look at the current professional players who honed their skills as members of the Notre Dame baseball program:
NOTRE DAME BASEBALL ALUMS – PRO BASEBALL UPDATE (stats as of Sept. 1, 2005)
RHP Aaron Heilman (’98-’01 ND career) … New York Mets … 3.71, 4-3, 89.2 IP, 86 Ks, 26 BB, 81 H (6 HR), 42 GP/7 GS, shutout, save, 1.19 “WHIP” (walks+hits/innings), .243 opp. avg., 8.63 Ks/9 IP, 3.19 K/BB ratio
IF Craig Counsell (’89-’92) … Arizona Diamondbacks … .267 (130-for-486), 38 RBI, 70 R, 7 HR, 2 3B, 30 2B, 70 BB, 59 Ks, 23-28 SB, .366 OB, .381 slug, .747 OPS (on-base plus slugging)
RHP Brad Lidge (’96-’98) … Houston Astros … 2.36, 3-3, 31 saves (t-5th in the NL) in 34 chances, 53.1 IP, 82 Ks, 20 BB, 47 H (5 HR), 1.26 WHIP, .237 opp. avg., 13.84 Ks/9 IP, 3.90 K/BB … named to the National League All-Star Team
Steve Stanley
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RHP Danny Tamayo (’98-’01) … Omaha Royals (AAA, Royals) … 5.41, 8-8, 153 IP, 99 Ks, 50 BB, 187 H (26 HR), 29 GP/26 GS
LHP Chris Michalak (’90-’93) … Tucson Sidewinders (AAA, Diamondbacks) … 4.47, 9-13, 165 IP, 74 Ks, 42 BB, 174 H (27 HR), 26 GP/25 GS, 3 CG
RHP Christian Parker (’95-’96) … Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA, Rockies) … 6.52, 2-5, 59.1 IP, 22 Ks, 25 BB, 81 H (5 HR), 11 GP/10 GS, CG … played with double-A Tulsa Drillers from April 7-June 25 (1.19, 4-1, 45.1 IP, 37 Ks, 11 BB, 32 H, 8 GS) … named to Texas League East Division All-Star Team
Chris Niesel
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OF Steve Stanley (’99-’02) … Midland Rockhounds (AA, A’s) … .294 (146-for-497), 45 RBI, 83 R, 6 HR, 4 3B, 24 2B, 58 BB, 59 Ks, 8-16 SB, .367 OB, .394 slug, .761 OPS
OF/1B Brian Stavisky (’00-’02) … Midland Rockhounds (AA, A’s) … .310 (153-for-494), 86 RBI, 80 R, 11 HR, 5 3B, 36 2B, 66 BB, 79 Ks, 0-5 SB, .392 OB, .470 slug, .862 OPS
3B Matt Macri (’02-’04) … Tulsa Drillers (AA, Rockies) … .000 (0-for-3), R, BB … played with single-A Modesto Nuts from April 7-June 21 (.283, 69-for-244, 34 RBI, 7 HR, 3B, 16 2B, 33 BB)
RHP Chris Niesel (’02-’04) … Kinston Indians (A, Indians) … 4.57, 1-1, 21.2 IP, 18 Ks, 11 BB, 23 H (2 HR), 10 GP/2 GS … played with single-A Lake County Captains from April 7-July 8 (4.48, 5-3, 74.1 IP, 69 Ks, 20 BB, 11 GS)
C Paul O’Toole (’99-’02) … Daytona Cubs (A, Cubs) … .256 (40-for-156), 18 RBI, 23 R, 3 HR, 3B, 7 2B, 14 BB, 39 Ks, 1-4 SB, .326 OB, .372 slug, .698 OPS … played with double-A West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx from April 8-May 13 (3-for-36, 4 RBI, 2B, 4 BB)
2B Steve Sollmann (’01-’04) … Brevard County Manatees (A, Brewers) … .273 (115-for-422), 32 RBI, 60 R, 3B, 12 2B, 43 BB, 58 Ks, 21-36 SB, .371 OB, .306 slug, .677 OPS
IF Brant Ust (’97-’99) … Wilmington Blue Rocks (A, Red Sox) … .262 (116-for-443), 71 RBI, 54 R, 13 HR, 20 2B, 27 BB, 107 Ks, 1-2 SB, .312 OB, .395 slug, .707 OPS
Brant Ust
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C Javi Sanchez (’01-’04) … Beloit Snappers (A, Twins) … .252 (66-for-262), 26 RBI, 43 R, HR, 12 2B, 32 BB, 33 Ks, 7-7 SB, .344 OB, .309 slug, .653 OPS … selected as a reserve for the Midwest League Western Division All-Star team
RHP Grant Johnson (’02-’04) … Peoria Chiefs (A, Cubs) … 3.84, 3-7, 68 IP, 48 Ks, 24 BB, 60 H (7 HR), 13 GP/13 GS
Javi Sanchez
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RHP Ryan Doherty (’03-’05) … Yakima Bears (short-season A, Diamondbacks) … 2.93, 2-2, 30.2 IP, 37 Ks, 6 BB, 23 H, 20 GP
1B Matt Edwards (’02-’05) … Batavia Muckdogs (short-season A, Phillies) … .188 (28-for-149), 17 RBI, 21 R, 3 HR, 3 2B, 11 BB, 34 Ks, 0-1 SB, .250 OB, .268 slug, .518
Grant Johnson
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