April 20, 2003
Three former Notre Dame baseball players were on 40-man rosters for MLB Spring Training: IF Craig Counsell (Arizona), RHP Brad Lidge (Houston) and LHP Tim Kalita (Detroit) … Counsell and Lidge both made the big-league rosters (Kalita is with the double-A Erie Sea Wolves) … three others were non-roster invitees to Big-League Camp: RHPs Aaron Heilman (rated by Baseball America as the No. 3 prospect in the New York Mets organization; with triple-A Norfolk Tides) and Christian Parker (Yankees; triple-A Columbus Clippers) and LHP Chris Michalak (Colorado Springs Sky Sox) … several other former ND players have embarked on their minor-league seasons: catcher Paul O’Toole (Cubs; single-A Daytona), 3B/C Andrew Bushey (Colorado, single-A Ashville Tourists), Oakland A’s OFs Steve Stanley (double-A Midland, Rockhounds) and Brian Stavisky (single-A Cane County Cougars), IF Brant Ust (Detroit; double-A Erie), RHP Danny Tamayo (Kansas City; double-A Wichita Wranglers) and OF Matt Bok (Los Angeles, single-A Ogden Raptors) … Tamayo and Stanley both are competing in the Texas League while Heilman and Parker both are pitchers in the International League … here’s a look at ND’s alums currently in pro ball (stats as of April 17):
Matt Bok, C (Ogden Raptors, Dodgers single-A, Pioneer League) … yet to play a game in ’03
Andrew Bushey, C/IF (Ashville Tourists, Rockies single-A, South Atlantic League) … 0-for-8, 4 GP, RBI, 3 BB, K, three starts at C, one at 1B
Craig Counsell, IF (Arizona Diamondbacks) … .256, 11-for-43, 13 GP, 3B, 2B, 4 R, 2 RBI, 8 BB, 7 Ks, has made just one error while splitting time at SS and 3B (.967 fielding pct.)
Aaron Heilman, RHP (Norfolk Tides, Mets AAA, International League) … 3-0, 1.80 ERA, 3 GS, 20 IP, .200 opp. batting avg. (14-for-70), 4 R, HR, 5 BB, 17 Ks
Tim Kalita. LHP (Erie Sea Wolves, Tigers AA, Eastern League) … 7.11 ERA, 4 GP, 6.1 IP, .345 opp. avg. (10-for-29), 5 R, BB, 4 Ks
Brad Lidge, RHP (Houston Astros) … 2-0, SV, 0.82 ERA, 8 GP, 12.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R/3 ER, HR, 5 BB, 5 Ks
Chris Michalak, LHP (Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Rockies AAA, Pacific Coast League) … 2-1, 3.06 ERA, 3 GS, 17.2 IP, .294 opp.avg. (20-for-68), 6 R/3 ER, 10 BB, 13 Ks … also has hit 2-for-6 (R, 2 RBI)
Paul O’Toole, C/IF/OF (Daytona Cubs, Cubs single-A, Florida State League) … 4-for-10, 4 GP, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 BB, K
Christian Parker, RHP (Columbus Clippers, Yankees AAA, International League) … yet to pitch in ’03
Steve Stanley, OF (Midland Rockhounds, Athletics AA, Texas League) … .262 (11-for-42), 11 GP, 5 R, 7 RBI, SAC, 3 BB, 4 Ks, E
Brian Stavisky, OF (Kane County Cougars, Oakland single-A, Midwest League) … .319 (15-for-47), 13 GP, 11 R, 7 RBI, 3B, 4 2B, SAC, 2 HBP, 9 BB, 11 Ks, E
Danny Tamayo, RHP (Wichita Wranglers, Royals AA, Texas League) … 0-2, 2.89 ERA, 2GS, 9.1 IP, .324 opp. avg. (11-for-34), 5 R/3 ER, 5 BB, 3 Ks
Brant Ust, IF (Erie Sea Wolves, Tigers AA, Eastern League) … .143 (4-for-28), 8 GP, 3 R, 3 RBI, 4 2B, BB, 9 Ks, SB, starts at SS (5) and 2B (3)