steelcitybombers
11-17-2006, 08:31 PM
Finally we have some updated news on Brad Eldred. Here is something I found on the PIrate web site, which also includes updates on all of our prospects playing winter ball.....
11/17/2006 1:50 PM ET
Eldred in the groove for championship
First baseman riding five-game hit streak into league playoff
By Michael Echan / Special to MLB.com
Grand Canyon's Brad Eldred saw his average plummet to .170, while his massive 6-foot-5, 275-pound frame generated just one homer and three doubles over 13 games. Eldred finally found his groove on Nov. 9 against the Peoria Javelinas, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and two runs scored as the Rafters won, 8-0.
The 26-year-old first baseman collected a hit in each of his next four games, raising his average to .231, and stole his third base of the fall on Nov. 11, as the Rafters fell to the Scorpions, 4-3.
Grand Canyon will need his bat in the Arizona Fall League Championship game against Phoenix on Saturday. Here is how the rest of the Pirates' prospects are doing in their various fall and winter leagues.
Arizona Fall League
RHP Jesse Chavez -- The 23-year-old right-hander continues to be a dominant force out of the Rafters bullpen. He tossed three hitless innings while picking up his fourth save against Peoria on Nov. 10. Chavez lowered his ERA to 0.64 and the league is hitting .122 against him.
LHP David Davidson -- The left-handed Canadian enjoyed his best week in the desert so far, as he appeared in three games and got the win in two. Davidson pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings against the Javelinas on Nov. 10, as the Rafters went on to a 4-2 victory. He pitched two scoreless frames against Mesa four days later and held Phoenix to one hit over one inning on Thursday.
RHP Brian Rogers -- Rogers saw brief action this week as he pitched a scoreless inning and struck out one on Nov. 9, during an 8-0 win over the Javelinas. The 24-year-old Dallas native has yet to give up a run in six games, spanning 7 2/3 innings. He is holding opponents to an .083 average.
LHP Josh Shortslef -- The little-used Shortslef was cuffed around a bit during his only appearance this week as Mesa reached him for three runs -- two earned -- on three hits, two walks and a wild pitch in four innings on Tuesday. Despite the outing, the 24-year-old southpaw escaped with a no-decision as Grand Canyon won, 14-5.
C Neil Walker -- Walker has quietly put together a six-game hitting streak, raising his average to .290. The highlight of his week came on Nov. 14 during a 14-5 win over Mesa. He went 3-for-5 with a double and scored two runs. It was his first multi-hit game since Oct. 24 against Phoenix.
Hawaii Winter Baseball
C Steve Lerud -- Lerud went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a pair of walks on Nov. 9, but was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts against Waikiki on Nov. 14.
OF Nyjer Morgan -- Morgan was 2-for-5 with a triple, a double, a stolen base and two runs scored during Honolulu's 6-2 win over West Oahu on Nov. 9. He went 3-for-18 with four strikeouts the rest of the week.
RHP Wardell Starling -- The 23-year-old righty tossed three shutout innings against the CaneFires on Nov. 9, but gave up a run on two hits and three walks in two innings in a 4-1 loss to the North Shore Honu.
RHP Justin Vaclavik -- The 22-year-old right-hander blew a save and took the loss on Nov. 10 when he gave up two runs on two hits, including a home run, during the Sharks' 6-5 loss to North Shore. He earned a save on Nov. 15 after pitching three scoreless frames against Waikiki. He struck out three.
Dominican Winter League
OF Jose Bautista -- Did not play this week.
RHP Franklin Perez -- Did not play this week.
RHP Jorge Vasquez -- Did not play this week.
Mexican Pacific League
C Ryan Doumit -- Doumit went 0-for-4 with a strikeout on Nov. 15.
OF Ray Sadler -- Sadler went 3-for-13 with three strikeouts. The 26-year-old outfielder managed just one extra-base hit, a double on Nov. 11 against Caneros de los Mochis.
RHP Sergio Silva -- Did not play this week.
SS Fernando Villaescusa -- Villaescusa appeared in two games as a pinch-hitter this week. The 21-year-old middle-infielder scored a run on Nov. 11 and stole a base three days later.
Venezuelan Winter League
OF Rafael Alvarez -- Alvarez hit a solo home run on Nov. 10, but went 1-for-14 in his next four games, striking out six times.
RHP Jonah Bayliss -- The 26-year-old gave Oriente two solid outings, retiring both batters he faced against Pastora de los Llanos to get the save on Nov. 11. He pitched 1 2/3 shutout innings on Nov. 15, lowering his ERA to 1.69.
OF Vic Buttler -- Buttler was a constant presence on base this week, going 9-for-23 (.391) in five games while drawing five walks. The 26-year-old scored 10 runs and stole a pair of bases.
LHP Michael Connolly -- Connolly was dominant in his two starts this week. The 24-year-old right-hander got the win on Nov. 9 when he pitched six innings of one-run ball, giving up four hits and two walks while striking out four. Connolly was even better six days later when he fanned eight in 7 2/3 frames, holding La Guaira to a run on three hits and three walks. He did not receive a decision.
OF Rajai Davis -- Did not play this week.
SS Yurendell de Caster -- De Caster had a stellar doubleheader on Nov. 11 when he went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and scored twice in the first game, then went 1-for-3 in the nightcap. He went 0-for-13 in his next three games.
RHP Chris Hernandez -- Hernandez struck out one on Nov. 15 to get his first win of the fall. The 26-year-old right-hander also tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings on Nov. 12.
C Milver Reyes -- Did not play this week.
OF Brett Roneberg -- Roneberg went 3-for-6 with a double and an RBI in a Nov. 11 doubleheader. He was 0-for-5 with three walks the rest of the week.
RHP Ronald Uviedo -- Did not play this week.
LHP Shane Youman -- Did not play this week.
Michael Echan is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
11/17/2006 1:50 PM ET
Eldred in the groove for championship
First baseman riding five-game hit streak into league playoff
By Michael Echan / Special to MLB.com
Grand Canyon's Brad Eldred saw his average plummet to .170, while his massive 6-foot-5, 275-pound frame generated just one homer and three doubles over 13 games. Eldred finally found his groove on Nov. 9 against the Peoria Javelinas, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and two runs scored as the Rafters won, 8-0.
The 26-year-old first baseman collected a hit in each of his next four games, raising his average to .231, and stole his third base of the fall on Nov. 11, as the Rafters fell to the Scorpions, 4-3.
Grand Canyon will need his bat in the Arizona Fall League Championship game against Phoenix on Saturday. Here is how the rest of the Pirates' prospects are doing in their various fall and winter leagues.
Arizona Fall League
RHP Jesse Chavez -- The 23-year-old right-hander continues to be a dominant force out of the Rafters bullpen. He tossed three hitless innings while picking up his fourth save against Peoria on Nov. 10. Chavez lowered his ERA to 0.64 and the league is hitting .122 against him.
LHP David Davidson -- The left-handed Canadian enjoyed his best week in the desert so far, as he appeared in three games and got the win in two. Davidson pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings against the Javelinas on Nov. 10, as the Rafters went on to a 4-2 victory. He pitched two scoreless frames against Mesa four days later and held Phoenix to one hit over one inning on Thursday.
RHP Brian Rogers -- Rogers saw brief action this week as he pitched a scoreless inning and struck out one on Nov. 9, during an 8-0 win over the Javelinas. The 24-year-old Dallas native has yet to give up a run in six games, spanning 7 2/3 innings. He is holding opponents to an .083 average.
LHP Josh Shortslef -- The little-used Shortslef was cuffed around a bit during his only appearance this week as Mesa reached him for three runs -- two earned -- on three hits, two walks and a wild pitch in four innings on Tuesday. Despite the outing, the 24-year-old southpaw escaped with a no-decision as Grand Canyon won, 14-5.
C Neil Walker -- Walker has quietly put together a six-game hitting streak, raising his average to .290. The highlight of his week came on Nov. 14 during a 14-5 win over Mesa. He went 3-for-5 with a double and scored two runs. It was his first multi-hit game since Oct. 24 against Phoenix.
Hawaii Winter Baseball
C Steve Lerud -- Lerud went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a pair of walks on Nov. 9, but was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts against Waikiki on Nov. 14.
OF Nyjer Morgan -- Morgan was 2-for-5 with a triple, a double, a stolen base and two runs scored during Honolulu's 6-2 win over West Oahu on Nov. 9. He went 3-for-18 with four strikeouts the rest of the week.
RHP Wardell Starling -- The 23-year-old righty tossed three shutout innings against the CaneFires on Nov. 9, but gave up a run on two hits and three walks in two innings in a 4-1 loss to the North Shore Honu.
RHP Justin Vaclavik -- The 22-year-old right-hander blew a save and took the loss on Nov. 10 when he gave up two runs on two hits, including a home run, during the Sharks' 6-5 loss to North Shore. He earned a save on Nov. 15 after pitching three scoreless frames against Waikiki. He struck out three.
Dominican Winter League
OF Jose Bautista -- Did not play this week.
RHP Franklin Perez -- Did not play this week.
RHP Jorge Vasquez -- Did not play this week.
Mexican Pacific League
C Ryan Doumit -- Doumit went 0-for-4 with a strikeout on Nov. 15.
OF Ray Sadler -- Sadler went 3-for-13 with three strikeouts. The 26-year-old outfielder managed just one extra-base hit, a double on Nov. 11 against Caneros de los Mochis.
RHP Sergio Silva -- Did not play this week.
SS Fernando Villaescusa -- Villaescusa appeared in two games as a pinch-hitter this week. The 21-year-old middle-infielder scored a run on Nov. 11 and stole a base three days later.
Venezuelan Winter League
OF Rafael Alvarez -- Alvarez hit a solo home run on Nov. 10, but went 1-for-14 in his next four games, striking out six times.
RHP Jonah Bayliss -- The 26-year-old gave Oriente two solid outings, retiring both batters he faced against Pastora de los Llanos to get the save on Nov. 11. He pitched 1 2/3 shutout innings on Nov. 15, lowering his ERA to 1.69.
OF Vic Buttler -- Buttler was a constant presence on base this week, going 9-for-23 (.391) in five games while drawing five walks. The 26-year-old scored 10 runs and stole a pair of bases.
LHP Michael Connolly -- Connolly was dominant in his two starts this week. The 24-year-old right-hander got the win on Nov. 9 when he pitched six innings of one-run ball, giving up four hits and two walks while striking out four. Connolly was even better six days later when he fanned eight in 7 2/3 frames, holding La Guaira to a run on three hits and three walks. He did not receive a decision.
OF Rajai Davis -- Did not play this week.
SS Yurendell de Caster -- De Caster had a stellar doubleheader on Nov. 11 when he went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and scored twice in the first game, then went 1-for-3 in the nightcap. He went 0-for-13 in his next three games.
RHP Chris Hernandez -- Hernandez struck out one on Nov. 15 to get his first win of the fall. The 26-year-old right-hander also tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings on Nov. 12.
C Milver Reyes -- Did not play this week.
OF Brett Roneberg -- Roneberg went 3-for-6 with a double and an RBI in a Nov. 11 doubleheader. He was 0-for-5 with three walks the rest of the week.
RHP Ronald Uviedo -- Did not play this week.
LHP Shane Youman -- Did not play this week.
Michael Echan is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.