Lee, Christy, Hedrick sign with new teams; Phillips off DL, Stanford on DL
It has been a busy couple of weeks for former Barton County Community College baseball players. Last week a pair of former Cougars and one current Cougar was drafted in the MLB draft. Since that time all 3 drafted players have signed deals with their new organizations while another former player is back to pitching in the minor leagues after missing the 1st part of the season with an injury and yet another former Cougar has found his way back to the disabled list in the minor leagues.
Chad Lee, a 4th round pick by the Oakland A's, Jeff Christy, a 6th round pick by the Minnesota Twins, and Nathan Hedrick, 8th round New York Mets, have all signed deals with their new clubs since being drafted last week.
Lee, a sophomore for the Cougars last season, has been assigned to the A's short season team in Vancouver, Canada. The Vancouver Canadians will begin their season on June 19th with the season running into September. The Canadians have won back-to-back West titles in the short-season Class A league.
Hedrick will be headed to the Gulf Coast League for the Mets rookie team. The Gulf Coast League is made up of 12 teams and begins play June 20. Hedrick, who was a freshman for Barton last season and could have returned to play for Barton next season but instead chose to begin his pro career this summer.
Christy, a senior for Nebraska this past season and a 2-year starter at catcher for Barton, will probably be sent to a Twins short season team as well. He was tabbed as one of the best defensive catchers in college baseball by Baseball America.
Meanwhile Ryan Phillips, a standout for the Cougars in 2004 and a draft pick of the Red Sox that same season, is back throwing at Class A Greenville. Phillips had missed the 1st 62 games of the year with a right intercostals strain (ribs). Tossing the opening 3 2/3 innings of the contest, Phillips allowed just 3 hits, 1 earned run and 3 walks while striking out 4.
Barton's other two former players in pro baseball currently are pitching in AAA, just one step from the Major Leagues. Both Nate Field and Jason Stanford have been in the majors in previous season and are working to get back.
Field is the closer for the Colorado Sky Sox this season, an affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Field has recorded 12 saves for the Sky Sox in 23 games this season. He is 2-2 with a 5.55 ERA. Field has 26 strike outs and just 2 walks in 24 innings of work.
Stanford is 2-4 as a starter for the Buffalo Bison, the AAA affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. He is currently on the 15-day Disabled List for the team after suffering from arm fatigue and a sore elbow. Stanford had Tommy John surgery in 2004 and has been trying to work his way to the Indians.