Field throws in AAA All-Star game; Stanford back and throwing well
The number of former Barton County Community College baseball players playing pro baseball grew to 6 this summer as 3 former Cougars were drafted to join three other already in the minor leagues. The leader of that group right now is Nate Field, who was selected to the AAA All-Star games held earlier this month. Jason Stanford is back throwing at the AAA level, making his way back to full strength after surgery in 2004 while yet another former pitching is finding his stride in A ball. The 3 newly drafted players are all playing short-season rookie ball this summer.

Field continues to close for the Colorado Rockies AAA team the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Field has 15 saves in his 33 appearances this season. Field was selected to the AAA All Star game where he threw a perfect 8th inning for the Pacific Coast League All Stars in its 5-0 loss. Field has had impressive control, striking out 33 while walking just 4 in his 33 innings. He is currently 2nd in the league in saves.

Stanford has been in the recovery process of Tommy John surgery in 2004. He has had stint on the disabled list again this year, but is currently throwing for the Cleveland Indians AAA team in Buffalo. Stanford, a left-handed pitcher, is 3-4 in 15 starts this season, but has an ERA of 3.74. He has thrown only 72 innings in those 15 starts with the Indians being careful during his recovery. Stanford has 52 strikeouts for the Bison. In his last outing on Monday, Stanford threw 6 2/3 innings of 6-hit baseball, allowing just 1 run and striking out 6. In his 5 outings since returning from the DL, Stanford is 1-0 and has a very impressive 1.33 ERA.

Ryan Phillips started the season on the disabled list for the Greenville Drive, missing the 1st 62 games for the Boston Red Sox Class A team. The left-hander has since made 8 starts for the Drive, posting a 2-4 record but with an ERA of 3.05. Phillips has struck out 29 batters in his 38 innings. In his most recent start last week, Phillips gave up just 1 earned run in 5 innings but took the loss for the Drive.

Jeff Christy, the lone none-pitcher among the former Cougars in the pros, is off to a good start for the Elizabethton Twins, a Rookie League team for the Minnesota Twins. Christy has started 19 games – mostly at catcher but some at designated hitter – hitting .277 with 1 homer and 10 RBI. His average is 3rd best on the team and the RBI total is 4th best. He is in his 1st season after spending 2 years at the University of Nebraska before being a 6th round selection this season of the Twins.

Chad Lee, the highest draft pick in Barton history after his 4th round selection by the Oakland A's this year, has struggled some at his Rookie League team, the Vancouver Canadians. Lee, who has traded time as a starter and reliever just as he did at Barton, is 1-0 with Vancouver with a 5.49 ERA. Lee has started 4 games this season and appeared in relief in 2 more. During his 19 innings of work, Lee has 12 strikeouts and 6 walks.

Nathan Hedrick, a freshman at Barton last season, has also had some struggles for the New York Mets Rookie League team in the Gulf Coast League. Hedrick has started 2 games and relieved in 4 more. The 6-10 right-hander has posted a 1-1 record with a 6.89 ERA. Hedrick had a good outing his last appearance, starting for the Mets and pitching 4 scoreless innings, allowing just 2 hits.