battlekow

LaPorta's first game for Akron got rained out, as did Rob Bryson with Lake County. Zach Jackson contributed in a Buffalo shutout win.

Here's an update on Wayne Dedrick (30th-round OF): Lipscomb wants just one-sport star By STEVE SILVER • Staff Writer • July 9, 2008 Wayne Dedrick could not have had a better high school senior year. He signed a basketball scholarship offer from Lipscomb in November. Then, in February, he scored 30 points in the Alabama Class 6A state championship game to lead Hillcrest High School to its first basketball title. Dedrick was named tournament MVP. Lipscomb basketball Coach Scott Sanderson was justifiably elated when Dedrick arrived in Nashville, enrolled in summer school and began working out, preparing for his career with the Bisons. But that all changed when Dedrick was unexpectedly selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 30th round of the baseball draft in June. He pulled out of school recently and returned to Alabama, where he is deciding whether to skip college to play professional baseball. "I really don't know what I'm going to do," said Dedrick, who continues to work out, practicing both basketball and baseball with former Hillcrest teammates. "I miss my teammates at Lipscomb like crazy right now. Nashville was truly a home away from home. This is a big step and I don't know what I'm going to do." His departure has left a void in Lipscomb's men's basketball program. The 6-foot-2 guard from Tuscaloosa added speed and ball handling skills to a solid recruiting class that includes 6-8 Justin Glenn, 6-7 Matt Shaw and 6-4 Jacob Arnett. "He is a very explosive offensive player," Sanderson said. "He is very athletic. He really knows how to score." Sanderson said he had no idea any Major League Baseball teams were interested in Dedrick, though the third baseman did hit .402 with 22 RBIs in his senior year at Hillcrest. He also won a state title in baseball as a junior, alongside the Brewers' 19th round pick, pitcher Blake Billings. "I never thought baseball was in the equation," Sanderson said. "His parents didn't know. He didn't know. Nobody knew. It sprung on all of us about a month ago." Lured by pro league In an article that appeared on the day after he was drafted, Dedrick told his hometown newspaper, The Tuscaloosa News, that he didn't even enjoy playing baseball until his senior year of high school. But the lure of pro baseball was too strong to ignore completely. Dedrick headed home on June 11 to prepare for negotiations with the Brewers, alongside his father, Thomas, who has been acting as his agent. The first meeting dates with Milwaukee representatives were repeatedly pushed back, he said. In response, Dedrick withdrew from his classes at Lipscomb, fearing his absence from classes would cause him to fail summer school and hurt his academic eligibility. Dedrick still hasn't received a firm contract offer from the Brewers. When he does, he said, he'll consider whether the dollar figure is high enough to redirect his life. As with all baseball draftees, professional baseball teams will pay for his remaining education should he elect to return to school later. "It's really just a potentially amazing opportunity," Dedrick said. "(The Brewers) can always pay for my school when I finish playing. There aren't many opportunities like this. Four years of college wherever I want to go. That's definitely a factor." Dedrick's decision, though, will ultimately have ramifications beyond his own life. Lipscomb would regain a scholarship spot if Dedrick pursues baseball, but it would also lose one of the top basketball prospects from Alabama. "There's not a whole lot I can do besides wait and let him make his decision," said Sanderson, the Bisons' coach. "Let's just say I've learned more about baseball in the last month then I'll ever need to know." http://cmsimg.tennessean.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DN&Date=20080709&Category=SPORTS060403&ArtNo=807090389&Ref=AR&Profile=1002&MaxW=318&Border=0 Former Hillcrest (Ala.) baseball player Wayne Dedrick, who signed a basketball scholarship with Lipscomb in 2007, was unexpectedly picked by the Milwaukee Brewers in June.

Oh hey, BC is facing Rick Porcello.

Lucroy is ahead of Salome at this point in my mind. I have him #4 overall, behind only Gamel, Escobar, and Jeffress.

I just got confirmation from Adam McCalvy that Seth Lintz is finally signed.

Julian Tavarez signed by the Braves.

Salome gets some love from BA's Daily Dish!

Apparently Hitaniel Arias tweaked his knee; that's why he's been MIA the last week. Supposedly not a big deal.

Anyway, it sounds more and more like Brantley is the Sabathia PTBNL, so I guess this is a moot issue.

Haha, I love the title. BTW, you're missing the time for Brevard's game; it's at 6 CT. EDIT: Time added, thanks.

Lucroy's excellent play recently also earned him a spot in Kevin Goldstein's Monday Ten Pack:

Meanwhile, Eric Fryer was BA's Sally League Prospect of the Day, with Lee Haydel getting a mention:

Lucroy was BA's FSL Prospect of the Day, and Jeffress also got a mention:

Okay, but then why has Brantley played 21 games at first this year?

Gamel playing the OF is contingent on Hart being able to handle CF, but the LaPorta trade at least gives him a shot.

It will be interesting to see who goes out there once Brantley is healthy again with Cain on the team now. Based on how the team has handled Brantley defensively before, I have to think Cain will be tabbed as the regular CF. Thoughts?

Billings Knecht

Has Lorenzo Cain been officially promoted to Huntsville in the wake of the LaPorta trade? He's by far the most obvious choice to get a bump, but I haven't seen any confirmation; however, MLB Trade Rumors says he's been promoted.

What are the odds WV scores 16 runs while Gindl fails to reach base, score, or drive in a run? Bizarre.

Sounds like LaPorta won't be in the lineup tonight...

Lawire hit two three-run homers yesterday: link

The Indians signed Jeff Weaver, and the Orioles called up Greg Aquino.

Still no Hitaniel Arias.

Nashville's local Fox affiliate has a video piece up on Seth Lintz. I'm not sure whether that's an indication that he's signed or not, but at the very least he talks like it's a foregone conclusion.

I thought that's what you meant by "his status as a prospect", how good he was.