Semi OT Which young players do we follow

by carolinacub on Mar 27, 2009 2:01 PM CDT

So here's the question. Which young players to we keep track of as they move up the ladder in thier baseball careers and also what is thier connnection to us.

1) Justin Jackson SS Blue Jays org. I work with Justins dad so I get regular updates which makes it easy to follow him. i've known Justin since he was 12 and was the batboy for the Asheville Tourists the local A team for Colorado. If Justin turns out to be half the ballplayer as he is a person then he'll be an allstar. Great kid, Justin went to TC Robertson the local baseball powerhouse.

2) Cameron Maybin OF Florida. Another nice kid who also went to TC Robertson, this could be Cam's breakout year. As a sidenote Cam's cousin is Rashaad McCants the former Carolina basketball player now in the NBA. McCants went to HS with my son.

3)Chris Narveson P Brewers org. wow a 3rd TC grad but a little older. Not sure if Chris will ever make it. He's a good pitcher but there are a ton of them around my gut says he'll get a couple more sniffs at the Big's and then drop quietly from sight.

4) Ian Stewart inf Rockies, This looks like Ians year to make it to the show, probably relegated to a fill in slot but he'll get a chance to prove himself. Ian went through Asheville as part of his minor league run and just happened to marry the daughter of the coach. He's a nice kid and did a lot of charity work here which is how I first met him.

So what about you folks,who do you personally know and what's going on with them.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I happened to catch Yankees prospect Austin Jackson...

…hit a grand slam in a spring training game on MLB Network the other night. He looks like he has some skills. But I have no connection to him whatsoever.

"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" ~ Lou Piniella, 3/9/09

by daver on Mar 27, 2009 2:31 PM CDT reply actions

No relation to Justin

but yeah he looks like he could do well

If the world didn't suck we would all fall off.

by carolinacub on Mar 27, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Austin Jackson is the heir apparent to the Yankee CF job in 2010

Brian Cashman has also recently labeled him untouchable in trade.

by BLou on Mar 27, 2009 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Cameron Maybin could have a breakout year and be a candidate for ROY

He has the tools and has cut down his strikeouts.

Connection: he plays spring baseball in my backyard at Roger Dean Stadium.

I also follow Marlins’ pitcher Chris Volstad. He went to a local high school and plays golf, along with Ricky Nolasco, with one of my best friends. I don’t play golf.

My closest connection to young talent is Adam Veres, a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. He went to school with and is very close to my daughter. He updates her often with his progress. She may be reading this now and blushing, but I always thought they were meant for each other. Unfortunately, he is a Cardinal. My daughter, a die-hard Cub fan.

"I knew we were in for a long season when we lined up for the national anthem on opening day and one of my players said, 'Every time I hear that song I have a bad game.'" - Jim Leyland

by flachimesa on Mar 27, 2009 2:54 PM CDT reply actions

What school

I grew up in Jupiter, but that was a long long long long time ago

If the world didn't suck we would all fall off.

by carolinacub on Mar 27, 2009 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Volstad went to Palm Beach Gardens, Veres went to Jupiter Christian and Dwyer

I live in the Heights / Abacoa. I bike ride past Roger Dean Stadium every day.

"I knew we were in for a long season when we lined up for the national anthem on opening day and one of my players said, 'Every time I hear that song I have a bad game.'" - Jim Leyland

by flachimesa on Mar 27, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I was there before Dwyer existed

man seems like forever ago. Abacoa was my snipe hunting area, scrub brush and skinks.

If the world didn't suck we would all fall off.

by carolinacub on Mar 27, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Chris Nicoll

He is a RHP in the Royals farm system. I work with his younger brother so I get updated on how he’s doing.

Derrick Rose-2009 ROTY Tyrus Thomas-2009 MIP...hope I'm at least half right

by CHCOWNTHECENTRAL on Mar 27, 2009 3:11 PM CDT reply actions

Mike Bowden

Pitcher on the Red Sox. He was a great pitcher in High School, as he no-hit my high schools team. I think they only made contact like 4 times.

"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti

by wrigleyrocker12 on Mar 27, 2009 5:39 PM CDT reply actions

Joe Benson

He’s a center fielder in the Twins organization. I went to high school with him. He’s in Double A now, I think

by wennington4 on Mar 27, 2009 10:58 PM CDT reply actions

Ben Copeland

With the A’s. Don’t know him personally but he has the same name as my oldest son. Height and weight pretty close too.

Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana

by copes006 on Mar 29, 2009 5:57 PM CDT reply actions

Funny

I was always a little partial to Brandon Larson with the Reds. Same deal, same name as my son. See you bright and early Monday Timo

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Mar 29, 2009 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions

David Wallace

He was my catcher in HS. He started his 8th grade year actually. Pretty good. Unfortunately, the team was pretty bad. David went on to start at QB for Vanderbilt and play baseball there too. He is now in AAA with the Indians. However, he probably won’t get to the bigs barring significant injury in their system. All glove and no stick. Can’t hit anything that ain’t straight. Probably ticketed to be a coach in their system from what I hear. He was a NRI to the big league camp, but got returned to minor league camp on the 20th or so. I think that he might be ticketed to be the bullpen catcher. If so, he’ll be catching our own Kerry Wood.

I wish him the best, he is a good guy.

"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run for Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray

by Archie on Mar 30, 2009 12:56 PM CDT reply actions

Interesting to hear you say ticketed to be a coach

I’ve never really thought about how early they look at young players for future coaching positions. Most of the time you think about the long term stars who have savvy and see them translate that into a coaching career. But how often do you think about the 22 year old kid who say’s I want to be a major league manager

If the world didn't suck we would all fall off.

by carolinacub on Mar 31, 2009 8:02 AM CDT reply actions