Hunger Strike

After attending my first Utah baseball game - a thrilling 11 inning 4-3 victory over Oregon State - I realized it's time to post an update on players in the minors.

Stephen Fife was back in Salt Lake this weekend for a series with the Bees. He started for the Albuquerque Isotopes yesterday, giving up 2 earned runs in 7 innings. Fife is on the 40 man roster and could be called up by the LA Dodgers.

C.J. Cron hasn't made it up to the Bees yet - he's no longer with the Owls, either. He's slugging his way up with the Inland Empire 66ers of the Class A Advanced California League.

Brian Budrow played in that league last season, but was released by the Visalia Rawhide.

Ryan Khoury has gone the free agent route and is now plying his trade with the Wichita Wingnuts of the AAIPB (not affiliated with MLB).

Jordan Whatcott is pitching for the Reading Phillies, a team I got to see play some time ago.

Rick Anton played for the Ogden Raptors and the Great Lakes Loons last season; he isn't on any affiliate roster this spring, although he is still listed as active.

Jay Brossman has retired from the Angels organization due to injuries and is now a student coach for the University of Utah team I watched play this past weekend.

Who's On First

C.J. Cron became the first Utah baseball player to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft when the Los Angeles Angels selected the slugger with the 17th pick. Cron lead the nation with a  .803 slugging percentage and was third in batting average (.434). Just a junior, Cron is #1 in school history with a .396 career batting average and 198 RBIs, and was named to the Louisville Slugger All-America first team. His position? First base, naturally.

Cron will be in a unique position in the Angels' organization: he could play for the AAA-affiliate Salt Lake Bees in Spring Mobile Ballpark, where he played his home games as a Ute.