USF Minor League Update :: Aaron Poreda Makes Jump to Double-A; Joins Ex-Dons Teammate Stefan Gartrell

July 11, 2008

USF is well represented in the minor league baseball ranks, with eight on current rosters. Three of those are playing in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, while ex-Dons teammates Aaron Poreda and Stefan Gartrell were reunited by the Chicago White Sox at Double-A Birmingham.

Tagg Bozied, one of USF's most prolific hitters, is having success at first base for the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins. Through 94 games, Bozied is batting .281 (70-for-249) with 11 doubles, one triple, 16 homeruns, 39 RBI, 45 runs scored, 24 walks, and six stolen bases. His Isotopes are currently fourth with a 40-54 record in the Pacific Coast League American Southern division.

Nick Pereira and Jesse Foppert both toe the rubber for the Fresno Grizzlies, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Pereira is currently 6-8 with a 5.99 ERA in 17 starts. In 91.2 innings, Pereira has 76 strikeouts and 42 walks. Foppert is 2-1 with a 7.56 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 21 relief appearances (33.1 innings). The Grizzlies are 43-50, good enough for third place in the Pacific Coast League Pacific Southern division.

Stefan Gartrell, drafted in 2006 by the Chicago White Sox, is currently playing for the Birmingham Barons of the Double-A Southern League. In 80 games this season, Gartrell is batting .256 (67-for-262) with 12 doubles, two triples, nine homeruns, 34 RBI, 34 runs scored, 30 walks, and four stolen bases. In the last three seasons, Gartrell has moved from the Rookie level Bristol Sox, to the Class-A Kannapolis Intimidators of the South Atlantic League, and on into his current position in Double-A.

Last year's No. 25 overall draft pick by the Chicago White Sox, Aaron Poreda, was called up to Birmingham on June 11 and in five starts, he is 0-2 with a 3.48 ERA, 26 strikeouts and just seven walks in 31.0 innings pitched. The Barons are first, with a 53-40 record in the Southern League South division.

In Class-A Advanced, Scott Cousins, is playing for the Florida Marlins' affiliate, Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League. Cousins is batting .306 (38-for-124) in 31 games, with eight doubles, four homeruns, 15 RBI, 20 runs scored, 11 walks, and eight stolen bases. The Hammerheads are 4th in the East division at 43-44

Also in Class-A Advanced, Daniel Morales is pitching for Mahoning Valley Scrappers on the New-York Penn League (Cleveland Indians). Morales is currently 2-0, 0.84 ERA, with one save, 12 strikeouts and just four walks in 10.2 innings. Opponents are batting just .184 against him. The Scrappers are 10-13, fourth place in the Pickney division.

Luke Sommer is now pitching for the Arizona League Cubs (Chicago Cubs). Sommer is 1-0, 1.29 ERA in 5 games, all in relief. In 7.0 innings, Sommer has six strikeouts and just two walks, and was credited with one hold. The AZL Cubs are second with a 9-6 record.