NOTES FROM THE NAT: Vancouver Canadians news

Happy reading.

10. Rashun Dixon: The Bullet has thrown out runners in three straight games, good enough for the Northwest League lead, one ahead of teammate Tyreace House among others, and is the lone C to hit a HR this year.  He is batting .417 at Nat Bailey this year, in three games.  The 18 year old is one of the top prospects for the A’s.

9. The rest of the Outfielders: Jose Crisostomo in four games is batting .400, and being only 20 years old is flashy and exciting on the field.  El Rey, as we call him (which means The King in Spanish), is riding a three-game hitting streak.

Conner Crumbliss is batting just below the Mendoza Line, but he is in my Top 5 for must-see players this year, after hitting nearly .400 in college, and the fact he leads the league in walks (8), and triples (1).

Tyreace House was featured in the Province (see below), and is the fastest OF I have ever seen at Nat Bailey (no joke), after being Oakland’s 6th round pick last year.

8. Middle Infielding corps: Whether it’s Nino Leyja batting .290, Michael Gilmartin with a pair of multi-hit games, or Ryne Jernigan who is climbing up the league average leaders, Vancouver has one of the best MI groups in recent years, and Jernigan, Leyja and Gilmartin are batting a combined .266. 

7. Promotions galore: With 6 great promotions, and one exciting first pitch, this six-game set is sure to excite all fans, of all ages.  

Tonight it is a Kids Jersey giveaway on A&W Family Fun Sunday, tomorrow you can bring your dogs and pick up an exciting Webkinz golden retriever toy, as well as a Fireworks Extravaganza on Tuesday to bring in Canada Day, a few hours early.

Canada Day is a Nooner with a workout towel giveaway, before a Noisemaker gate giveaway Thursday, mixed in with a special first pitch.

The six-game set concludes with a Nooner and Hot Dog Eating contest on Friday.

6. Great rotation: Tonight the lone lefty on the C’s (Julio Ramos) toes the rubber likely against Wilber Bucardo of Salem, who gave up just one run in his 5 innings of work Tuesday evening against Boise.

Chad Lee (right) could face Jose Valdez tomorrow, a 6′7 RHP who missed last season.

Tuesday night is Joselito Adames, the C’s Opening Day starter, against Orlando Yntema, who is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA going into this series, having made his NWL debut against Vancouver last season.

Canada Day will be Ricardo Penalba, a good righty for the C’s from Panama, against the second Bucardo on the Volcanoes, Jorge, who has given up just two runs in nearly 10 innings of work this year.

Big Hector Garcia goes Thursday, against Javier Hernandez who intimidates batters with his 6′4 frame.  Batters should tee off Hernandez if they’re not scared, as opposing batters are batting .265 against the 21 year old from Venezuela. 

Friday will likely be a rematch of tonight, although Ramos may be replaced by Pedro Vidal.

5. Home debuts: Three players at least will make their Nat Bailey debuts either tonight or tomorrow, in Catcher Ryan Ortiz, 1B Anthony Aliotti or SS Michael Gilmartin.  

Once more players in Arizona get passports, such as Myrio Richard, Ryan Quigley and Murphy Smith, they’ll probably report to Vancouver, which could be as early as this week.

4. Potential last series at home: With more incoming players than they can hold, potentially the stars of the Canadians could be on their way up soon, including Rashun Dixon, Nino Leyja, Jose Crisostomo, and pitchers Chad Lee and Hector Garcia (left), to name a few.  This would be a great chance to see all starting pitchers this week, as well as those shining at the dish and in the field.

3. If the Province is into the team, why aren’t you?: With a two-page spread on the Canadians today, it looks as though The Province newspaper is into the club, with stories on Tyreace House, and Ryan Ortiz.

Steve Ewen is doing a fantastic job, to go along with Lyndon Little of The Sun.

2. Team 1040 games limited: Only two games are on the Team 1040 this week, tonight and Tuesday, so if you aren’t at a computer to listen to the others online at Canadiansbaseball.com, seeing them in person is the best you can do.  

Rob Fai gives the call to all 6 in-stadium, on the in-game FM station.

1. It’s Salem for heaven sakes: There is no bigger rivalry in the last couple years, other than maybe Everett-Vancouver, for the Canadians than against the top dogs in the division, Salem-Keizer.

The Volcanoes, year in and year out are stacked, and mostly have returning players.  They are up two games on Vancouver for the West Division lead, and they do not come back after this 6-game series, unless there is a rain-out this week (look at the forecast there won’t be).

Tim Lincecum (right) made his pro debut here a few years back, for the same Volcanoes (parent club is San Francisco), and such stars as Sharlon Schoop of Netherlands fame, and Matt Downs who is now in the MLB (two years removed from Vancouver), mean this is your only chance to see some of the best prospects in Baseball.

See you at The Nat. 

It may have taken two games, but the Vancouver Canadians are back in the win column, and if you go back to last season, they have won 6 of their last 8 games in total.

Last night’s offence was driven by Rashun Dixon, who accounted for the only run-scoring hit (a solo HR), and today was much of the same for the young hitter, who had his second multi-hit game of the season.

Mix that in with stellar pitching by Ricardo Penalba, who battled injuries this week, and you have a Canadians win.

Nooner Lineup:

CF Tyreace House

RF Conner Crumbliss

DH Kent Walton (top left)

LF Rashun Dixon

SS Leo Gil

C Gabriel Ortiz

1B Wilfredo Sosa

3B Marcos Luis

2B Nino Leyja

SP Ricardo Penalba

Facing Nick Czyz of the Aquasox, Vancouver got on the board quickly, but not before Penalba was spectacular on the hill from the get-go.  Of the four batters he faced in the first, three of them went down either swinging or watching, and Gerardo Avila was stranded after his double.

In the C’s part of the first, with one gone and Conner Crumbliss on first, Kent Walton doubled-in Crumbliss for the game’s first run, but Walton hesitated on going to third, and was tagged out by Hawkins Gebbers.  Rashun Dixon singled, but the inning ended on Leo Gil’s ground out.  1-0 C’s.

They piled it on in the 2nd, on a play not likely to be re-created anytime soon.

With Gabriel Ortiz on first base, Wilfredo Sosa attempted to do a sacrifice bunt, but it went soaring in the air.  After an error trying to pick off Ortiz on the play, Gerardo Avila’s throw went air born into right field, allowing Ortiz to head to second, and then third, where he got lucky because RF Ryan Royster’s throw was way off, and despite being given the hold sign by Rick Magnante, Ortiz charged home to double the lead.

South Africa’s Anthony Phillips tripled in the 3rd, but nothing came of it for Everett, and Vancouver’s next great chance came in the 5th with Nino Leyja on first.  Everett’s pitcher Czyz tried to pickoff the young 2B, but the catch wasn’t made, and Leyja headed to 2nd, then 3rd on Tyreace House’s single.

With only one gone, it looked as though Vancouver would get another run, but a lineout (and a near double-play), and a fly out ended the inning.

The 5th also marked the end for Ricardo Penalba who finished the game near the 80 pitch mark, after 5 innings.  He gave up just four hits, and struck out 7, including three in the first.  Penalba pitched a gem, there is no better way to say it.

Bo Schultz came into replace him, and despite allowing the first two hitters on base, he struck out the power hitting Kalian Sams, and got Guy Welsh to fly out, before Wellinton Dotel ended the inning on a ground out.

With Schultz in his third inning of relief, Everett tried to pile it on, and see if he had a tired arm.  With one gone and runners on the corners, Vancouver couldn’t finish the double play, allowing Ryan Royster to score, but even with runners on the corners again, Jose Guzman came into close out the game, and got the final out of the 8th. 

With Vancouver’s lead cut in half, their offence had to help out the bullpen, and that they did.  Conner Crumbliss hit a triple to center, that had the 4,192 fans on their feet, before he scored on Rashun Dixon’s two-out single in the 8th to extend the lead to a pair.

Guzman allowed a single, then struck out Fred Bello, before a 6-4-3 double play got the C’s a win, their first of the year. 

Game Notes:

- The last player to have back-to-back multi-hit games, was actually mutli players, in David Thomas and Dusty Coleman, who did so on the last two games of 2008.

- Crumbliss has two stolen bases on the year, after swiping second base two games in a row.  He leads the NWL in that category.

- Two of the three triples in the NWL this year came today, with Crumbliss and Anthony Phillips of Everett being tied with Scott Beerer of the Tri-City Dust Devils.

- Vancouver is now 7-2 all-time with both Marcos Luis and Leo Gil in the lineup.

- Jose Guzman picked up his 16th save as a Vancouver Canadian (2008-2009)

- Nat Notes Hitter of the Game: Conner Crumbliss (1-3, 3B, BB, 2 Runs)

- Nat Notes Pitcher of the Game: Ricardo Penalba (5 IP, 4 H, 7 Strikeouts, Win)

In front of a sellout crowd of 5,132, the Vancouver Canadians were in it til the 6th, when Everett kicked off 8 unanswered runs, which was the difference for the Flipper Kids and the C’s.

Everett featured a roster that won’t be in tact for Tuesday, after the Vancouver series, because their mentality was pretty much, if you have a passport, get down to Vancouver.

C’s lineup:

CF Tyreace House

LF Conner Crumbliss (left)

DH Kent Walton

RF Rashun Dixon

SS Leo Gil

C Gabriel Ortiz

1B Wilfredo Sosa

3B Ryne Jernigan

2B Nino Leyja

SP Joselito Adames

Facing Adames was a lineup full of experience for Everett, who had South Africa’s Anthony Phillips (right) led off.  He struck out but reached base on a passed ball on strike 3, before advancing to second on a one-out single by Gerardo Avila, but Phillips was gunned out on the throw from Conner Crumbliss to Ryne Jernigan at third.

The Vancouver half of the first got the fans out of their seats, as Tyreace House singled to open the frame, before heading to 2nd on a walk, and stealing third.  The aggressive decision by Rick Magnante could’ve paid off big time, but Kent Walton flew out, Rashun Dixon got a questionable Strike 3 call, and Leo Gil much of the same.

A run came up on the board in the 3rd, as with a runner on third and none out, Ryan Royster singled home Fred Bello to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.

Conner Crumbliss’ second walk of the game opened the C’s half, before he stole second.  Back-to-back outs put the C’s in an awkward situation, and then Leo Gil was beaned in the shoulder.  Gabriel Ortiz ended the inning, striking out.

Two innings after he crossed home, Fred Bello doubled in the 5th, before being sacrificed over to 3rd.  Bello scored again, on a Royster base hit, before a routine 6-4-3 double-play ended the threat.

Crumbliss finally registered an official at-bat in the 5th, flying out, as did Kent Walton, but Rashun Dixon hit one of the straighest home-runs I have ever seen at Nat Bailey, and it went a mile into the LF sky.  Dixon’s first was just a bomb.  And, it was ‘close’ enough to the A&W Mug, so fans got free coupons.  Suddenly 2-1.

Unfortunately, the pulling of starter Joselito Adames who had a great first outing, marked the start of an Everett out-burst.

Ronny Morla’s first relief appearance with Vancouver in two years happened in the 6th, when he gave up back-to-back singles, and then the runners moved up on a sac fly.  Ben Billingsley did fly out, but then Ryne Jernigan allowed a pair to score on his throwing error to first.  4-1.

Morla remained in during the 7th, but with runners on first and second with one gone, a RBI double to Guy Welsh opened up the game once again.  A balk resulted in another run, 6-1.  Morla was then replaced by Jonathan Joseph, who walked a batter before picking up the 4-3 double-play (Leyja tags, throws to #3 position).

Fred Bello’s second double led-off the 8th, and he later scored for the third time on a Ryan Royster hit.  Kalian Sams homered in Royster, Garardo Avila and himself, on a shot that wouldn’t stop until it had just cleared the Nat Bailey fence.

Joseph’s day was done, and in came Jorge Arrioja who got an out, an error, then another out.

Rashun Dixon beat out an infield hit for a single in the 8th off of reliever Jose Rios, but he was stranded on 2nd after Sosa popped up to end the inning.

Tyreace House and Conner Crumbliss both struck out, but it wasn’t their fault, in the 9th as the game ended, because by the 7th, this one wasn’t as exciting as the first 6 innings were.

Game Notes:

- 4 hits by Ryan Royster, who went 4-5 with a double, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored.  He holds an .800 average for the year.

- 6 for 9 is what you’ll get if you combine Kalian Sams’ and Guy Welsh’s stats, as the pair each had there hits, including Sams’ home-run, and Welsh’s double.

- 3 Canadians players had multi-hit nights, in Rashun Dixon, Nino Leyja and Wilfredo Sosa.  The only other Canadians to have had hits was Gabriel Ortiz and Tyreace House.  Dixon of course, had a HR.

- 3 stolen bases by the Canadians, with Leyja, House and Conner Crumbliss each picking up one.

- Everett starter Taylor Lewis was spectacular, giving up four hits and 3 walks during 6 innings of work, allowing an earned run and striking out 6.

- Joselito Adames was just as good, going 5 strong, surrendering 4 hits, 2 walks, a pair of earned runs, and picking up 4 K’s on the day.  Adames wasn’t helped out by the offence, besides four or five players who contributed.

- 1.2 innings of relief by Jorge Arrioja, who allowed one blemish, a hit, while striking out one.

- 4 years since a Canadian had hit a HR on Opening Day (Haas Pratt, 2005). 

- Ben Billingsley went 0-4, which means he is now 0-20 with 7 K’s at Nat Bailey Stadium, lifetime. 

- Nat Notes Hitter of the Game: Rashun Dixon (2-4, HR, RBI, Run, 2 K)

- Nat Notes Pitcher of the Game: Joselito Adames (5 IP, 5 HR, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, Loss)

Crowd to be a factor:

For the second time in three seasons, the Vancouver Canadians have a sellout for Opening Day, and with clouds expected to clear in the next three or so hours, it will be a great night for Canadians baseball.

The last time the season opener was soldout was in 2007.

Most of these players have never played in front of 5,000+, so this will not only be a new team and a new league, but a new atmosphere as well.

I for one, can’t wait.  Tickets (albeit limited) remain for the Fathers Day Nooner tomorrow at 1:05, and the game Monday at 7:05.

If you didn’t get tickets to see Joselito Adames and the C’s, listen to the game on the Team 1040, with Rob Fai, Chris Pritchett and Lou Filippo.  

Experience means nothing:

No current Everett Aquasox player has ever faced Joselito Adames in a professional game, so there will be no ‘inside edge’ to a guy who has hit well off of him.

If indeed Ronny Morla comes into relieve Adames, as put on the C’s website, Wellington Dotel comes in 1-4 with 2 K’s against the C’s hurler, and Ryan Royster is 1-2 with a solo HR.  Anthony Phillips has a double in two at-bats against Morla, and Ben Billingsley (right) is 1-6 with a HR and 3 strikeouts.

Billingsley, in fact, is 0-16 with 7 strikeouts lifetime at Nat Bailey Stadium.  If he is in the starting lineup tonight, that is certainly something to look at.

On the Vancouver side, the most a player has faced a Everett pitcher is twice (Leo Gil, 0-2 vs Philip Roy), but Nino Leyja is 1-1 with a RBI triple off of Kyle Brown, and Ryne Jernigan is 1-1 against both Luke Burnett who is starting Monday, and Eddy Hernandez.

The Aquasox hitter who has hit best off a C’s pitcher is Ryan Royster who is 2-3 with 2 RBi and a double against Jose Guzman, and Ben Billingsley who is 1-1 with a 2 RBI double off Guzman as well.  Then again, that was in Everett.

On this day in Canadians history (June 20):

The first nine inning no-hitter at Nat Bailey Stadium was on this day when Rick Waits tossed a gem against the Portland Beavers in 1986.

C’s pitching coach Craig Lefferts (Lefty is left) allowed a season-high 5 ER while playing against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a MLB rookie.

9 years ago today, the C’s took to the field for the first time in franchise history, at Yakima, Washington.

Sean Doolittle and JD Pruitt combined to be 5-9 on June 20, 2007, with a double and a HR (Pruitt), which was JD’s first of 7 over a two-year span.  Vancouver won 7-3.

Since 2002, Vancouver is 4-2 on this day in NWL competition.

Opening Day Facts:

No Canadians hitter has hit a HR on Opening Day since Haas Pratt (shown, right) did so in 2005.

The C’s last won on Opening Day in 2006, on June 19th.

No Canadian has had there hits on OD since Ramiro Mendez in 2007, resulting in a promotion later that week.

Since 2000, the C’s have captured just one Opening Day victory, and current skipper Rick Magnante is 1-2 on Opening Days.

In their history, Vancouver is winless (0-2) while facing Everett in the first game of the season.

In the last four seasons, Vancouver has won 3 of 4 Opening Day series.

Did you know…:

Only 13 times last year did the C’s lead-off hitter not reach base successfully via a hit, walk or hit-by-pitch.

54 of the Canadians 76 games last year had at least one error by the good guys.

The single-game high by one player was 4, when Jason Christian (left) and Francisco Tirado each had a quartet of errors on August 5th and July 13th respectively.   

On days ‘clear or sunny’ by Minor League Baseball, Vancouver was 23-27.

Against Everett in 2008, the C’s were an even 6-6, and 4-2 at Nat Bailey Stadium.   

In the last 3 years on Fireworks nights, Vancouver is 5-13.  

With an RHP on the hill to start, Vancouver was 17-29 (Righty Joselito Adames is starting tonight).

When the Team 1040 broadcasts a Canadians game (since 2000), the Canadians are 46-44.

With Rick Magnante as Manager, since 2006, Vancouver has given up the lead only 3 times in the 9th.

If Leo Gil and Marcos Luis both find themselves in the lineup, they may have an extra boost, as last year when that happened, Vancouver was 6-2.  

I didn’t think it would come out three days before Opening Day, so expected to have more time on my hands in advance of Saturday, so the Top 5 list will be a ‘recap 5 list’, that will come out later this week in one post.

The new roster is the one that will be used on Opening Day, but many promotions/demotions will likely happen after this homestand, as most drafted players are just getting passports, which take 10 days to process.

13th rounder Murphy Smith is in that boat, as is Michael Gilmartin.  Dan Tenholder was rumoured to come to Vancity, so he could be facing the same issue.  It’s not like in years past where players can join the C’s on roadtrips and bus back using just ID, because new border regulations mean you have to have a passport, and many players simply do not.

None-the-less, there are 3 pitchers drafted in 2009, one infielder, and a pair of outfielders who will make their pro debuts this weekend.

Just one pitcher is left-handed (Julio Ramos), but many such as Smith and potential Ryan Quigley will be up here in no time.

Those drafted are Nathan Long (26th, UT Arlington, right), Paul Smyth (Kansas) and Dan Straily (Marshall).  For position players there is Jeremy Wells (Patten), Conner Crumbliss (Emporia State) and Kent Walton (BYU).  

Notable pitchers include Kyle Christensen, a highly touted high school pick from a few years ago, Jose Guzman, last year’s Canadians save leader (all-time as well), Pedro Vidal, Bo Schultz and Juston Street, whose brother Huston is the closer for the Colorado Rockies.

Ronny Morla and Hector Garica are both returning as well.  Joselito Adames has been named Opening Day Starter.

Gabriel Ortiz is back from AA Midland, and Rodney Rutherford has switched to catcher, from 3B in his return to Vancouver.

The infield consists of Wilfredo Sosa at 1B, Marcos Luis, Jeremy Wells, Nino Leyja and Leo Gil up the middle, and Ryne Jernigan at Third.  At least Gil can play the hot corner as well.

Outfielders are Jose Crisostomo, Conner Crumbliss, Rashun Dixon, Tyreace House and Walton.

Full roster, here.   

Odds and Ends:

A recurring question always comes up after the MLB Draft each year, who will sign, and who won’t.  This year there have already been 14 players who have signed on the dotted line for the A’s, but I would expect more to come in the next week or two.

The Vancouver Canadians Opening Day roster for Saturday will not be the roster you will see 7 days from now even, as they embark on the first road trip of the year.

I woke up at an un-godly hour today to listen to Andy Dunn on the Team 1040 (it was 8:28), and he is one of the best promoters for the game of baseball, ever.

Flat and simple, he doesn’t leave any question unanswered, and even said that Michael Inoa, the A’s top pitching prospect who has right elbow inflammation and is out for the next 30 days, could end up for the C’s this season, near the end, or in 2010.

Dunn also mentioned how, like I said, the roster will not be the same as you’ll see in a week or two.

I know I’m off topic, but before I get back on track, congratulations to C’s Broadcast Hall of Fame member Barry MacDonald, of Team 1040, who received his plaque today.  B-Mac is a great reason to get up early in the mornings to listen to the radio.

Who will sign?:

Michael Gilmartin was one of 14 to sign yesterday with the A’s, and according to Wofford College, is headed to the Canadians for this weekend.  

First round pick Grant Green, who will not likely go to Oakland even if signed, hasn’t even begun contract negotiations, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.  We might be waiting until the August 17th deadline to sign this Scott Boras client.

Third rounder Justin Marks hasn’t signed as of time of post, but hopes to sign, and "hopes to begin his career with the Vancouver Canadians." Marks would face teammate Chris Dominguez who is reportedly signing with the Giants, and heading to Salem next week for June 23rd.  Article here.  Personally I would love to see his four-pitch arsenal, to go along with the 92 mph fastball at the Nat.

Max Stassi fell a long ways from the first round, ending up at round 4, and will likely head to UCLA for his scholarship.  Stassi is scheduled to play this summer on a traveling team with A’s Manager Bob Geren’s sons this summer, should he not sign.  My guess is Oakland will heavily scout this traveling team, and then go from there before August 17th.

5th round pick Steve Parker, a 3B out of BYU looks set so sign, after telling the Deseret News (no typo), "It’s the best feeling ever, I’ve dreamt of this moment my entire life.  I’ve always wanted to play baseball for a living and now I can."  Parker is set to ’skip his senior season of college baseball’, per the article.   

I’ve already posted about Ryan Ortiz‘ intentions of signing, but turns out there may have been a stop in negotiations for one reason or another, this week because there has been no news, so postpone that welcoming party at YVR for him.   

Ian Krol (left) didn’t play High School ball this year as a Senior, instead playing for a team in Wisconsin that traveled.  Why?  He was suspended.  I don’t care about his past, all I want is this kid to sign because he is an amazing baseball player.  Forgive and forget.  Krol told the Chicago Sun-Times, "We’ve gone through this over and over and over.  Trust me, we’ve made a list a hundred times.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance."

He threw out the first pitch at a Cougars game 9 years ago, and ‘could soon be working there’, as the article said.

A pick after Krol was Rob Gilliam of the UNCG Spartans, and he told the school’s sports desk, "It is truly an honor to be drafted by the Oakland Athletics.  It has always been a dream of mine to play professional baseball and this just brings me one step closer to that goal."  Gilliam can reach 95 on the gun.

Myrio Richard will know all about the A’s system should he sign (as his brother Mike was here in 2007, right), and despite being raw in the outfield defensive, he has a great bat from the 9th round.  His coach wrote on Prairie View A&M’s website that, "I’m glad that Myrio and his brother are both playing in the same organization.  He has the speed and the power to move up in their minor league system."  Sounds like he’s signing to me. 

Sam Dyson struggled this year for South Carolina, but is just a Red-Shirted Sophomore, and could return for two more seasons to work on control.  His coach told the Post and Courier, "He believes he’s good enough to be in the first 15 to 20 picks.  It didn’t happen for him.  Does he have an opportunity to improve that? He does.  Whether he chooses to go that way remains to be seen." He’ll be monitored this summer by the A’s.

He probably will sign, but Mike Spina had a great career for the U of Cincinnati, and as a Senior has no more years of eligibility left,  it may come down to the price being right. He may not have thought he would fall to the 11th, but told a local paper, "It was a great feeling, [...] You really can’t explain it."  The article mentioned he is ready to begin his ‘minor league journey’.

College teammate Lance Durham is the son of Leon ‘Bull’ Durham who once played for the C’s in the AAA days, so he may have some advice on if he signs, from Bull himself.

That’s the first 11 picks, and the Top 5 countdown is coming today, with two exciting recaps from the 2009 season. 

The first 14 draft picks have been signed by the Oakland Athletics, and will now report to Phoenix, Arizona.  Most of the 14 will be in Vancouver by Thursday night, from what I hear.

3 picks from the top 20 rounds have signed, and they’re all pitchers.

RHP Murphy Smith is from Binghamton, Max Peterson could be the third LHP to come out of San Jose State and play for the C’s in 5 years, and Dan Tenholder comes from Austin Peay State.  He is an RHP as well.

Meanwhile, there were 6 who have signed so far from rounds 21-28.

Ryan Quigley comes from Northeastern, where he faced the likes of Kevin Youkilis and Jed Lowrie in an exhibition game in February (striking out both).

Kent Walton is the first BYU draft pick to sign to play for the A’s, with Steve Parker being the A’s 5th round selection who has yet to sign.

Walton, an OF, hit .377 this year, with 9 HR’s in ‘09, and 53 stolen bases over 4 seasons for the Cougars.

Dan Straily weighs in at 229 pounds, and if he can throw as hard as his 6′2 frame would suggest, the A’s got a snag in the 24th round.  Straily went to Marshall University, famous for the movie, based on a true story, We Are Marshall. 

Senior RHP Nathan Long who once pitched for the Oklahoma Sooners, struck out 104 in 93 innings this year, and went 6-4, including one complete game shutout.

Michael Gilmartin is a hitting machine, batting .364 as a sophomore, and then .335 this year as a Junior.  Gilmartin had 49 RBI this season, and will look to make an immediate impact out of Wofford College.

Update: Gilmartin headed to Vancouver. 

Taken a round after Gilmartin, Conner Crumbliss (it is Conner not Connor, and bottom left) hit .397 this year, and that is not a typo.  Crumbliss had 30 doubles for Emporia State, to go along with 5 triples, and 5 HR.  He struck out 15 times, and stole 30 bases.

Paul Smyth had to wait until Round 35 to hear his name called, but he was a quick sign out of the Kansas Jayhawks bullpen.

Smyth threw in only 30 innings, but is a good reliable reliever.

Jeremy Wells is a 2B/OF from California, where he impressed the A’s at a tryout pre-draft.  Wells, from Patten University, batted .434 this year with a lead in six offensive categories for the Lions.

Brother of A’s Bobby, Blake Crosby out of Round 42 has signed, out of Sacramento State.  It is reported he’ll join the AZL A’s, but that may just be for a few days before he ships off to Vancouver.

A southpaw who has twice been drafted by Oakland, AJ Huttenlocker, from White River, Washington, got picked in Round 44.  Redshirted last year, he has good location and a good fastball, to go along with his 11-3 record as a Senior.

As the son of an A’s scout, Joel Eusebio came to the States to play for the Northeastern State Riverhawks, and has since found a home there, hitting .350 with 12 dingers this year, at 5′9.  Eusebio is a Senior 3B.

I did say only one of the A’s picks from Rounds 41-50 would sign, and I was wrong.  1 for those at home, Nat Notes 0.