BC baseball: Where are they now? 2011 edition
By Joe Micik
I remember doing this last summer, and I’ll revive the practice for 2011. Today, we will take a look at some of the Boston College baseball players we have active in professional baseball (which is quite literally the only game in town right now, seeing as how there is no hockey, basketball, football, or any college sports) and what has become of their careers.
Robbie Anston
Last played for BC: 2010
Current assignment: Clinton (IA) LumberKings; Class A Affiliate, Seattle Mariners
Anston has been hitting in the high .200s in his brief minor league career to this point. In 2011 to date, he is hitting .270 with no homers and seven RBI. He does sport a strong OBP of .446.
Last played for BC: 2009
Current assignment: Visalia (CA) Rawhide; Class A-Advanced Affiliate, Arizona Diamondbacks
Belfiore was once an infielder and closing pitcher for the Eagles, playing a key role on the 2009 team which made the NCAA Tournament. He had good 2009 and 2010 seasons (posting ERAs of 2.17 and 3.99, respectively), primarily as a starter, but 2011 has not been kind to him so far. As a member of the Rawhide, he is pitching to an ERA north of 6 and his K:BB ratio stands at a pedestrian 41:31.
Last played for BC: 2008
Current assignment: Binghamton (NY) Mets; Class AA Affiliate, New York Mets
Campbell had the best season of his brief minor league career so far in 2010 when, in playing for three different teams, he maintained a batting average of .306. 2011 has been quite the opposite, however, as Campbell is hitting just over the Mendoza line in over 200 at-bats with a sub-.600 OPS.
Last played for BC: 2010
Current assignment: Beloit (IL) Snappers; Class A Affiliate, Minnesota Twins
This former Boston College ace is in his first full season in the minors. Last year, in nine games, he managed a solid 2.15 ERA, and so far in 2011, he has started seven games and pitched to a 2.84 ERA, striking out 34 batters in 38 innings while only walking eight. If he keeps that sort of performance up, I suspect he won’t be long for A-ball.
[Mike Dennhardt would be in this spot, but it is my current understanding that he has not yet signed with the Cincinnati Reds and is therefore leaving the door open to returning to BC for his senior year. It seems likely, however, that he will make the jump to the pros, since his Tommy John surgery would wipe out his 2012 season with the Eagles, anyway. Brad Zapenas and John Leonard are likewise waiting to sign.]
Last played for BC: 2008
Current assignment: Birmingham (AL) Barons; Class AA Affiliate, Chicago White Sox
Doyle is on his second team of 2011, but has kept 3.07 ERA for the whole season so far. As further proof that wins are a poor indicator of how good a pitcher is, he has a 2-7 record as a starting pitcher this year despite that ERA, so I shudder to think of what kind of run support he’s getting. As a matter of fact, to date, he has not logged a full season ERA above 3 in the minors.
Last played for BC: 2008
Current assignment: Modesto (CA) Nuts; Class A-Advanced Affiliate, Colorado Rockies
Houston’s 2011 is going well so far, having gone 7-1 with a 2.53 ERA. He is allowing far less than a hit per inning and has a K:BB ratio of about 3:1. If he keeps this up, it will be by far his best season in the minors yet.
Last played for BC: 2005
Current assignment: Oklahoma City Redhawks; Class AAA Affiliate, Houston Astros
Locke is one of the few BC alums at the triple-A level, but 2011 needs to turn around for him in a hurry if he wants a chance at going further. He is hitting .226 with 3 homers and 20 RBI in what is a disappointing start to the season (given his past numbers in the minors which, on balance, were much better).
Last played for BC: 2005
Current assignment: Columbus (OH) Clippers; Class AAA Affiliate, Cleveland Indians
Martinez’s 2011 has been OK so far, with a 4.21 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 47 innings pitched. He has been appearing primarily out of the bullpen for Columbus, and can tout previous major-league experience (having been called up in both 2009 and 2010, pitching to a decent 4.12 ERA in San Francisco and Piitsburgh in 2010). He was traded by the Pirates to the Indians in January, where he waits in triple-A for another call-up.
Last played for BC: 2006
Current assignment: Lynchburg (VA) Hillcats; Class A-Advanced Affiliate, Atlanta Braves
McGill spent part of his 2011 season in triple-A, but is currently a member of A-advanced Lynchburg as a catcher. He’s been on a cold streak, however (3 hits in last 30 ABs), which has knocked his batting average down to .230.
Last played for BC: 2006
Current assignment: Arkansas Travelers; Class AA Affiliate, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Meyer pitches out of the bullpen for double-A Arkansas, located in North Little Rock, where the league is hitting a minuscule .096 off of him. He had pitched to an ERA of 2.87 but is currently on the disabled list. He has not pitched since June 3.
Last played for BC: 2010
Current assignment: Kannapolis (NC) Intimidators; Class A Affiliate, Chicago White Sox
Moran, like Meyer, is on the disabled list. He has not pitched since May 30 for the Intimidators, but was having a sub-par year before his injury: largely out of the bullpen, Moran went 1-2 with a 7.33 ERA, allowing over a hit per inning.
Last played for BC: 2006
Current assignment: None; formerly of the Portland (ME) Sea Dogs; Class AA Affiliate, Boston Red Sox
Finally, a minor league team that most of my readers will recognize. Regrettably, however, he was released by the Red Sox organization during spring training and has not pitched professionally since 2010.
Last played for BC: 2009
Current assignment: Altoona (PA) Curve; Class AA Affiliate; Pittsburgh Pirates
Sanchez was once the starting catcher for Boston College, and he has that same role in Altoona in 2011. His power numbers are low, but he has put together a .257 batting average and a .356 on-base percentage. He spent last season in Bradenton, FL as part of Pittsburgh’s Class A-advanced team where he hit over .300.
Last played for BC: 2011
Current assignment: Princeton (WV) Rays; Rookie-class Affiliate, Tampa Bay Rays
Smith was just drafted at the conclusion of the 2011 BC baseball season, and after signing a professional contract with the Tampa Bay organization, was assigned to the Princeton Rays at the entry level of Minor League Baseball. He is on the roster as a pitcher and has not yet recorded an appearance because the season starts on Tuesday.
Last played for BC: 2010
Current assignment: Kannapolis (NC) Intimidators; Class A Affiliate, Chicago White Sox
Spatola currently resides in single-A Kannapolis, NC, where he is once again teammates with former Eagle Kevin Moran. He has played for this team since last season, with mixed results: in 2011, he is hitting .247 with 3 homers and 13 RBI.
Last played for BC: 2010
Current assignment: Clinton (IA) LumberKings; Class A Affiliate, Seattle Mariners
Speaking of former Eagles getting together in the minors, former All-American Mickey Wiswall is a teammate in Iowa of Robbie Anston. His on-base percentage is kind of low at .304 (but has been coming up lately), but he is hitting .256 with 6 homers and 29 RBI so far in 2011.