Pro Prospect Watch
Wednesday Journal has been following former area ballplayers as they try to make it to the majors. Look for the Watch again next year for continued coverage of area prospects.
Vasili Spanos (OPRF ’99) finished his fourth full season of pro ball with a .276 average, 10 homers and 54 RBIs for Midland, the Athletics’ Double A affiliate. Spanos has now played two full seasons with the RockHounds. The 2003 11th round pick is a .294 hitter in 437 career pro games, with 46 homers, 283 RBIs and a .387 on-base percentage. A promotion next year would bring Spanos, 26, to Triple A Sacramento (Calif.).
Derek Schlecker (OPRF ’03) was scheduled to leave yesterday for the Angels’ fall instructional league in Tempe, Ariz., which runs through mid-October. Before missing the last three weeks of the season with elbow tendonitis that he said is fully healed, Schlecker posted a 3.66 ERA in 32 innings over 16 relief appearances. He went 0-3 with one save. Schlecker said in an e-mail on Sunday that he is slated to pitch next year for the Angels’ low Single A affiliate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Second baseman Caleb Fields (Fenwick ’03) finished his first pro season at .270 with a .337 on-base percentage. Batting mostly in the leadoff slot for the rookie Gulf Coast League Pirates, he had two homers and 18 RBIs in 43 games (163 at-bats). Fields said Sunday he doesn’t know where he will be playing next season but that he’s been told he may get more work in the outfield, where he played in college.
Tim Dennehy (OPRF ’05) went 6-1 with a 3.38 ERA for the GCL Yankees, earning the win in their championship-clinching victory. Possible destinations for Dennehy next year include short-season Single A Staten Island (N.Y.) and low Single A Charleston (S.C.).