June 11, 2009
I was very excited when it was announced that the State College Spikes would be a new Short Season Single A team, right in my hometown. I was even more excited following the 2006 season when it was announced that the Spikes would change affiliation from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Now that the first year player draft has completed, and we now know many of the names that will show up on the Spikes’ roster this year, I decided to research the Spikes’ alumni over the past 2 seasons and see where they’re playing now (I ignored the 2006 season with the Cardinals… although Luke Gregerson, Jason Motte, Brendan Ryan and P.J. Walters have already played for the Cards.
Technically, Zach Duke was a State College Spike because he made a rehab appearance in State College in 2007. Otherwise, the most notable Spikes within the Pirates’ system are: Brian Friday, Daniel Moskos, Moises Robles, and Anthony Watson. They’re all playing in AA Altoona.
Here’s a table that I compiled of Spikes’ alumni and where they’re playing now. If I have something wrong, let me know.
| Name | Position, Year(s) | Acquisition | Current Spot | Highest Spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carver, Mark | (C, 2008) | 2008 33rd Round Draft Pick | A | A- |
| Castorri, Christian | (RHP, 2007) | Signed as a free agent in 2006. | A | AA |
| Charry, Jorge | (RHP, 2007-2008) | 2006 32nd Round Draft Pick | A | A |
| Foust, Matthew | (RHP, 2007-2008) | 2007 6th Round Draft Pick | A | A |
| Klinger, Brent | (RHP, 2008) | 2008 21st Round Draft Pick | A | A- |
| Mendez, Miguel | (C, 2008) | A | A- | |
| Morgan, Kyle | (OF, 2008) | 2008 36th Round Draft Pick | A | A- |
| Payne, Matt | (INF/OF, 2008) | 2008 34th Round Draft Pick | A | A- |
| Ponder, Allen | (RHP, 2008) | 2008 45th Round Draft Pick | A | A- |
| Rice, Chad | (2B, 2008) | 2007 24th Round Draft Pick | A | A- |
| Rosero, Ciro | (OF, 2008) | Signed as a free agent in 2004. | A | A+ |
| Rubinstein, David | (OF, 2008) | 2008 11th Round Draft Pick | A | A- |
| Vasquez, Andy | (INF, 2008) | Signed as a free agent in 2006. | A | A- |
| Vasquez, Malvin | (RHP, 2008) | A | A- | |
| Walker, Andrew | (C, 2007) | 2007 5th Round Draft Pick | A | A |
| Williams, Mike | (LHP, 2008) | 2008 44th Round Draft Pick | A | A- |
| Aguero, Ramon | (RHP, 2008) | Signed as a free agent in 2005. | A- | A- |
| Alvarado, Gabriel | (RHP, 2008) | A- | A- | |
| Anderson, Calvin | (1B, 2008) | 2008 12th Round Draft Pick | A- | A- |
| Bankston, Maurice | (RHP, 2008) | 2007 8th Round Draft Pick | A- | A- |
| Brolsma, Owen | (RHP, 2008) | 2008 48th Round Draft Pick | A- | A- |
| Chourio, Adenson | (2B, 2008) | A- | A- | |
| Cox, Tyler | (RHP, 2008) | 2008 35th Round Draft Pick | A- | A- |
| d’Arnaud, Chase | (SS, 2008) | 2008 4th Round Draft Pick | A- | A- |
| Davis, Marcus | (OF, 2007) | 2007 18th Round Draft Pick | A- | A- |
| Farrell, Jeremy | (3B/1B, 2008) | 2008 8th Round Draft Pick | A- | A- |
| Huber, Erik | (OF, 2007) | 2007 12th Round Draft Pick | A- | A- |
| Kelly, Ryan | (RHP, 2008) | A- | A- | |
| Latimore, Quincy | (OF, 2008) | 2007 4th Round Draft Pick | A- | A- |
| Leach, Brian | (RHP, 2008) | 2008 25th Round Draft Pick | A- | A- |
| Martinez, Yoffri | (RHP, 2007-2008) | Signed as a free agent in 2003. | A- | A- |
| McClune, Austin | (OF, 2007) | 2006 7th Round Draft Pick | A- | A- |
| McPherson, Kyle | (RHP, 2007-2008) | 2007 14th Round Draft Pick | A- | A- |
| Ortiz, Wilson | (RHP, 2008) | Signed as a free agent in 2006. | A- | A |
| Owens, Rudy | (LHP, 2008) | 2006 28th Round Draft Pick | A- | A- |
| Peley, Josue | (C, 2008) | A- | A- | |
| Spain, Robert | (2B, 2007) | 2007 19th Round Draft Pick | A- | A |
| Welker, Duke | (RHP, 2007) | 2007 2nd Round Draft Pick | A- | A |
| Bishop, Harrison | (RHP, 2007) | 2007 17th Round Draft Pick | A+ | A+ |
| Boleska, Thomas | (RHP, 2007) | 2007 35th Round Draft Pick | A+ | A+ |
| Colla, Mike | (RHP, 2008) | 2008 14th Round Draft Pick | A+ | A+ |
| Durham, Miles | (OF, 2007) | 2006 22nd Round Draft Pick | A+ | A+ |
| Felix, Michael | (LHP, 2007) | 2006 2nd Round Draft Pick | A+ | A+ |
| Hague, Matt | (3B, 2008) | 2008 9th Round Draft Pick | A+ | A+ |
| Mercer, Jordy | (SS, 2008) | 2008 3rd Round Draft Pick | A+ | A+ |
| Molleken, Dustin | (RHP, 2007) | A+ | A+ | |
| Uviedo, Ronald | (RHP, 2007) | Signed by Seattle Mariners as non-drafted free agent. | A+ | A+ |
| Perez, Smelin | (SS, 2007) | Signed as a free agent in 2002. | A+ (Marlins) | AA |
| Friday, Brian | (SS, 2007) | 2007 3rd Round Draft Pick | AA | AA |
| Moskos, Daniel | (LHP, 2007) | 2007 1st Round Draft Pick | AA | A+ |
| Robles, Moises | (RHP, 2007) | Acquired in the Rule 5 draft from the Mets in 2006. | AA | AA |
| Watson, Anthony | (LHP, 2007) | 2007 9th Round Draft Pick | AA | AA |
| Duke, Zach | (RHP, 2007) | Made appearance with Spikes as part of Major League Injury Rehab Assignment in 2007 | MLB | MLB |
| Biela, Butch | (OF, 2008) | 2007 13th Round Draft Pick | Rookie | A- |
| Garcia, Edward | (OF, 2008) | Rookie | A- | |
| Knotts, Alan | (RHP, 2008) | 2008 38th Round Draft Pick | Rookie | A- |
| Alvarez, Basilio | (RHP, 2007) | A+ | ||
| Amaro, Carlos | (RHP, 2008) | A+ | ||
| Amato, Gary | (RHP, 2007-2008) | 2007 48th Round Draft Pick | A | |
| Ambrose, Michael | (2B, 2007) | A | ||
| Barksdale, James | (OF, 2007) | 2006 15th Round Draft Pick | A+ | |
| Byler, Justin | (OF, 2007) | A- | ||
| Cameron, Taylor | (RHP, 2007) | 2007 31st Round Draft Pick | A- | |
| Cavagnaro, Matt | (2B, 2007) | 2007 21st Round Draft Pick | A+ | |
| Clarkson, Matthew | (C, 2007) | 2006 20th Round Draft Pick | A- | |
| Cuffman, Jacob | (RHP, 2007) | A+ | ||
| Diaz, Ricky | (C, 2007) | A+ | ||
| Fitzpatrick, John | (OF, 2007) | A- | ||
| Forrer, Daniel | (LHP, 2007) | 2007 32nd Round Draft Pick | A- | |
| Guerrero, Emilis | (RHP, 2008) | Signed as a free agent in 2008. | AA | |
| Igsema, Victor | (OF, 2007) | Signed as a free agent in 2002. | A | |
| Nunez, Eddy | (LHP, 2007) | A- | ||
| Pena, Ronald | (C, 2007) | A | ||
| Pena, Silvio | (INF, 2008) | Signed as a free agent in 2005. | A | |
| Rios, Daniel | (1B, 2007) | 2005 19th Round Draft Pick | A- | |
| Rodriguez, Dionis | (RHP, 2007) | The Pirates signed Rodriguez as a 15-year-old free agent phenom in 2001. | A+ | |
| Simmons, Chris | (C, 2008) | A- | ||
| Simon, Adam | (RHP, 2007) | 2006 25th Round Draft Pick | A+ | |
| Simon, Keanon | (OF, 2007) | 2007 25th Round Draft Pick | A | |
| Stillwagon, Nicholas | (C, 2007) | Signed as a free agent in 2002. | A | |
| Suero, Nicolas | (RHP, 2007) | Signed as a free agent in 2006. | A | |
| Tracy, Brian | (RHP, 2007) | 2007 20th Round Draft Pick | A- | |
| White, Cole | (OF, 2008) | 2008 42nd Round Draft Pick | A- | |
| Williams, Brandon | (RHP, 2007) | 2006 29th Round Draft Pick | AA |
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