Cates Plays in Midwest League All-Star Game
June 18, 2008 | Baseball
June 18, 2008
MIDLAND, Mich. - Former University of Louisville shortstop Chris Cates, an infielder for the Beloit Snappers of the Midwest League, played for the West All-Stars in the league's annual All-Star Game Tuesday.
Cates was 0 for 2, entering the game as a pinch hitter and playing second base, adding an assist and a putout defensively as the West squad defeated the East 5-4 in 10 innings.
Cates, in his second year of pro ball after helping the Cardinals to the College World Series in Omaha in 2007, has played in 54 games for the Snappers this season.
He is batting .268 with five doubles, 18 RBI, 15 runs and 18 walks, with just 14 strikeouts. He has also stolen four bases in five attempts.
Cates played in 42 games during the 2007 season following the conclusion of the Cardinal season.
Cates, a four-year starter with the Cards finished his career with Cardinal records for games (242), at bats (906) and sacrifices (52). He finished his career second in hits (275), T10th in doubles (45) and tied for 8th in steals (34).
Standing 5'3' Cates is the shortest player in professional baseball and was recently featured with 7'1" teammate Loek Van Mil on ESPN2's First Take.
Cates is one of 13 Cardinals currently on professional rosters.
Seattle Mariners RHP Sean Green leads the American League in appearances with 36, posting a 1-2 record with one save and a 3.23 ERA.
Mark Jurich is batting .279 with eight doubles and six RBI in 20 games for the Richmond Braves (AAA), after driving in 18 runs in 46 games for AA Mississippi during the first half of the season.
Nick Haley is playing for the Modesto Nuts, the A Advanced affiliate of the Colorado Rockies in the California League, batting .252 with 12 RBI and 25 walks in 45 games.
Fellow infielder Logan Johnson has nine home runs and 36 RBI while batting .270 for the South Atlantic League(A) Kannapolis Intimidators in the White Sox minor league system.
Former Cardinal teammate Boomer Whiting plays for the Washington National's Hagerstown Suns in the SAL and has 26 steals in 39 games, batting .266 with five doubles, two triples and a home run, scoring 30 and driving in 20 runs.
Former Cardinal closer Trystan Magnuson, the highest draft pick in school history at 56 overall, is playing in the same league as Cates, making 14 starts for the Lansing Lugnuts as part of the Toronto Blue Jays system.
Griffin Bailey is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in 15.1 innings while playing for the Southern Illinois Miners in the Frontier League, an independent league. He is joined by Daniel Burton, who is batting .283 with seven doubles, two home runs and nine RBI in 25 games for the Evansville Otters, and Brian Halford who is playing for the Gary SouthShore RailCats. Halford is 2-0 in 14 outings out of the bullpen.
Recently drafted by the Phillies in the 13th round, closer B.J. Rosenberg made his pro debut, taking the loss in the Williamsport Crosscutters' season opener despite not allowing an earned run, striking out four in an inning and two-thirds.
Also pitching in his first pro game in the New York-Penn League was 2007 BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year Zack Pitts, who was also on the losing end of season opener in hard-luck fashion, striking out two in two innings, surrendering a pair of unearned runs for the Batavia Muckdogs.
Catcher Derrick Alfonso has signed with the Milwaukee Brewers and is a member of the Helena Brewers, who opened their season in the Pioneer League(Rookie A) last night. Alfonso did not play in the opener.
Former outfielder Isaiah Howes, who played for the Staten Island Yankees in the NYPL, is recovering from shoulder surgery and will not play during the 2008 season, returning to the Yankees farm system in 2009.
Second baseman Justin McClanahan was drafted by the Blue Jays but has not been assigned.
