Monthly Archives: March 2009

Former Southern Miss left-hander John Bale’s surgery to have his thyroid gland removed went well, according to various reports. Bale, competing for a job in the Kansas City Royals’ bullpen, had the procedure on Tuesday and was expected to be back in camp in a couple of weeks. Bale was drafted out of USM in 1996 — has it really been 13 years? — and has had a roller-coaster career in the U.S. and Japan. He spent most of last season on the disabled list with the Royals because of a sore shoulder and a broken hand suffered when he punched a door. His major league numbers: 3-6 record, 4.46 ERA. Not great, but he’s one of those “crafty left-handers” that big league clubs covet. At 34, Bale may not have a lot left in his arm — and he won’t have a lot of time to prove himself in the K.C. camp once he gets back on the hill. But here’s hoping it goes well for him.
P.S. Gotta check out Millsaps, which is 13-1 and ranked No. 14 in the d3baseball.com poll. Jim Page just keeps cranking out great clubs. The Majors have a home series with Austin College this weekend, a twinbill Saturday and a single game Sunday.

Kudos to Northeast Mississippi CC’s Jake Mills, Nick Mentel and Lee Paine, who combined on a 9-inning no-hitter Saturday as the Tigers beat John C. Wood CC 9-1 at Booneville. Mills, who pitched six innings, also hit a home run, as did Northeast’s preseason All-America catcher Phillip Chapman.
P.S. Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects issue just arrived in the mail. Two former Mississippi Braves and three soon-to-be M-Braves made the list. Tommy Hanson, last year’s M-Braves ace, checked in at No. 4, and outfielder Jordan Schafer is No. 42. Outfielder Jason Heyward (No. 5), outfielder Gorkys Hernandez (62) and first baseman Freddie Freeman (87) also made it. Hernandez figures to be the opening day center fielder at Trustmark Park, and Heyward and Freeman could be in Pearl by midseason. … Former Itawamba CC star Desmond Jennings, an outfielder in the Tampa Bay Rays system, checked in at No. 80. He’ll likely be with Montgomery of the Southern League this season.

Craig Tatum, the former Mississippi State standout, had to turn some heads among the Cincinnati Reds brass today when he hit a grand slam in a 13-11 exhibition victory over the New York Yankees. Tatum’s blast came in the seventh inning and propelled the Reds to victory. It was one of five homers Cincy hitters bashed on the day. Tatum, a catcher most noted for his defensive work, spent most of last season at Double-A Chattanooga in the Southern League. He’s on the Reds’ 40-man roster and perhaps not too far away from a big league call-up.
P.S. Former Ole Miss and Hillcrest Christian teammates Seth Smith and Stephen Head went head-to-head Sunday when the Colorado Rockies and Cleveland Indians hooked up in the Cactus League. Smith went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Head was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs. Head’s Indians won the game 6-4.