Tuesday, Jun. 23, 2009

Meet the 2009 Tri-City Dust Devils

By Jack Millikin, Herald staff writer

PASCO -- Here are player and coaching staff bios for the Northwest League's 2009 Tri-City Dust Devils:

(1) Joey Wong

Position: SS

Bats/Throws: L/R

Height: 5-10

Weight: 175

Acquired/Year: Round 24/2009 -- Named to All-CWS team in'07 and helped Oregon State win second straight title.

(3) Bo Bowman

Pos: OF

Bats/Throws: L/L

Height: 6-2

Weight: 200

Acquired/Year Round 22/2007 -- Extremely productive in Tri-City last year (5 HR, .338 AVG) before promotion.

(4) Wes Musick

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: L/L

Height: 6-0

Weight: 195

Acquired/Year Round 9/2009 -- Led U of Houston staff in wins (5), starts (14) and innings pitched (75 1/3).

(5) Scott Beerer

Pos: OF

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-1

Weight: 200

Acquired/Year Round 2/2003 -- Coming back as an outfielder after four years as a pitcher in Rockies organization.

(6) Dallas Tarleton

Pos: C

Bats/Throws: L/R

Height: 5-11

Weight: 200

Acquired/Year Round 20/2009 -- Solid defensive catcher made just one error in 57 games at Elon U.

(7) Joseph Sanders

Pos: 3B

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-0

Weight: 195

Acquired/Year Round 5/2009 -- Led Auburn with 19 HRs, 55 RBIs and .737 slugging percentage as junior.

(8) Eric Federico

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 5-11

Weight: 175

Acquired/Year Round 39/2009 -- Versatile hurler started six games and saved four at Cal St.-Stanislaus.

(11) Kyle Walker

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: L/L

Height: 6-1

Weight: 190

Acquired/Year Round 11/2008 -- Went 1-0 with 5.14 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 19 games as a reliever at Casper.

(13) Dan Perkins

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-4

Weight: 200

Acquired/Year Round 27/2009 -- Led Delaware St. with 5-5 record, 2.65 ERA, 86 strikeouts in 12 starts.

(15) Richard Testa

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-3

Weight: 225

Acquired/Year Round 18/2009 -- Went 8-3 with 4.13 ERA in nine starts with Lamar U. Also recorded a save.

(16) Charlie Ruiz

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-1

Weight: 180

Acquired/Year Round 10/2009 -- Closer with Long Beach St. recorded 11 saves, 2-2 record with 3.60 ERA.

(17) James Sims

Pos: OF

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-0

Weight: 200

Acquired/Year Round 27/2007 -- Hit .302 with 3 HR, 19 RBI at Casper before promotion to Tri-City in 2008.

(18) Austin Rauch

Pos: 1B

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-3

Weight: 210

Acquired/Year Round 12/2006 -- Fourth-year pro tied for fourth on 2008 Dust Devils with four home runs.

(19) Matt Baugh

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: L/L

Height: 6-1

Weight: 190

Acquired/Year Round 29/2008 -- Started nine games at Asheville in 2008, compiling a 3-2 mark with 5.50 ERA.

(21) Alex Feinberg

Pos: 2B

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 5-10

Weight: 180

Acquired/Year Round 43/2008 -- Hit .304 at Casper in 2008 while splitting time between second, third base.

(22) Brad McAtee

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-5

Weight: 215

Acquired/Year Round 45/2008 -- Finished 3-4 with 5.86 ERA in eight starts after strong start in Tri-City.

(23) Shane Lowe

Pos: OF

Bats/Throws: S/R

Height: 6-3

Weight: 190

Acquired/Year free agent/2006 -- Versatile player can play all three outfield positions. Stole four bases at Casper in '08.

(24) Orlando Sandoval

Pos: OF

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-0

Weight: 185

Acquired/Year: Free agent/2005 -- In '08, showed power (4 HRs) and speed (8 SBs) while leading Casper with .324 BA.

(25) Matthew Sanders

Pos: 3B

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-1

Weight: 180

Acquired/Year Round 41/2009 -- Solid defender at hot corner started 31 games for Clemson, hit .295 as a senior.

(26) Craig Bennigson

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: R/L

Height: 6-2

Weight: 215

Acquired/Year Round 9/2008 -- Made just two appearances -- including one start -- for Casper in 2008.

(27) Casey Weathers

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-1

Weight: 200

Acquired/Year Round 1/2007 -- Rated Rockies' No. 6 prospect. Will rehab in 2009 after Tommy John surgery.

(29) Tim Wheeler

Pos: OF

Bats/Throws: L/R

Height: 6-4

Weight: 205

Acquired/Year Round 1/2009 -- Led Sacramento St. with 18 HRs, 72 RBIs, .765 slugging percentage and 15 SBs.

(30) Michael Zuanich

Pos: 1B

Bats/Throws: R/L

Height: 6-4

Weight: 225

Acquired/Year Round 28/2008 -- Split time between first base and outfield in first pro season at Casper.

(31) Jeremiah Sammy

Pos: SS

Bats/Throws: L/R

Height: 6-2

Weight: 190

Acquired/Year Free agent/2009 -- Hit .310 for Lamar with six HRs and 14 stolen bases in 15 attempts.

(32) Aaron Weatherford

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-1

Weight: 190

Acquired/Year Round 3/2008 -- Began 2009 season at Asheville, will make short rehab stint in Tri-City.

(33) Leonardo Reyes

Pos: OF

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-1

Weight: 175

Acquired/Year: Free agent/2005 -- Second on 2008 Dust Devils with 14 doubles, fourth with 30 RBIs.

(34) Rhett Ballard

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-5

Weight: 245

Acquired/Year Round 26/2009 -- Virginia Tech reliever led Hokies with 7-4 record, 77 strikeouts in 80 innings.

(40) Rod Scurry

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-7

Weight: 190

Acquired/Year Round 31/2008 -- Makes switch to submarine delivery after 15 appearances for Tri-City in 2008.

(46) Sheng-An Kuo

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-2

Weight: 190

Acquired/Year: Free agent/2007 -- Taiwan native returns after spending 2007, part of 2008 season in Tri-City.

(49) Kent Matthes

Pos: OF

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-2

Weight: 215

Acquired/Year Round 4/2009-- Golden Spikes finalist led Alabama with 28 homers, 81 RBIs and .858 slugging.

(50) Will Harris

* Pos: P

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-4

Weight: 225

Acquired/Year Round 9/2006 -- Spent 2008 in Modesto. Returns to Tri-City to rehab after 6 saves in 2006.

(51) Chris Vasami

Pos: C/INF

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-4

Weight: 230

Acquired/Year Round 39/2007 -- Split time at 1B/3B for 2008 Dust Devils. Will make starts at catcher in 2009.

(59) Rob Scahill

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: L/R

Height: 6-3

Weight: 215

Acquired/Year Round 8/2009 -- Starter led Bradley with 59 strikeouts in 60 innings. Was 3-3 with 4.05 ERA.

Kevin Clark

Pos: OF

Bats/Throws: L/L

Height: 6-0

Weight: 195

Acquired/Year Round 6/2006 -- 2007 Dust Devil hit 17 home runs at Asheville in '08 with 76 RBIs.

Jose Gonzalez

Pos: C

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-1

Weight: 165

Acquired/Year: Free agent/2004 -- Fifth-year pro hit .279 at Casper, but hit .405 against right-handers.

Erik Stavert

Pos: P

Bats/Throws: R/R

Height: 6-2

Weight: 185

Acquired/Year Round 7/2009 -- Oregon ace led Ducks by going 5-6 with 3.02 ERA, 82 Ks in 94 2/3 innings.

(28) Fred Ocasio -- Manager

Returns for fourth season as Tri-City manager and 14th season in Rockies' system after taking over for former Dust Devils manager Ron Gideon in 2006. Has been a part of Tri-City franchise since inaugural season in 2001, having served as hitting instructor under Gideon and Stu Cole for first five seasons. Skippered Dust Devils to their first-ever division title in 2007 and a berth in the NWL championship series. Earned a bachelor's degree in education from Oklahoma State in 1996.

(43) Darryl Scott -- Pitching coach

First year in Rockies system, he brings 11 years of pro playing experience to Tri-City. Reached majors in 1993 with Angels, where he was a teammate of former Dust Devils pitching coach Doug Linton. Earned Psychology degree from Loyola Marymount.

(10) Anthony Sanders -- Hitting coach

Third-year coach played three seasons in majors with Seattle and Toronto. Was member of record-setting 2001 Mariners team that won 116 games. Under Sanders, Tri-City has posted two of its three best team batting averages in nine years.

Andy Stover -- Trainer

Entering fifth year as Dust Devils trainer and travel planner. Earned NWL Trainer-of-the-Year honors in 2008 in a vote by the league's trainers.