By Paul Gotham
One series, two teams, three games and the six players promoted to minor league baseball.
More than a year has passed since the Webster Yankees trimmed the Geneva Red Wings in the 2011 New York Collegiate Baseball League West Division Final. Four runs proved the difference in a series dominated by the home team. Webster scored four in the second inning to take game one, 5-2. Geneva sent the denizens of McDonough Park home happy with a dramatic win in the second contest. Webster’s nine closed out the series with a game-three triumph at Basket Road Field.
Time has provided a better perspective for what happened on those two fields in Upstate New York. Six players from those two rosters have since earned promotions into professional baseball.
“No surprise to see these guys showing up in professional baseball,” said former Webster head coach, Dave Brust. “The league is certainly bringing in more talent.”
Geneva’s Jake Chaplin became the sixth player from the two teams to sign a contract to play minor league baseball when he inked a free agent deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last month. He joined teammate Ryan Fennell and Webster Yankee Jasvir Rakkar in the Arizona Rookie League (AZL).
“I was so thrilled to get my shot after my junior year to play in the NYCBL,” Chaplin said by phone after learning of his contract offer in early August. “I know it’s a fantastic opportunity to get the exposure and get the experience.”
Fennell signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds. He finished the summer of ’12 with the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League. The Chicago Cubs chose Rakkar in the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.
“Our league is so competitive,” said Geneva skipper Dave Herbst. “It just shows that getting involved in the league has a connection with Major League Baseball. We are certainly getting the attention we deserve.”
The New York Mets chose Jon Leroux of the Red Wings in the 31st round of the 2012 MLB Draft. After starting the summer of 2012 back in Geneva, Leroux played the rest of with the Kingsport Mets of the Rookie Appalachian League.
Boston’s Red Sox picked Webster’s Joe Greenfield in the 22nd round of the 2012 draft, and Chris Bostick played the ’11 regular season after hearing his name called by the Oakland A’s in the 44th round of the 2011 MLB draft.
“Those draft picks were dominant,” Brust, the 2011 NYCBL Coach of the Year, added. “More proof that the league is getting better.”
Bostick earned a spot in the 2012 New York-Penn League All-Star game. Chosen out of high schoool, the NYCBL was Bostick’s first experience at playing baseball everyday.
“My experience in the NYCBL was great,” Bostick said after the NY-P All-Star game in Niles, Ohio. “It was definitely baseball like I had never experienced before.”
Chris Bostick hit.418 with five home runs, seven doubles and seven triples leading the pinstripes to a league-record 14 straight wins in late July en route to the 2011 NYCBL West division title.
Bostick and Rakkar are two of four former Webster Yankees in Minor League Baseball. Cory Brownsten (’08) plays with the Rome Braves of the Class A South Atlantic League, and Patrick Urckfitz (’08) is a member of the Lancaster Jethawks of the Advanced A California League.
Leroux, Chaplin and Fennell join five other Geneva Red Wing alums still active in the minors: Tim Crabbe (’08), Matt Perry (’08), Kyle Bellamy (’07), Jeremy Kehrt (‘o7) and Travis Ozga (’06).
The Reds chose Crabbe in the 14th round of the 2009 MLB Draft. Crabbe currently plays with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos of the Double-A Southern League. The Detroit Tigers picked Perry in the 41st round of the 2010 draft. Perry plays with the Lakeland Tigers of the Advanced-A Florida State League.
Chicago’s White Sox nabbed Bellamy in the fifth round of 2009. Bellamy comes out of the bullpen for the Double A Southern League Birmingham Barons.
Kehrt heard his name in the 47th round of the 2008 draft. He has made 13 starts in 2012. Two of his appearances came with the Pawtucket Red Sox of the AAA International League. At this time, Kehrt is with the Portland Sea Dogs of the Double-A Eastern League.
In 2009, the Mets chose Ozga. The Ft. Lauderdale, FL native plays with the Binghamton Mets of the Eastern League.
Syracuse Salt Cat Dan Fiorito joined the parade of NYCBL alum signing a free agent deals this summer. Fiorito signed with the New York Yankee organization in August.
Brust signed with the Atlanta Braves in 1989 and played three seasons in the minor leagues. He was coached by former major league skipper Grady Little and earned one major league spring training start. He homered in that one game. Former Brave, David Justice waited at home plate to congratulate him. Brust led the ’86 and ’87 Cohocton Red Wings to league titles.
The book may not be closed on the 2011 Geneva Red Wings and Webster Yankees. Time will tell if Ben Bostick, Luis Diaz, Kevin Johnson and Leon Stimpson will make their way to minor league baseball.
The New York Collegiate Baseball League, founded in 1978, is a summer wood bat development league for professional baseball. Major League Baseball funds a small portion of the league’s annual budget. The league gives college players who have not yet signed a professional contract the opportunity to develop their skills at a higher level of play, gain experience with wood bats and be evaluated by scouts. Current major leaguers Brad Lidge, Tim Hudson, Dallas Braden along with Hunter Pence have all spent time in the NYCBL.
The NYCBL. Sending players to the pros since 1978.
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