By PAUL GOTHAM
The Arizona Fall League has been the off-season home for Major League Baseball greats such as Andrew McCutchen, Dustin Pedroia, Max Scherzer and Mike Trout. Per the AFL website, the league’s alums include 12 MLB MVPs, four Cy Young winners and 25 Rookies of the Year.
When the AFL opens its 2017 season on October 10th, former Monroe Community College Tribune and Pittsford-Mendon Viking Danny Mendick will be in uniform as a member of Glendale Desert Dogs.
“Excited for the opportunity,” Mendick said by text message.
A 22nd round pick of the Chicago White Sox in the 2015 MLB draft, Mendick earned 2016 mid-season All Star honors with the organization’s Class A affiliate, the Kanapolis Intimidators (South Atlantic League). The infielder/utility man grabbed a mid-year All Star nod with the Winston-Salem Dash (Class A-Advanced Carolina League) this season.
Mendick was promoted to Double-A Birmingham this past July 19th and hit a home run in his first Southern League game.
In 125 games games this past season, Mendick hit .256 with 37 extra-base hits including career highs of 10 home runs, 23 doubles and four triples. The Fairport, N.Y. resident also drove in a career-high 51 runs.
Rochester native and current Pittsburgh Pirate, Chris Bostick, played with the Salt River Rafters of the AFL in 2015.
Current Monroe CC assistant coaches Cory Brownsten and Pat Urckfitz both played in the AFL. Brownsten was a member of the Phoenix Desert Dogs in 2012 and Urckfitz with the Peoria Javelinas in 2010.
Each MLB organization selects six of their best prospects to fill out the rosters of six AFL teams. All-time league rosters can be found here and here.
Mendick and Glendale open the season at Peoria. The 12:35 p.m. start will take place at the Peoria Sports Complex. The regular season concludes on November 16th with the championship game taking place two days later.
Bostick (Aquinas) and Mendick are two of eight former Section V players which played in major and minor league baseball this season. A list which also includes, Ernie Clement (Brighton), Cito Culver (Irondequoit), Logan Harasta (Webster Thomas), Grant Heyman (Pittsford Sutherland), Steven Klimek (Greece Arcadia) and Jonathan Schwind (Hilton).
Fellow Section V alums Brian Dupra, Matt Portland, Jordan Schwartz and Conner Simonetti played independent league baseball this past season.
Mathew Brooks (Miami Marlins) joins Mendick as the former Tribunes active in minor league baseball.
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