ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 31, 1996 TAG: 9604020005
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B13 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX
NORTHERN DIVISION
Frederick Keys
1995 record: 58-79 (eighth).
Manager: Tim Blackwell.
Outlook: Many of the members of the Baltimore Orioles' Appalachian League runner-up club at Bluefield (W.Va.) are expected here this season. Bluefield won 16 consecutive games and 23 of 24 on the way to going 49-16 before losing a three-game championship series to Kingsport (Tenn.) 2-1. Among those who could be assigned to Frederick are right-hander Chris Fussell, who went 9-1 with a 2.19 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 66 innings and was the best pitching prospect in the Appalachian League. Alvie Shepherd, a 6-foot-7 fireballing right-hander and first-round draft choice, is being projected as a closer and should expect a lot of innings here. Eddy Martinez (.308, 57 hits, 23 walks) was judged to be the best shortstop in the league by the managers.
Lynchburg Hillcats
1995 record: 67-71 (fifth).
Manager: Jeff Banister.
Outlook: This may be the best team down on the Pittsburgh Pirates' farm this year. The players are young, but many of them have spent the latter half of 1995 with the Hillcats after being called up from Augusta (Ga.) of the South Atlantic League. The marquee player should be third baseman Freddy Garcia, a Rule 5 pick from Toronto who spent a quiet year (8-for-57 in 42 games) with Pittsburgh. Left-hander Jimmy Anderson of Portsmouth finished the season in Lynchburg last year and could be the Opening Day pitcher. The Hillcats also might get outfielder Jose Guillen, who led the short-season Class A New York-Penn League last year with 12 home runs.
Prince William Cannons
1995 record: 64-76 (sixth).
Manager: Dave Huppert.
Outlook: Expect a good blend of youth and experience under Huppert, the dean of the league's managers. Huppert caught in the longest game ever played professionally, the 33-inning affair between Pawtucket and Rochester of the Class AAA International League. Like most catchers, he understands pitching. The staff should be solid with right-hander Charles Smith (10-10, 2.69, 145 strikeouts at South Bend (Ind.) of the Class A Midwest League), left-hander Jack Ford (8-14, 3.89, 173 2/3 innings at Hickory, N.C., of the Class A South Atlantic League), right-hander Chris Clemons (7-12, 4.73 at South Bend) and closer Nelson Cruz (10 saves at Hickory and Prince William). Ben Bouleware led all Midwest League second basemen with 60 RBI to go with 68 runs scored. Catcher Rick Carone has a good eye - he walked 84 times last year. Also on hand will be third baseman Pete Rose Jr., who will be playing in his sixth Carolina League season with his third organization.
Wilmington Blue Rocks
1995 record: 83-55 (first).
Manager: John Mizerock.
Outlook: The Blue Rocks may not have the kind of team that has won the Northern Division championship three years in a row. But if the talent is anywhere close to the level the Kansas City Royals have been stocking here since joining the circuit in 1993, then the Rocks could again be tough. Jeff Martin, a right-hander who led the Gulf Coast League with a 1.47 ERA in 1995, is the chain's top pitching prospect in the low minors. Carlos Beltran (.278 in Gulf Coast) is an outfielder considered one of the most complete players the Royals have drafted in years. Sergio Nunez's stock fell when he hit .237 to go with 33 steals and 63 runs at Wilmington last year, but he'll still be one of the more formidable second basemen in this league. First baseman Matt Smith also has fallen from Baseball America's list of the top 10 players in the organization after a subpar year (.226, six home runs) at Springfield (Ill.) of the Class A Midwest League and will be looking for a breakthrough season.
SOUTHERN DIVISION
Durham Bulls
1995 record: 63-76 (seventh).
Manager: Randy Ingle.
Outlook: Paul Snyder, the farm director for the defending world champion Atlanta Braves, says the organization is excited about the Bulls. For good reason. Among those expected to be on hand is center fielder Andruw Jones, merely the finest prospect on any level according to Baseball America. ``Tools to die for,'' screams the paper in its thumbnail evaluation of the prodigy. ``A lot of people think he should be at Greenville [S.C. of the Class AA Southern League] this year,'' Snyder said. ``But a lot of people forget that he is only 18 years old.'' The rest of the outfield will be solid with the likes of Marc Lewis, acquired in a trade with the Red Sox, and Gator McBride (.236, 13 HR, 59 RBI at Durham). Prospects such as left-handed Australian Damian Moss (9-10, 3.56, 177 strikeouts in 144 innings at Macon, Ga., of the Class A South Atlantic League) are sprinkled through the pitching staff.
Kinston Indians
1995 record: 81-56 (second).
Manager: Jack Mull.
Outlook: The Indians have another monster truck of a team on the way. This time, the Kinston roster will be decorated with the names of former first-round draft picks David Miller (1994) and Jaret Wright ('95), as well as a second-rounder in Sean Casey. Miller, a first baseman out of Clemson, hasn't played a lick outside instructional league because of stalled contract negotiations. He may be moved to the outfield because of his athletic ability. Wright, a right-hander with a 95-mph heater, is the son of former big-league hurler Clyde Wright. Casey led the nation in hitting at the University of Richmond with a .461 average last year. Another prospect the Indians are high on is third baseman Tim Jorgensen, who made a splash in Salem when he was in town last year with the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for the NCAA Division III World Series.
Winston-Salem Warthogs
1995 record: 69-68 (third).
Manager: Phillip Wellman.
Outlook: Cincinnati farm director Chief Bender is particularly high on this group. Perhaps the best of the lot is outfielder Decomba Conner, who hit .263 with five homers, 40 RBI, and 22 steals at Charleston (W.Va.) of the Class A South Atlantic League last year despite a broken arm and a groin problem. Steven Larkin, Barry's younger brother, is expected back with the Warthogs after hitting .220 there a year ago. Marlon Allen will be the starter at first base after hitting .270 with nine homers and 76 RBI at Charleston. The rotation will include right-handers Brian Lott (8-7, 3.46 at Charleston), Clayton Caruthers (11-7, 3.70 at Charleston) and Clint Koppe (7-13, 3.37 at Charleston).
LENGTH: Long : 123 lines KEYWORDS: BASEBALLby CNB