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1997 Roster
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| Andrew |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
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POS
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A hard working rookie who has to learn to relax more when he's playing. Has made huge improvements at the plate, and is far more poised. Will be a good hitter with some power. Quick wrists, gets around on the ball very well. Deceptively quick for his size. Andrew entertained everyone in attendance with a little jig at first base following his first hit. Has made strides in improving his defence. |
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 Bob Hamelin - Detroit Tigers |
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| Brent |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
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POS
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Young player with a lot of potential. Possesses a powerful throwing arm and excellent instincts. Diminutive stature allows him to draw a large number of walks, although the coaching staff would like to see him swing a bit more. Needs time to mature. |
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Bret Boone - Cincinnati Reds |
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POS
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Has developed from a raw rookie into a fine player. Dave has shown steady improvement behind the plate. Has all the tools, although he needs to keep his concentration while hitting. Very fast. Has had poor attendance while on vacation. |
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Craig Biggio - Houston Astros |
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| Gere |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Left |
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POS
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Very talented player. Big lefty is a fine pitcher, and an even better catcher. Very powerful arm and very accurate. Knows the game very well, and shows a tremendous amount of power at the plate. Smart baserunner. Needs to be more patient and relaxed, and must work on his temperament. |
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Randy Johnson - Seattle Mariners/Albert Belle - Chicago White Sox |
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| Hawaz |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
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POS
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A fine player in his unprecedented third year with the team. Has become a very good fundamental player over the years. Cheerful, intelligent, actually listens to coaches. A fine contact hitter with some power. Maybe the most fundamentally sound defensive player on the team. Holds the record for most games in a Reds uniform. Out for the season rehabbing from a broken hand/arm. |
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Cecil Fielder - New York Yankees |
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| Jay |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Left |
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POS
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Somewhat flaky left-hander who's made huge improvements in every aspect of his game. Very good arm, sound defensively. Has the potential to become a good pitcher, and has also logged a few innings behind the plate. A streaky hitter, but is constantly improving. Snapped an 0-life slump with a bases loaded triple opening day. Also a fine hockey player. |
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Darin Erstad - California Angels |
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| Jermain |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
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POS
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Has continued to improve since his impressive rookie season in 1996. Very fast player with a strong arm. Has made his biggest improvements at the plate, where he is now perhaps the best contact hitter on the team. A good shortstop who is improving as a pitcher. Will only continue to improve. A member of the York Pioneers rep team. |
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Alex Rodriguez - Seattle Mariners/
Pedro Martinez - Montreal Expos |
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| Jonathan |
Bats: Left |
Throws: Right |
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POS
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This Johnathan is in his second year with the Reds. Has worked very hard, and has been rewarded with a vast improvement defensively. Glovework is solid, and his arm is very accurate. Needs to hang in at the plate a little more, but has tried very hard to do so, and has started to hit the ball more regularly. A quiet player, Johnathan has a great attitude and impressed the coaches by telling his teammates "I like practice." Owes his quick glove to his off-season occupation of star goalie. |
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Orlando Merced - Toronto Blue Jays |
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| Jonathon |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
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POS
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This Jonathon (pronounced Yonathon) is a raw rookie in his first year of organized baseball. Already a solid fielder, Jonathon is also showing the potential to be a capable hitter and has had some tough at-bats against good pitchers. Very fast. Will be a very strong player once he combines a better feel for the game (where to throw, which base to cover) with his natural ability. Always hustles. |
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Stan Javier - San Francisco Giants |
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| Joseph |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
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POS
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Another rookie, Joseph has shown great improvement since the beginning of the season. Quiet and unassuming, Joseph listens and is eager to learn. Needs to regain his confidence at the plate following a game in which he was beaned in back to back at-bats. Has worked hard in left field. |
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Matt Mieske - Milwaukee Brewers |
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| Julian |
Bats: Left |
Throws: Right |
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POS
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A rookie ball call-up for the injured Hawaz, Julian has exhibited natural insincts and ability. Listens well, alert in the field, and looks to have all the necessary tools to be a fine hitter. Fast player with a steadily improving bat, Julian has already logged time at 2nd, 3rd and short. |
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Jose Cruz Jr. - Toronto Blue Jays |
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| Justin |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
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POS
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Very young rookie who possesses raw skills. His glovework is improving steadily. Justin's arm is strong, but even HE doesn't know where it's going when he throws it. As a hitter, Justin is fearless, occasionally swinging at anything that doesn't swing at him first. However, his approach is beginning to pay off, and as he chooses his pitches more carefully, he is starting to compile some hits. |
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Vladimir Guerrero - Montreal Expos |
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| Kyle |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
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POS
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A graduate of rookie-ball, in which a pitching machine replaces a pitcher, Kyle is a solid fielder and spends much of his time at second base. He can hit, but needs to be more aggressive at the plate. Kyle's running remains something of an enigma; he seems to avoid doing it as much as possible, and when he does run, it doesn't appear that he's too concerned with going too fast. |
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Carlos Garcia - Toronto Blue Jays |
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| Michael |
Bats: Left |
Throws: Right |
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POS
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A very talented player with a great attitude. Versatile, can play any position. A fine middle infielder and very good catcher, and can also pitch. A good hitter, and a very fast and intelligent baserunner. Polite and well-mannered. The total package. A member of the York Pioneers rep team. |
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Chipper Jones - Atlanta Braves |
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| Mike |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
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POS
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Mike is a soft-spoken rookie who can also play a number of positions. Has made great strides at third base. A heady player, who is already starting to show signs of hot doggism. Has worked a few innings as a pitcher, and could help anchor the staff in the future. As a hitter, Mike has made steady progress, and is now a pretty good contact hitter. |
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Cal Ripken Jr. - Baltimore Orioles |
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| Nick |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
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POS
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In his second year with the team, Nick has shown improvement and maturity. A steady fielder, Nick can play all four infield positions well and is developing into a consistent contact hitter. Has a very good eye at the plate, and will seldom chase anything out of the strike zone. Nick's pitching has been a big part of the team's late season success. Has also helped out on the bench when needed, which has provided relief for the coaching staff on a couple of occasions. |
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Mark Grudzielanek - Montreal Expos/Pat Hentgen - Toronto Blue Jays |
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| Steffan |
Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
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POS
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Yet another rookie, Steffan's concurrent participation in rookie ball has turned him into a studious hitter with excellent potential. His fielding has been slower to develop but has improved nevertheless. Big for his age, Steffan has already displayed a good eye at the plate and the ability to drive the ball. Could be the Reds first baseman of the future. |
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Edgar Martinez - Seattle Mariners |
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- Most Similar Major Leaguer
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