Mat-Su’s 2008 roster nearly set

PALMER — During the average spring, Mat-Su general manager Pete Christopher is usually fairly nervous about the state of the Miners’ summer roster.

“We’re looking pretty good,” Christopher said on Saturday.

Normally during this time of year, Christopher is worried about injuries or wondering about how many of his players may have to spend time in summer school.

But for the most part, the athletes on Mat-Su’s 2008 roster are healthy and on track to be ready to play when the Miners first take the field on June 14.

“This is the first year I can remember that we don’t have the injuries,” Christopher said.

Of the 25 college athletes signed to play for the Miners during the two-month Alaska Baseball League season, only one is not coming to Alaska.

One pitcher did decide not to play in Alaska after signing, and there is an injury concern with another player, Christopher said. But other than that, everyone slated to hit the Mat-Su Valley in early June.

Christopher, who recruited players along with the help of first-year head coach Conor Bird, feels Mat-Su has a solid group of talent for the 2008 campaign.

Christopher is especially excited about the offensive potential of his squad.

“We should be a better hitting team, I think,” Christopher said.

The Miners finished in a tie for first in the six-team ABL despite hitting just .242 as a team last season.

Two players who helped the Miners win the co-league title last season will be back for another summer in the

Valley.

Catcher Chris McMurray, a University of California Santa Barbara junior, hit .250 in 30 games for the Miners, while University of Washington sophomore Ty Rasmussen batted .297 in limited action for Mat-Su.

Rasmussen enjoyed a career night during his Mat-Su debut last season, finished 4-for-5 at the plate with two home runs and nine RBI. Early in the season, the Bonney Lake, Wash., native suffered a hand injury and was limited to only 10 games.

McMurray was Mat-Su’s top catcher last season, throwing out eight base-stealers and recording a .980 fielding percentage behind the plate.

“The coaches last year said having him catch was like having a coach on the field,” Christopher said. “He’s excellent defensively.”

McMurray also provided some much-needed versatility for Mat-Su. He saw action at second base in 18 games last summer.

“He’s a good ball player,” Christopher said.

Mat-Su’s other catcher, California Poly-San Luis Obispo sophomore Wes Dorrell, is among the top college hitters on the Miners roster.

Dorrell is hitting .342 in 30 games this summer. He also has 11 doubles, four home runs and 30 RBI.

“He can hit the snot out of the ball,” Christopher said.

McMurray is currently hitting .308 in 32 games. He’s scored 23 runs and driven in 29 others.

Christopher said McMurray has the potential to be selected in the 2008 Major League Draft, which starts June 8.

Rasmussen has also hovered around the .300 mark. He’s .294 in 29 games.

Joining Rasmussen on the 2008 roster is Washington freshman Troy Scott, one of six infielders on the Mat-Su squad.

Scott, who is hitting .282 in 31 games for the Huskies, has a shot to play first base, Christopher said.

Among the other infielders signed are Northern Illinois sophomore Jordin Hood, San Jose State junior John Shaffer, Nevada sophomore Kevin Rodland, Santa Clara freshman Chris Morton and Oregon State freshman John Tommasini.

Christopher said speed is the common attribute among most of his outfielders — a group that includes Cal Poly-SLO sophomore D.J. Gentile, Northern Illinois junior Pat Minogue and Jackson State sophomore Cortez Cole.

“All of my outfielders can run — they’ve got plus speed,” Christopher said.

Plus speed indicates that a player runs faster than seven seconds in the 60-yard dash.

“That’s above the Major League average,” he said.

Cole has been the top producer at the college ranks so far this spring, hitting .343. He’s also driven in 37 runs and stolen 26 bases.

The Miners have a few blue chip prospects on the pitching staff.

Leading the list is Santa Clara freshman Thain Simon.

In his first season at the Division I level, Simon is 7-1 with a 1.48 earned run average. He’s also fanned 35 hitters in 30 innings.

Another top prospect is Ventura Community College pitcher Zack Thorton. Christopher said the Miners could actually be in danger of losing Thorton, who has been projected to be selected as high as the second or third round in the upcoming MLB draft.

Mat-Su currently has eight right-handers and four southpaws on the staff.

One of those left-handers, St. Mary’s sophomore Kyle Jensen, has actually been playing in the outfield for his college squad.

Christopher said Jensen is not expected to pitch this spring, mainly because he’s hitting the cover off the baseball at the plate. Jensen leads his squad with a .429 batting average, 12 home runs and 41 RBI.

Former Miner makes MLB debut

Jed Lowrie, a member of the 2003 Mat-Su Miners, made his Major League Baseball debut as a member of the Boston Red Sox on April 16.

Recalled from AAA Pawtucket after Boston third baseman Mike Lowell was put on the 15-day disable list, Lowrie has appeared in three games with Boston.

In his debut, Lowrie drove in three runs to lead the Red Sox to a 5-3 win over the Cleveland Indians. According to a report in the Boston Globe, Lowrie was the first Boston player to drive in three runs in his first game since 1947.

He followed that outing by finishing 2-for-3 in an 11-3 win over Texas on April 18.

Lowrie is one of nine former Miners currently in the Major Leagues.

He is joined by Boston’s Abe Alvarez (Mat-Su’s 2001 squad), Oakland’s Ron Flores (2000), Philadelphia’s Eric Bruntlett (1998), the Yankees’ Kevin Reese (1997), Toronto’s Jason Frasor (1997), Houston’s Geoff Blum (1992), Milwaukee’s Craig Counsell (1991) and Baltimore’s Steve Trachsel (1990).

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.