June 29, 2007

Kennedy is making his pitch for Yankees
Southern California has produced more than its share of major league players. In this space, we'll take a look at how Southland players are faring in the minors. This week: the double-A Eastern League
By Bob Cuomo, Times Staff Writer

It hasn't taken very long for Ian Kennedy to prove that the New York Yankees made the right decision when they made him the 21st overall pick in the 2006 draft.

Kennedy, a right-hander from USC, was promoted to the Trenton Thunder from Tampa of the Class-A Florida State League on June 5.

He has made five starts for the Thunder and is 3-1 with a 2.77 earned-run average. Opponents are batting only .202 against him and he has walked only eight while striking out 30 in 26 innings.

Kennedy could very well be 4-1. He left Tuesday night's start against Altoona after five innings with a 2-1 lead, having limited the Curve to three hits. But the bullpen faltered and the Thunder lost, 3-2.

At the time of his promotion, Kennedy was tied for the lead in wins (six) among Florida State League pitchers and had the lowest ERA (1.29). He was second in strikeouts (72 in 63 innings). He was 5-0 with a 0.70 ERA in May, yielding three runs in 38 2/3 innings with 44 strikeouts and 11 walks.

Overall, Kennedy is 9-2 with a 1.72 ERA and has held opposing batters to a .189 average. He has walked only 30 while striking out 102 in 89 innings.

Kennedy started his pro career with Staten Island of the short-season New York-Penn League. He made one appearance, pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings.

In three years at USC, Kennedy went 24-12 with a 3.09 ERA. In 311 1/3 innings, he yielded 271 hits and struck out 380. He ranks third on the Trojans' all-time list in strikeouts behind Rik Currier (449) and Seth Etherton (420) and is second in strikeouts per nine innings (10.99) behind Mark Prior (11.52).

Brandon Roberts, who plays center field for the New Britain Rock Cats, is batting .257 with 21 RBIs in 58 games. He originally signed with the Cincinnati Reds, who drafted him in the seventh round of the 2005 draft from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The Minnesota Twins acquired him in a trade for infielder Juan Castro on June 15, 2006.

Roberts started his pro career with Billings of the rookie Pioneer League, where he batted 318 in 68 games. He started the 2006 season with Sarasota of the Class-A Florida State League and batted .267 in 60 games.

After the trade, the Twins assigned him to Jupiter (also of the Florida State League). He batted .316 in the final 71 games of the season for the Miracle. His overall batting average was .293 (eighth in the league). He had 156 hits (third), 80 runs (third) and 50 stolen bases (tied for first).

Zechry Zinicola, the Washington Nationals' sixth-round draft choice in 2006 from Arizona State, is a relief pitcher for the Harrisburg Senators. He is 0-2 with a 6.21 ERA and two saves in 22 appearances.

The right-hander has been effective in his last seven outings covering 9 2/3 innings, yielding just one run and five hits. He also walked five. Control has been an issue for Zinicola, who has walked 23 in 29 innings.

Before moving on to Arizona State, where he pitched and was used as a designated hitter, Zinicola played at Arlington High in Riverside. As a senior, he was named The Times' Inland Empire pitcher of the year after going 9-1 with a 1.61 ERA in 69.2 innings. He also batted .438 with five home runs and 32 RBIs.

Update Dept.:

John Bowker, the San Francisco Giants' third-round pick in 2004 from Long Beach State, helped the Connecticut Defenders beat the Portland Sea Dogs, 7-0, Tuesday night. He had four hits, including two homers, and drove in three runs. Bowker, the Defenders' right fielder, is batting .299 with 11 homers and 49 RBIs. He's 23 for 52 (.442) with four homers and 20 RBIs in his last 14 games. He's second in the league in hits (87) and fourth in RBIs.

Shortstop Trevor Plouffe, the Minnesota Twins' first-round draft choice (20th overall pick) in 2004 from Crespi High, has hit safely in 10 consecutive games for the New Britain Rock Cats, going 17 for 36 (.472), raising his batting average to .286. It was .245 four weeks ago. He also has seven home runs and 34 RBIs.

Catcher P.J. Pilittere of the Trenton Thunder, the New York Yankees' 13th-round pick in 2004 from Cal State Fullerton, is batting .255 with two homers and 17 RBIs. He has committed only three errors in 61 games.

Greg Jacobs, another former Cal State Fullerton player, hit two solo homers in the Reading Phillies' 4-1 victory over Harrisburg in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday night. The right fielder is batting .304 with 12 homers and 48 RBIs.

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"Minor League Spotlight" is a weekly web-exclusive feature that appears Fridays.