Just about all of these are now confirmed … the list of former Osprey out of the D-backs organization, but still playing baseball. This is the minor-league list … those players on 25-man Major League rosters will be announced in a press release on Friday, and on here.

Triple-A
John Hester (2006) – Norfolk (Baltimore)
Wilkin Castillo (2004)  – Colorado Springs (Colorado)
Hector Ambriz (2006) – Columbus (Cleveland)
Danny Perales (2005) – Las Vegas (Toronto)
Jerry Gil (2000) – Las Vegas (Toronto)
Esmerling Vasquez (2004) – Rochester (Minnesota)
Pedro Ciriaco (2005) – Pawtaucket (Boston)
Jarrod Parker (2007) – Sacramento (Oakland)
Bryan Augenstein (2007) – Durham (Tampa Bay)

Double-A
Ryan Robowski (2009) – Erie (Detroit)
Adam Worthington (2009) – Reading (Philadelphia) – on DL

Class A Advanced
Kevin Eichhorn (2008-10) – Lakeland (Detroit)

Class A
Scottie Allen (2009) – Charleston (NY Yankees)

Two names we’re still working on are Clay Zavada (2006), who was in camp with the Cincinnati Reds, and Evan Scribner (2007), who was in camp with the Oakland A’s. With the addition to the list of Augenstein, we’re at 13 that we have found so far. Still waiting on a couple of rosters to update … and, of course, we’ll keep track as much as possible.

Here’s the latest additions (officially) to the list of former Osprey playing full-season minor league baseball in 2012.

The Reno Aces will have four former Osprey on the active roster, and one on the 7-day Disabled List. Rusty Ryal (2005) is overcoming a pulled groin muscle, so he will be starting the season on the DL. Pitchers Tom Layne (2007) and Daniel Stange (2006), along with infielders Jake Elmore (2008) and Taylor Harbin (2007) are all part of the Aces’ 25-man active roster.

Mobile has seven former Osprey on its roster – the best we can tell, anyway … they open tomorrow night, so hopefully, they will have something online by then. Also have an e-mail in to their radio play-by-play man, but have not heard anything back yet. So, until the official list comes out … it consists of pitchers Yonata Ortega and Bryan Henry (both 2007 Osprey), catcher Rossmel Perez (2008), infielder David Nick (2009), infielder-outfielder Kyle Greene (2008), and outfielders Adam Eaton (2010) and Ollie Linton (2008). Linton, at last report, is likely to open the season on the DL.

Including the DL players, that brings the total list of assigned former Osprey to 47. That does not include former Osprey outside of the D-backs’ system, however. More on that later, hopefully still before the clock strikes midnight MT on Wednesday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks also announced their 25-man Opening Day roster on Wednesday. It includes a pair of former Osprey – first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (2009) and relief pitcher Bryan Shaw (2008) – who make their first MLB Opening Day roster.  Also on the squad is first baseman Lyle Overbay (1999), outfielder Gerardo Parra (2006) and catcher Miguel Montero (2002-03).

by Ben Catley

I tweeted this earlier today – Roster-announce day … one of my favorite days of pre-season activities. We’ll find out where all former Osprey will start their ’12 run.

It is indeed that day. Which means more than one blog entry … in fact, there’s already one set of announcements we have to share, but I figured the news of the day would be good to handle first.

So, with that said, let’s get to what else is making news on the Monday before Opening Day … Continue reading →

Ah, you gotta love social media. It has given us two pieces of news on former Osprey today.

First, we wish the best of luck to Robby Rowland (2010-11), who was traded today to the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing them to keep Rule V pick Brett Lorin, who was assigned to Double-A Mobile. Rowland announced the trade on his Facebook page, but his brother, former Osprey catcher Richie, also hinted at it on a status update several hours earlier.

Secondly, also announced on his Facebook profile, former Osprey infielder Jake Elmore (2008) is headed to Triple-A Reno. He’ll join at least one former Osprey there as well in utility player Rusty Ryal (2005).

Let’s get right to it, shall we?

– The Arizona Diamondbacks have made some more cuts in the roster, sending eight more players to minor-league camp. They include right-handed pitcher Charles Brewer (2009), who will open the season at Double-A Mobile, and infielder RustyRyal (2005), who will head to Triple-A Reno. Interesting part about the story comes at the end, where D-backs manager Kirk Gibson gets the question of why Brewer and top 2011 MLB Draft pick Trevor Bauer, who is also apparently headed to Double-A.

– Former Osprey outfielder Chris Ellison (2011) appeared in a Cactus League game for the D-backs, although it took some sleuthing to find out. Unless you were actually there. (Note from Ben Catley – “I saw he was wearing a D-backs uniform, and it didn’t look like a back field he was playing on, so he must have played in a MLB game … thank goodness for Facebook and Ellie’s wife and her camera skills!”)

– The guys at AZ SnakePit deliver their latest roundtable edition. Mentions include Paul Goldschmidt (2009), Gerardo Parra (2006), Adam Eaton (2010) and Miguel Montero (2002-03).

– The time for Eaton and some of the other youngsters in Major League will be coming to an end soon. Here’s the latest sign as to why that will be happening. Other than the fact that Opening Day is like 10 days away …

– Here’s Miggy’s take on former Osprey pitcher Archie Bradley (2011). Which is pretty spot-on.

That should keep you going for now. Ben’s predictions on the next rising Osprey to make their MLB debuts should be out by the end of the week. From what we understand, it’s the second options he keeps changing his mind about.

by Ben Catley

OK, first, a couple of updates on non-player stuff …

– Just in case you missed it, the Osprey have a new road cap. Before you say “they didn’t change it all that much”, when you go from all royal to royal and black, even my eyes can tell a difference. I think it looks sharp, and it better matches the road unis.

– Also, an inside scoop … coming soon will be the announcement of the 2012 Promotions Calendar. Oh. My. Goodness. There are some cool things coming up for fans to enjoy, both on the weekly calendar as well as the giveaway side of things. That should be coming before the end of the month – and maybe before my predictions are published for the next Osprey to rise to the Major Leagues.

Now, on to the stuff I know you want …

– The D-backs cut 12 players from Spring Training camp on Thursday, including shortstop Chris Owings (2009), who was reassigned to Class A Advanced Visalia. Doesn’t mean he will start the season there, but it is a good chance the Cal League will feel the wrath if he can get the bat going this spring.

– That leaves nine former Osprey in the MLB Camp – including outfielder Adam Eaton (2010), catcher Rossmel Perez (2008), infielder Rusty Ryal (2005) and pitcher Charles Brewer (2009). The D-backs have liked what they have seen from all four, and it’s likely that any one of the four could either be auditioning for a call-up during the season, or in the case of Eaton, showing enough depth to consider trading one of the four outfielders who look to stick on the 25-man roster, sans Jason Kubel and Justin Upton. Which leaves Chris Young and Gerardo Parra (2006), who was the subject of trade talks earlier in the off-season, but will likely get plenty of time in the outfield as the season progresses. (Of course, I wrote that then found this … and this … so maybe Parra gets traded, maybe not.)

(Side note – there is one good thing about Parra being all over the Bleacher Report blog, on both sides of the trade equation … it shows that he has become quite the baseball commodity.)

– It looks like there will be one less former Osprey pitcher on the free-agent market during this off-season, as it appears Jorge De La Rosa (1999) will exercise his option for 2013. If he does that, then he would also leave a club option on the table for 2014, which could lock him up for two more seasons total, especially if he preforms well post-Tommy John.

– Ugly Stat of the Week: Even with a grand slam for Goldy figured in from Wednesday, Paul Goldschmidt (2009) and Miguel Montero (2002-03) are a combined 5-for-33 entering today’s Cactus League action.

On a brighter note, Parra is hitting .300. So … from Ben’s Numbers Don’t Lie Folder – the kid has hit at every level he has played. And, apparently, he’s also working hard this spring, which is nothing new, either.

(Parra Side Note #2: Hey, Kevin … don’t trade him. You’re better off going with fewer strikeouts and calling up Eaton, and giving your D-backs a true leadoff man. With those three in the outfield … Eaton, Parra and Upton … nothing would hit the ground. OK, dream machine off for now …)

(Side note #3 – Why do they have to show Parra striking out in the MLB 12 The Show demo?)

On a personal note, if you were to tell me that Scott Elarton would last longer in Philadelphia Phillies camp than Dontrelle Willis, I would have not believed you. I had the chance to get to know Elarton a bit – I used to work in Lamar, CO, where he was born and raised, knew his younger brother and dad, still talk to his brother every so often. He’s as down-home as it gets, and to see him give it one more run (right now, pain-free – his arm (namely his shoulder) hasn’t been healthy for years) is cool. He’ll probably start at Triple-A, but it also seems he’s got plenty of fans in Philly. So we shall see … this also reminds me of something else, but we’ll share that one later.

Thanks for reading, and don’t over-celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day. Be safe!