The Baby Bombers are the Eastern League champs (second year in a row), but the Binghamton Mets have so far been the 2009 stars. They've won two of three over the Thunder, that included a Trenton bullpen meltdown.
Though I've yet to see them play (I'll be there Monday or Tuesday on assignment), their own big star, slugger Austin Jackson had a tremendous spring, hitting .303 and pitchers Eric Hacker and George Kontos are considered top prospects in the Yankees farm system. It got me thinking of last season, when I watched Phil Coke make his major league debut with the team in the clubhouse. There are a lot of guys still at Trenton that are close.
In Marlins prospect news, A.J. Battisto, who I interviewed for Junior Baseball Magazine, has been promoted to High-A Jupiter Hammerheads. The right hander pitched for the Greensboro Grasshoppers last season, going 8-1 and finishing with a 1.55 ERA. It's not everyday that you meet a player you're impressed with on a personal level, and that's a guy with a great head on his shoulders and potential to succeed in life no matter where he winds up.
Yeah, yeah, I know, Phillies faithful- he's pitching in the bus leagues for the enemy. However, he's a Philadelphia area native: Pottstown representing!
I'm not sure a dizzy blonde can get away with "representing", but it's my party and I can say what I want.