Edlefsen rockets to AAA; Lee nearly unhittable in 4 starts this year

Edlefsen rockets to AAA; Lee nearly unhittable in 4 starts this year
Steve Edlefsen skipped a level last week as he was promoted in the San Francisco Giants organization all the way from Class A Advanced to AAA, skipping over AA. The former Cougar had started the year at AA before going back to Advanced A, where he was nearly untouchable before his promotion. He joins former Cougars Nate Field and Jeff Christy just one step away from Major League Baseball. Field already has major league experience but for Christy and Edlefsen AAA is the highest level they have played in pro baseball. Former Cougar Chad Lee is also making some noise in his return from injury. Ronald Morales had spent much of the summer playing for the Wichita Wingnuts but recently asked for and was given his release from the team.

Steve Edlefsen
Edlefsen started the season at AA in Connecticut of the Eastern League, going 2-0
in middle relief for the Defenders. He threw in just 6 games for Connecticut during April and early May, posting a 3.18 ER in 11 innings of work before getting sent down to Advanced A where he threw all of last season. While back in San Jose, Edlefsen moved into the closer's role for the 1st time in his short pro career, posting a 0.96 ERA in 20 games with a 1.00 WHIP. He earned 7 saves during that time and held opponents to a .149 batting average. Edlefsen posted 40 strikeouts in just 28 innings of work with San Jose before getting the call July 10 to take the short trip distance wise but a big step level-wise to Fresno.

He has thrown in 2 games so far for the Grizzlies, tossing 3.1 innings of no-hit baseball. In his debut at Fresno Friday – the same day he got called up – Edlefsen pitched a perfect top of the 9th with Fresno trailing 4-3, the eventual final in a loss to Sacramento. Edlefsen also threw Sunday in the final game before the AAA All-Star Break, earning a hold. Edlefsen came into the game with 2 outs in the 6th inning with Fresno leading 7-5. Edlefsen got out of that inning and threw 2 more innings – allowing only a base on balls – before leaving with Fresno still on top 7-5 heading into the 9th. But Fresno blew the lead and eventually lost 10-7 in 12 innings.

Nate Field
Field is still throwing in AAA for the New Orleans Zephyrs in the New York Mets organization. Field has thrown in 35 games this year, notching 7 saves. His ERA for the Zephyrs stands at 3.86 for his 40 innings for work. He has allowed opponents to hit just .207 off him and has 46 strike outs to just 12 walks. Field has not pitched since July 8 after going on the 7-day disabled list. Field is in his 12th season of professional baseball, spending parts of 6 seasons in the big leagues with Kansas City, Colorado, and Florida.

Jeff Christy
Christy has been back and forth between the AAA Rochester Red Wings and the AA New Britain Rock Cats in the Minnesota Twins organization this year. He started the year at Rochester, playing in 7 games before going down to New Britain where he played in 22 games. At New Britain, Christy hit just .172 with a double. His play behind the plate as a catcher has been his strength during his time in the minors with his hitting seemingly the only thing keeping him from big league baseball. Since his call back to Rochester in late June, Christy has appeared in 6 games, collecting 4 hits in 16 at bats with a pair of runs scored. Add in 5 walks during that time and his on base percentage is .429. Overall this year in two stints at Rochester, Christy is hitting .200 with an OBP of .317.

Chad Lee
Lee recently moved up to the Class A Kane County Cougars in the Oakland A's organization in his attempt to battle back from injury that cost him the entire 2007 campaign and most of the 2008 season as well, finally taking the mound in late August of 08. Lee started the season with the A's rookie team in Vancouver, turning in 3 very impressive starts for the Canadians. In his debut on June 24 at the short season club, Lee struck out 7 allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk in 4 innings. In his final 2 outings, Lee didn't allow a hit pitching 5 no-hit innings in his 2nd start and 6 no-hit innings in his 3rd and final start at Vancouver. He struck out 17 in 15 innings of work with just the 1 hit and 6 base on balls.

In his only start so far for Kane County, Lee threw 5 innings, allowing a pair of earned runs on 5 hits Saturday with Cougars – based out of Geneva, Ill. and part of the Midwest League. He picked up the win to improve to 3-0 overall in the minors this season with a 0.90 overall ERA. In his start for Kane County, Lee struck out 3 with a pair of walks, surrendering runs in the 1st and 4th innings.

Others
Morales started the summer with the Wichita Wingnuts in Independent League baseball before he asked for and was given his release on July 8. He had a 3.72 ERA in 17 games this summer with Wichita, striking out 19 in 19 innings of work. Jason Stanford, Ryan Phillips and Derek McDaid have not played pro baseball this summer after playing last year.