MnSoxFan Posted September 8, 2003 Share Posted September 8, 2003 CHICAGO—Chris Cron has faced his share of challenges managing at Rookie-level Great Falls. Finding a productive center fielder has not been among them. An organization that has highly regarded prospects Joe Borchard and Jeremy Reed at the two highest levels also has upwardly mobile center fielders in the low minors. Because of injuries, Cron has overseen an intriguing procession of players in center. Brian Anderson, Chicago’s first-round pick this year from Arizona, was set to get the bulk of time there. But after hitting .388-2-13 in 13 games, he was sidelined with a wrist injury that required season-ending surgery. Ricardo Nanita, a speedy native of the Dominican Republic who was drafted in the 14th round out of Florida International, took over for Anderson. He established himself as a major force, setting a Pioneer League record with a 30-game hitting streak, and was batting .384-5-37 in 185 at-bats when he broke his hamate bone swinging the bat. Cron’s next move was to turn the position over to Mike Myers, who had been his regular shortstop. Myers was drafted in the 22nd round by the Mariners out of high school in 1998 but decided to attend Central Florida. That decision looked questionable when he failed to retain the interest of scouts. Myers used up his baseball eligibility and was considering an offer to play wide receiver for Central Florida when the White Sox signed him as a nondrafted free agent following the 2002 draft. Myers, 22, was hitting .288-3-41 in 200 at-bats. He’s an aggressive hitter who crowds the plate and forces the action. He was leading Great Falls with 16 stolen bases and 10 hit by pitches. The White Sox aren’t sure what they’ve got in Myers, but he’s put himself on the radar. “It’s so far away, from Rookie league to the big leagues, but I could see Mike Myers playing a long time in professional baseball,” Cron told the Great Falls Tribune. CHI-LITES • Righthander Brandon McCarthy followed up a successful debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League last year with a strong season for Great Falls. He was 8-3, 3.67 with 91 strikeouts and 12 walks in 81 innings. • Outfielder Mario Valenzuela, out most of the season with a shoulder injury, finally got back into action in mid-August. The Sox have loved Valenzuela’s bat for years, but he has been unable to avoid injury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted September 8, 2003 Share Posted September 8, 2003 Looks like CF + GF = DL.... Good luck, Myers!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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