Sept. 28, 2009
LOS ANGELES - The UCLA baseball program was well-represented in the minor leagues during the 2009 season, as four players helped lead their respective teams to league championships. Throughout the season, four players - David Huff, Casey Janssen, Josh Roenicke and Wes Whisler - earned promotions to their organization's respective major league club.
Huff has emerged as one of the UCLA baseball program's most successful major league rookies. The left-handed pitcher from Huntington Beach, Calif., has gone 11-8 with a 5.61 ERA in 23 starts, registering 65 strikeouts and 41 walks in 128.1 innings. Through Sept. 28, Huff ranks first on the Indians in wins (11), tied for first in starts (23), second in innings pitched (128.1) and fourth in strikeouts (65).
Roenicke has made 23 relief appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds. The right-handed pitcher who starred at UCLA from 2003-06 has logged 31 strikeouts and 16 walks in 29.2 innings this season.
Janssen returned to the Blue Jays this summer after having missed the entire 2008 season. A three-year major league veteran, Janssen has gone 2-4 with a 6.00 ERA in 20 major league games (five starts). The former UCLA standout spent several weeks on a rehabilitation stint in the minors before returning to the big-league club.
Whisler spent nearly the entire 2009 season in the minor leagues, but made his major league debut with the Chicago White Sox on June 2. Whisler pitched in three games for Chicago, 1.1 scoreless innings in his first two appearances.
Below is a list of UCLA's former ballplayers and how they fared in minor league action this season.
Hector Ambriz
Years at UCLA: 2003-2006
Reno Aces (AAA - Arizona Diamondbacks)
Made 28 appearances (27 starts) for two Arizona Diamondbacks' affiliates...went 9-9 with a 5.57 ERA in 127.2 innings, collecting 103 strikeouts and 40 walks in 23 games (22 starts) for the Reno Aces (AAA, Pacific Coast League)...went 3-2 with a 2.17 ERA in five starts for the Mobile BayBears (AA, Southern League)...posted a combined 12-11 record and 4.94 ERA between both minor league teams.
Ryan Babineau
Years at UCLA: 2006-2008
South Bend Silver Hawks (A - Arizona Diamondbacks)
Played in 10 games in April, missing nearly the remainder of the season with an injury (hip)...batted .125 (4-for-32) with one triple, two doubles, one RBI and four runs.
Charles Brewer
Years at UCLA: 2007-2009
Missoula Osprey (Rookie - Arizona Diamondbacks)
Made 17 appearances (seven starts)...went 7-2 with a 2.47 ERA, totaling 61 strikeouts and 15 walks in 54.2 innings...limited the opposition to a .216 batting average...posted a 5-0 record and 1.59 ERA in 10 relief appearances.
Gavin Brooks
Years at UCLA: 2007-2009
Staten Island Yankees (A - New York Yankees)
Made 30 appearances, the fourth-highest total on the team...went 5-1 with a 0.62 ERA, recording 48 strikeouts and 24 walks in 43.1 innings...collected three saves...finished in a tie for third on the team with 48 strikeouts...helped lead Staten Island to the 2009 New York-Penn League Championship.
Tyson Brummett
Years at UCLA: 2006-2007
Reading Phillies (AA - Philadelphia Phillies)
Made 31 appearances (16 starts) for three Philadelphia Phillies' affiliates...went 3-9 with a 5.22 ERA in 26 games (15 starts), recording 70 strikeouts and 27 walks for the Reading Phillies (AA, Eastern League)...did not record a decision in four relief outings during a rehabilitation stint with the Clearwater Threshers (A, Florida State League)...made one start for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA, International League), absorbing the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) and seven hits in four innings.
Alden Carrithers
Years at UCLA: 2007-2008
West Michigan Whitecaps (A - Detroit Tigers)
Played in 50 games for two Detroit Tigers' affiliates...batted .307 in 45 games for the West Michigan Whitecaps (A, Midwest League)...totaled three triples, three doubles, 19 RBI, 29 runs and a .395 on-base percentage for West Michigan...batted .182 in five games for the Oneonta Tigers (A, New York-Penn League).
Gabe Cohen
Years at UCLA: 2007-2009
Hudson Valley Renegades (A - Tampa Bay Rays)
Played in 41 games...batted .206 with three home runs, six doubles, 12 RBI and 12 runs...stole five bases in eight attempts.
Brandon Crawford
Years at UCLA: 2006-2008
Connecticut Defenders (AA - San Francisco Giants)
Played in 133 games for two San Francisco Giants' affiliates...batted .258 in 108 games for the Connecticut Defenders (AA, Eastern League)...collected four home runs, two triples, 26 doubles, 31 RBI, 38 runs and 11 stolen bases in 18 attempts for Connecticut...batted .371 in 25 games for the San Jose Giants (A, California League) early in the season, notching six home runs, two triples, two doubles, 17 RBI and 21 runs.
Jermaine Curtis
Years at UCLA: 2006-2008
Palm Beach Cardinals (A - St. Louis Cardinals)
Played in 120 games for two St. Louis Cardinals' affiliates...batted .197 in 90 games for the Palm Beach Cardinals (A, Florida State League), totaling one home run, seven doubles, 24 RBI and 36 runs...batted .304 in 30 games for the Quad Cities River Bandits (A, Midwest League), recording one home run, 12 doubles, 20 runs, 10 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 14 attempts.
Cody Decker
Years at UCLA: 2006-2009
AZL Padres (Rookie - San Diego Padres)
Played in 59 games for two San Diego Padres' affiliates...earned Arizona League Most Valuable Player honors...batted .354 (third-highest in AZL) with a league-leading 15 home runs, 63 RBI and .717 slugging percentage for the AZL Padres...also collected three triples, 21 doubles and 46 runs...batted .111 in seven games for the Fort Wayne TinCaps (A, Midwest League) prior to the Midwest League playoffs...helped lead Fort Wayne to the 2009 Midwest League Championship.
Chris Denove
Years at UCLA: 2003-2005
Louisville Bats (AAA - Cincinnati Reds)
Played in 73 games for two Cincinnati Reds' affiliates...batted .307 in 25 games for the Louisville Bats (AAA, International League), totaling one home run, four doubles, eight runs and 11 RBI...batted .264 in 48 games for the Carolina Mudcats (AA, Southern League), recording three home runs, 13 doubles, 14 runs and 18 RBI.
Casey Haerther
Years at UCLA: 2007-2009
Orem Owlz (Rookie - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)
Played in 50 games...batted .350 with two triples, 18 doubles, 37 runs and 35 RBI during the regular season...belted two home runs, including one three-run homer in the decisive Pioneer League Championship game, in the playoffs...went 4-for-5 with a career-high seven RBI in the title game, leading Orem to the Pioneer League Championship.
Dave Johnson
Years at UCLA: 2002-2004
Nashville Sounds (AAA - Milwaukee Brewers)
Made a team-leading 47 relief appearances...went 3-1 with a 3.72 ERA and five saves...registered 41 strikeouts and 20 walks...limited left-handed batters to a .218 batting average.
Brendan Lafferty
Years at UCLA: 2005-2009
Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie - Kansas City Royals)
Made 15 appearances (two starts) for the Idaho Falls Chukars before being promoted to the Burlington Bees' postseason roster (A, Midwest League)...went 4-1 with a 2.85 ERA in 53.2 innings for Idaho Falls, collecting 48 strikeouts, 15 walks and four saves...limited the opposition to a .284 batting average.
Tim Murphy
Years at UCLA: 2006-2008
Bakersfield Blaze (A - Texas Rangers)
Made 27 appearances (26 starts)...went 10-10 with a 6.80 ERA in 135.0 innings, recording 86 strikeouts and 59 walks...tied for second on the team in innings pitched and tied for fourth on the team in strikeouts.
Jason Novak
Years at UCLA: 2006-2009
Johnson City Cardinals (Rookie - St. Louis Cardinals)
Made 19 relief appearances...went 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 21.0 innings, collecting 24 strikeouts and seven walks...limited the opposition to a .279 batting average...registered 13 strikeouts and no walks in nine appearances on the road (3.60 ERA).
Paul Oseguera
Years at UCLA: 2005-2006
San Jose Giants (A - San Francisco Giants)
Made 20 starts for two San Francisco Giants' affiliates...went 7-7 with a 3.77 ERA in 105.0 innings (17 starts) for the San Jose Giants (A, California League)...collected 97 strikeouts and 21 walks for San Jose...went 1-1 with a 1.89 ERA in 19.0 innings (three starts) for the Augusta GreenJackets (A, South Atlantic League)...recorded 25 strikeouts and five walks for Augusta.
Brant Rustich
Years at UCLA: 2004-2007
St. Lucie Mets (A - New York Mets)
Made 19 appearances (three starts)...went 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA and two saves in 47.2 innings, registering 46 strikeouts and 17 walks ...logged a 1.89 ERA and .222 opponent batting average in 16 relief appearances.
Wes Whisler
Years at UCLA: 2002-2004
Charlotte Knights (AAA - Chicago White Sox)
Made 26 starts...went 10-12 with a 4.01 ERA in 152.2 innings...recorded 77 strikeouts and 56 walks, and pitched one complete game...also made three relief appearances for the Chicago White Sox in a midseason call-up...led Charlotte with 152.2 innings, 26 starts and 10 wins (tied)...finished third on the team with 77 strikeouts.
