http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/ News and Features from Baseball America Fri, 03 July 2009 19:42:40 EST en-us http://www.baseballamerica.com/images/baonlinelogo.gif http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/ 96 9 1 http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-bulletin/2009/268482.html Reds farmhand Chris Heisey graces both our midseason minor league All-Star team as well as our All-Surprise roster. See who else made the cut. Fri, 03 July 2009 11:35:46 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-bulletin/2009/268482.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/minors/classification-reports/low-class-a/2009/268493.html Thanks to his ability and maturity, Martin Perez is succeeding in low Class A at a young age. Thu, 02 July 2009 17:05:44 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/minors/classification-reports/low-class-a/2009/268493.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/minors/classification-reports/triple-a/2009/268492.html With his next step being the major leagues, Carlos Carrasco hasn't wowed anybody in Triple-A, but he's moving along at a steady pace. Thu, 02 July 2009 16:58:33 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/minors/classification-reports/triple-a/2009/268492.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/high-school/events/perfect-game-national-showcase/2009/268489.html An alphabetical list of 25 players that stood out at the Perfect Game National Showcase in Minneapolis, June 11-14. Thu, 02 July 2009 14:32:04 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/high-school/events/perfect-game-national-showcase/2009/268489.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/high-school/events/perfect-game-national-showcase/2009/268488.html Central Kitsap HS switch-pitcher Drew Vettleson is turning heads on the showcase circuit this summer. Thu, 02 July 2009 14:25:17 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/high-school/events/perfect-game-national-showcase/2009/268488.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/trade-central/2009/268485.html The Washington Nationals trade Lastings Milledge and Joel Hanrahan to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett. Thu, 02 July 2009 11:53:06 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/trade-central/2009/268485.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/events/aflac-all-american-classic/2009/268486.html The 2009 Aflac All-American game features 39 of the best high school seniors in the country . . . and Bryce Harper. Thu, 02 July 2009 11:47:44 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/events/aflac-all-american-classic/2009/268486.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/minors/classification-reports/double-a/2009/268484.html Chris Heisey never thought he'd get a chance to play pro ball. But in 2006, instead of moving onto a career in teaching, Heisey was selected in the 17th round of the draft. Now, in 2009, he's leading the Southern League in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Thu, 02 July 2009 09:49:30 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/minors/classification-reports/double-a/2009/268484.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/international-affairs/2009/268483.html Jose Osoria was one of Cleveland's top signings last year from the Dominican Republic, but it turns out he lied about his age and his identity. Wed, 01 July 2009 21:42:38 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/international-affairs/2009/268483.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/chat/2009/268481.html Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the international signing period, Ben Badler chatted about what to expect in this year's market. Wed, 01 July 2009 16:28:58 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/chat/2009/268481.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/majors/espn-chat/2009/268480.html Fans asked about Josh Vitters and Bryce Harper in our weekly ESPN.com chat on July 1, 2009. Wed, 01 July 2009 15:07:48 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/majors/espn-chat/2009/268480.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/international-affairs/2009/268475.html Complete scouting reports on the players expected to sign for the top 25 bonuses during the international signing period, which begins on July 2. Wed, 01 July 2009 12:51:18 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/international-affairs/2009/268475.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/international-affairs/2009/268478.html Projecting which players from Latin America will receive the top 25 signing bonuses after the international signing period begins on July 2. Wed, 01 July 2009 12:50:58 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/international-affairs/2009/268478.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/international-affairs/2009/268476.html Ben Badler previews the international signing period with a breakdown of what to expect for all 30 teams when the international signing period begins tomorrow. Wed, 01 July 2009 12:49:45 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/international-affairs/2009/268476.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/news/2009/268479.html For two decades, Cheryl Polakowski has been the friendly face and warm voice welcoming players to spring training and instructional league at the A's complexes in Phoenix. Near the end of March this year, Polakowski went absent from her job. She felt back pain and went to the doctor for what she expected would be a minor treatment. The diagnosis was as unexpected as it was horrifying: pancreatic cancer, metastasizing quickly through her body. Wed, 01 July 2009 11:24:57 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/news/2009/268479.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/minors/classification-reports/high-class-a/2009/268477.html The Padres' draft bonanza in 2007 netted some solid minor league contributors. And four of the five arms in Lake Elsinore's rotation came from that very draft. Wed, 01 July 2009 10:57:58 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/minors/classification-reports/high-class-a/2009/268477.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/awards/all-america-teams/2009/268473.html Our postseason picks for the best prep players. Wed, 01 July 2009 09:59:43 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/awards/all-america-teams/2009/268473.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/news/2009/268474.html Two Atlantic Coast Conference coaching changes highlight a remarkably quiet summer on the coaching carousel. Tue, 30 June 2009 20:34:11 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/news/2009/268474.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/trade-central/2009/268471.html The Yankees gave up two minor league spare parts—righty Corey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer—to the Pirates for Eric Hinske. Tue, 30 June 2009 12:29:41 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/trade-central/2009/268471.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/international-affairs/2009/268468.html Max Kepler, a 16-year-old center fielder from Germany, is generating interest from scouts as July 2 approaches with the potential for five average or better tools. Tue, 30 June 2009 11:34:35 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/international-affairs/2009/268468.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/freshman-of-the-year/2009/268458.html After becoming the first player to garner Conference USA player of the year and freshman of the year honors in the same season, Anthony Rendon has new hardware for the trophy case. To go along with being a second-team All-America selection, Rendon is Baseball America's Freshman of the Year. Tue, 30 June 2009 10:13:11 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/freshman-of-the-year/2009/268458.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/freshman-all-america-team/2009/268457.html Our 2009 picks for the best freshmen. Tue, 30 June 2009 10:01:06 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/freshman-all-america-team/2009/268457.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/draft-dish/2009/268470.html A list of advisers for players in the top 10 rounds of the 2009 draft. Tue, 30 June 2009 08:31:59 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/draft-dish/2009/268470.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/column/2009/268469.html Manny Ramirez homered off 2007 first-rounder Nick Schmidt in his first rehab at-bat in the Cal League, but can it really be "rehab" if he's coming off a 50-game PED suspension? Mon, 29 June 2009 23:46:48 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/column/2009/268469.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/ask-ba/2009/268467.html Which top draft talents are the most likely to not sign? Which first-round picks are the least likely to crack their teams' Top 10 Prospect lists? How to teams determine which legitimate late-round talents to sign, and what bonuses do they receive? Mon, 29 June 2009 22:29:25 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/ask-ba/2009/268467.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-bulletin/2009/268465.html Righthander Jeremy Jeffress, rated as the top pitching prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers' farm system, has been suspended for 100 games for testing positive for a second time for a "drug of abuse." Mon, 29 June 2009 15:39:45 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-bulletin/2009/268465.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/minors/column/2009/268462.html For the more serious fan (the Baseball America reader, certainly), the Futures Game is a chance to see these prospects face off against each other, the best playing the best. Mon, 29 June 2009 10:49:44 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/minors/column/2009/268462.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/international-affairs/2009/268464.html Ben Badler dishes out various news and notes collected from international scouts over the weekend. Mon, 29 June 2009 10:48:51 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/international-affairs/2009/268464.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/coach-of-the-year/2009/268459.html Paul Mainieri has managed to follow in his dad's legendary footsteps. Mon, 29 June 2009 10:24:48 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/awards/coach-of-the-year/2009/268459.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/obituaries/2009/268463.html A listing of baseball people who have passed on recently. Fri, 26 June 2009 17:09:30 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/obituaries/2009/268463.html