Draft Signings

[jdk82]

Add to that Clay Long's teammate Catcher Paul Vasquez. He's going to JC.

Here is some stats for Vasquez

Vasquez finished his junior season batting .416 and set a new school single-season record for doubles with 25. He struck out just nine times in 254 plate appearances and drove in 63 RBI with 10 home runs. Behind the plate, Vasquez started committed just four errors with nine passed balls in 60 games. He also threw out 23 of the 53 runners who attempted a stolen base against him.

How did this guy not get drafted by anyone?

I was thinking the same thing. Strike outs are amazing.

[New Pagodi]

Thirded. It's probably a toss up as to whether catcher or middle infield is the weakest area in the farm system, so this looks like a very good sign. The cards have actually done alright with nondrafted free agents in the past couple of years. Quad Cities pitcher Brandon Dickson and Springfield outfielder (and Texas League all star) Sean Danielson are probably the best examples.


And by the way, welcome brak60. Thanks for the post.

[jdk82]

Cardinals signed two more guys, both undrafted free agents

Clayton Long (Auburn-Montgomery) RHP 9-1 2.61 ERA

Wayne Daman (Washington State) RHP 5-4 3.28 ERA

More news on Clayton Long

Team high five complete games with two shut outs. He struck out 73 batters and walked just 25 opponents in 76 innings of work.

[UK]

Daman had his best season in a four-year career as a starter for the Cougars, going 5-4, 3.28 with 55 strikeouts in 85 innings. But he showed little improvement overall after being a 24th-round pick out of a Washington high school in 2003. He showed no dominant pitches. He became a control-type pitcher with off-speed emphasis to get hitters out. His fastball topped at 88-89 mph. His ability to compete and throw strikes will get him a shot as a senior sign.

[brak60]

The Cards also bought the contract of RHP Pete Parise who was with the Slippery Rock (PA) Sliders team in the independent leagues (Frontier League). He had signed there on May 30th after attending the University of Pittsburgh. He's the first independent player this year to have his contract bought by a MLB franchise. He's expected to report to Johnson City.
(Again, I can give a link later if you want. I'm not at the post threshold yet.)
Parise made his professional debut with the Sliders last month, and appeared in six games for the Sliders, recording an 0-1 record with a 4.65 ERA and 13 strikeouts with only one walk in 10.1 innings. Parise did not allow a run in his last four outings, striking out ten batters while allowing only three hits and not issuing a walk over 6.2 innings.
Parise signed with the Sliders after finishing his career at the University of Pittsburgh this spring. Parise made 11 relief appearances for the Panthers this spring, compiling a 2-1 record with four saves and a 1.12 ERA. He was primarily an outfielder in college, having only pitched six innings prior to the 2007 season.
"The way Pete has been throwing for the past two weeks, we were expecting him to be signed right away," commented Sliders' field manager Greg Jelks. "With a fastball consistently in the low 90s plus his outstanding control, Pete has the opportunity for a tremendous career with the Cardinals."