Our Alums in Pro Baseball

Posted by Dan Jensen

Steven White, in the Yankee chain, and Mark McCormick, a Cardinal farmhand, are the only Clear Creek baseball players currently in pro baseball to my knowledge. 

Baseball America is a publication that does a great job on minor league prospects, among other things, and is currently evaluating prospects in each organization.  Following is part of a question and answer chat room session on the Yankees and our Steven White. 

Steven is of great interest to me for several reasons.  One, his grandfather is the late Paul White, a good personal friend of mine and he also pitched for Baylor, (as did McCormick) a team that I have always followed.  He has had some ups and downs in his pro career and will likely return to the AAA level this year with the Yankees. 

Here is the comment regarding Steven:

Q:	Benny Blanco from Tha Bronx asks: What is wrong with Steven White? A couple of years ago I was expecting Kevin Brown II (Kevin Brown careerwise, not with Yanks). He seemed to dominate AA with his sinker, but AAA ate him up. Does he still possess the potential to be a dominant pitcher in the Majors?
A:	John Manuel: Well, you just were off, Steven White never had a Kevin Brown sinker. He does pitch off his fastball, but it's not a Brown sinker, Yankees Brown or Marlins Brown or any Kevin Brown. I don't believe he ever profiled as a dominant pitcher. His curveball's always been average at best, he lost some feel for a change over the years, and he pitches off his fastball a lot, so he was going to be as good as his fastball command could take him. It sounds like that is still Steven White. Now, I thought he'd be able to do it, but guys like that are probably No. 3 starters at best. There's no plus secondary pitch.

Comments

[Dan Jensen]

I've heard that Mark McCormick has had shoulder surgery and will be sidelined until sometime in May. I don't know any of the details.

He had shoulder problems that hindered his progress in the Cardinal organization last year.

[Dan Jensen]

I finally got some information on McCormick's shoulder by asking a question on a Cardinal blog.

BaylorDan: Had a high school pal who went to Baylor … And the reason behind your question is revealed by your login, eh? So McCormick did have shoulder surgery to clean up the joint and he’ll be a few months behind. Nothing serious. He is in the Top 10 (of Cardinal prospects), and McCormick — when healthy — may have the best arm in the organization, untamed as it is.

[Dan Jensen]

Baseball America ranks the top 30 prospects in each organization. Steven White is listed 22nd in the Yankee organization and Mark McCormick is 8th for the Cardinals.

"No. 4 on the list two years ago, White is running out of time as the Yankees acquire more and more pitchers with similar or better stuff and more command. He's still a factor, though, and he's taken to minor league pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras' instruction and improved his curveball. At his best, White pounds the strike zone with a 90-93 mph four-seam fastball that he occasionally throws at 95, as well as his curveball and two versions of a changeup. One of his changes is straight, while the other has some sink. His whole package was more effective when he repeated
Double-A last year, particularly against lefthanders. In Triple-A, White got pounded when he elevated both his fastball and his changeups. He's worked hard to pick up a two-seam fastball and to improve his command. The Yankees are suddenly crowded with Triple-A righthanders, and White has little relief pitching in his past, so he could need time to adjust if asked to change roles. His ceiling is more likely at the back of the rotation, but he has more stuff than the likes of Jeff Karstens and Darrell Rasner. To pass them, White likely will have to master Triple-A in 2007."

"McCormick has been a top prospect since high school. In his first full pro season, he earned a promotion after 11 starts in low Class A, but pitched just four more innings because of shoulder inflammation. McCormick consistently brings power stuff to the mound. He was blowing mid-to upper-90s fastballs as a prep phenom and continues to throw in that range as a starter when he's mechanically sound. His hard curveball is one of the best breaking pitches in the system. Despite his electric stuff, McCormick never has consistently dominated opponents. He walks too many hitters and runs up high pitch counts. He's still trying to find a comfortable grip for a changeup. The Cardinals will use him as a starter in high Class A this year, but he long has been considered a possible closer candidate. In that role, he could flourish with just two pitches."

[Dan Jensen]

The Oral Roberts pitcher set a Baylor Ballpark strikeout record today. He had 13 after seven innings, one more than Clear Creek alums Steven White and Mark McCormick.

As I often mention on the Baylor message board, "Them Creek guys can flat chunk."

[Dan Jensen]

Them Creek guys can flat chunk--when they are healthy.

Both Steven White and Mark McCormick started the season on the disabled list but White has now returned and is doing well.

He has just been named the International League's pitcher of the week for the Yankee AAA team at Scranton.

Here's something from the Yankee site: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre right-hander STEVEN WHITE is barely a month into his 2007 season after missing the first eight weeks with a spinal nerve injury. As his comeback continues, everything seemed to fall into place this week for White, who didn't allow an earned run in a League-best 15.1 innings of work. White won both starts for the Yankees, improving his record to 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA. On Monday, June 25 White defeated Syracuse at PNC Field, blanking the Chiefs for 7.1 innings in a game the Yankees won 4-0. White allowed only two hits and three walks while striking out two in what was his longest outing of the year, until Sunday. In an afternoon affair at Ottawa, the Lynx managed just one unearned run against White in 8.0 innings as the Yankees rolled to a 12-1 victory. White scattered six hits and walked no one, striking out three. White's two wins this week helped his team's record improve to 43-38, good enough for 2nd place in the IL North (3.0 GB of Buffalo).

26-year-old Steven White is in his fourth professional season, and his second at the Triple-A level. After being selected by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 2003 draft, White first reached Triple-A in 2006 with Columbus, going 4-9 with a 4.71 ERA in 17 starts. Combined with his time at Double-A Trenton, White struck out 133 hitters last season, ranking 3rd among all Yankees' farmhands. White is a native of League City, TX.

[Dan Jensen]

Also, we now know why Buddy doesn't post in here any more.

The International League announced today that Richmond second baseman Martin Prado and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitcher Steven White have been named the League's Batter and Pitcher-of-the-Week for the period from June 25-July 1. Both men become the second members of their respective clubs to win an IL weekly award this season. Prado joins Braves hurler BUDDY CARLISLE (April 30-May 6) while White joins Yankees slugger Shelley Duncan (April 5-15).

[Dan Jensen]

Mark McCormick is finally back on the mound (that was originally supposed to be mid-May) and is on rehab assignment in rookie ball. He pitched one inning in his first game and threw two hitless innings today.

[Dan Jensen]

Steven White barely missed a callup by the Yankees to replace the faltering Mike Mussina in the starting rotation but, although disappointed, threw seven innings of shutout baseball last night for AAA Scranton. He will pitch in the Arizona Fall Baseball League and hopefully will make an impression in spring training next year.

[Dan Jensen]

We have alums in spots other than pro baseball. TCU opens the season with Baylor tomorrow and Ed Davis and I hope the Horned Frogs don't win by the three touchdowns that the oddsmakers predict.

The TCU defense is very good and two reasons are Clear Creek alum Chase Ortiz and Jason Phillips, the grandson of alum Arthur Landriault.

Following is a portion of a story from the Waco paper that mentions the two with Clear Creek ties.

While TCU’s defenders look like they’ve played their positions all their lives, some of them were stars in other spots.

Preseason All-America defensive end Tommy Blake was a premier running back at Aransas Pass High School, rushing for 2,013 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior. Phillips was a quarterback at Waller High School who began his TCU career at fullback before switching to linebacker. Defensive end Chase Ortiz was a tight end and linebacker at Clear Creek.

“It’s kind of a crapshoot, but as soon as you can find a role for a kid, the better off you’re going to be,” Patterson said. “We thought Tommy Blake could have been a better-than-average tailback, but he’s a great defensive end. Jason Phillips has the body type to be a fullback, but linebackers play a lot more in our system. We knew he had great intangibles because he’s a coach’s son with football smarts and good reactions.”

There may not be a better pair of defensive ends in the country than Blake and Ortiz. NFL scouts are raving about Blake after he collected 16.5 tackles for losses and seven sacks last season. Like Blake, Ortiz is a two-time all-Mountain West pick who nailed ballcarriers behind the line 11 times last season.

[Dan Jensen]

Righthander Mark McCormick was activated from the High-A Palm Beach Cardinals' disabled list on Sunday and made his first start of the season with the team. The 23-year-old pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits, striking out two and walking none.

McCormick, who has been on the disabled list since the beginning of the season after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder over the offseason, posted a 1.93 ERA in three rehab starts (4.2 innings) in the Gulf Coast League. Rated by the Birdhouse as the Cardinals' No. 11 prospect following the 2006 season, he is regarded as having one of the best arms in the system with a mid-to-high-90s fastball when healthy.

[Arthur Landriault]

Dan,
My wife and family went to the TCU/Baylor game Saturday Sept 1. TCU had a pretty good game and Jason had a very good day. He had a pass interception as well the defensive team played well. Baylor would be a better team as the quarterback is young but will get better.
Art

[Dan Jensen]

Baylor has more problems than a young quarterback. If you don't believe me, ask Ed Davis. Lynn Davis too, for that matter.

Baylor does have good linebackers but none are as good as Arthur's grandson, Jason Phillips.

[Dan Jensen]

The winter edition of Texas Football has Arthur Landriault's grandson, Jason Phillips, on its All-Texas College Team and he is listed as its best linebacker.

The Clear Creek guy, Chase Ortiz made it as the best defensive lineman.

[Dan Jensen]

I also note in the magazine that Waller quarterback Jeremy Phillips was named the 4A district's outstanding player last year.

I assume that this is Jason's younger brother and thus Arthur Landriault's grandson. Arthur, is this so?

[Dan Jensen]

I want to share some news from the Galveston paper. One is regarding pitcher Jarred Cosart. He was a member of the League Cit Post 554 American Legion team that won state but was eliminated last night in the finals of the regional tournament, just short of the American Legion World Series.

Cossart was great in an opening round win over Jonesboro, Arkansas but was signed by the Phillies just before the deadline. The Legion team later lost to Jonesboro and then fell again to that team last night in the double elimination tournamentin Enid, Oklahoma. The team had lost in the regional finals last year too.

Big bonus for Cosart; Davis shines for Steelers

By Joshua Buckley
The Daily News
Published August 19, 2008

Apparently the Philadelphia Phillies made an offer that Jarred Cosart just couldn’t refuse.

The Creek grad agreed to a deal with the Phillies just before Friday’s deadline for draft picks to sign. According to Baseball America, the signing bonus for the contact was $550,000.

Cosart was drafted in the 38th round of the First-Year Player Draft, but ended up getting bonus money recommended for a third-round pick, according to Major League Baseball’s slotting system.

Cosart was set to play for the University of Missouri after breaking Jay Bruner’s single-season team batting average record with a .506 mark.

However, the Phillies will move Cosart to pitching full-time. Cosart went 3-4 on the mound this season with a 2.24 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 531⁄3 innings. The Phillies haven’t announced which minor league squad he will be assigned to finish the season.

After being ranked as high as the fourth-best prospect in the New York Yankees’ system, Creek grad Steven White was released from the organization Tuesday.

According to a few online bloggers who cover the Trenton Thunder, Double-A team for the Yankees, White was only hitting 84 mph on the radar gun during his last start. Pitching for the Thunder and the Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees, White compiled a 4-5 record with a 6.21 ERA this season. He walked 54 batters and struck out 58 in 91 1⁄3 innings.

Creek grad Aaron Brown recorded the win for the Class A Everett AquaSox on Saturday, allowing just one run in five innings against Eugene. Brown also struck out five while walking four.

+++

Football

Davis Making Stops In Preseason Action

Creek grad Bruce Davis had two tackles — one solo and one assisted — in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday. Davis, Pittsburgh’s third-round pick from this season’s draft, has a total of four tackles in two preseason games.

Creek grad Chase Ortiz had one tackle in his preseason debut with the Cleveland Browns.

Galveston County Alumni notes are compiled by Joshua Buckley. Coaches and parents are highly encouraged to help us keep track of any Galveston County athlete in college or the pros. Contact us at 409-683-5242 or sports.desk(at)galvnews.com.

[Dan Jensen]

Mark Saccomanno is not a Clear Creek alum. He's from Klein. But, he's a Baylor alum and that interests Ed Davis and me. And, the fact that he now plays for the Houston Astros ought to interest Paul Hackett and others on this blog.

He last played for Baylor in 2003 and has been a long time reaching the Astros. But, he did not waste any more time when he hit the first pitch he saw in the majors for a home run.

It took him a long while to get established at Baylor but, after missing a year with an injury, really blossomed as a senior. Baylor fans join with Astro fans in wishing him the best.

On a Clear Creek alum note, Steven White has been released by the Yankee organization. He is not healthy but hopefully a bum shoulder will be ready by the spring and someone will pick him up.

Mark McCormick, three years behind White at Clear Creek and Baylor, has struggled with shoulder problems and his pro future is murky.

[Dan Jensen]

If no one is much interested in updating the current Clear Creek basketball season, why would I mention some St. Louis Cardinal baseball stuff?

Well, we don't want this site to completely die do we? Do we?

And, it has to do with a Wildcat alumnus, Mark McCormick who pitches in the Cardinal organization. He's also a former Baylor and that always gets the attention of Bear fan Ed Davis.

Arm problems have slowed this once highly rated prospect and he was not protected from the Rule 5 draft yesterday. I'm glad that no one chose him and hope that he can soon get it together with the Cardinal organization.

I'm also hopeful that Steven White, released by the Yankee organization, can catch on with someone this spring. He, like McCormick, is a Clear Creek and Baylor alumnus.

[Dan Jensen]

Both Steven White and Mark McCormick are out of baseball now because of arm injuries but their legacy remains at Baylor for these Clear Creek alums. Note the following story by John Werner who covers Baylor for the Waco paper:

Last weekend’s Baylor-Texas series made me realize a lot of things I love about college baseball.

Some people enjoy slugfests, and it’s always impressive to see a guy lift a majestic homer toward the Brazos River. But what keeps me glued to my seat is a great pitching performance.

Steve Smith has brought in a parade of talented pitchers during his 16 seasons like first-round major league draft choices Kip Wells, Jason Jennings, Chad Hawkins, Mark McCormick and Aaron Miller. These guys and many others have delivered numerous great pitching performances for the Bears, so narrowing it to a top five during Smith’s tenure is tough.

Most of these performances came in the NCAA tournament when the stakes are the highest.

1. Steven White vs. LSU, 2003. Not many pitchers walk into Alex Box Stadium and win an NCAA tournament game. But White dominated LSU in this Super Regional opener.

With more than 7,000 Cajuns packing the Box on a humid Friday night, White shut down the Tigers on seven hits and two walks while collecting nine strikeouts in eight innings. The Bears finally broke open a tie game with a three-run eighth, and Ryan LaMotta finished off LSU in order in the ninth for a 4-1 win.

“I had great command of everything tonight,” White said after the game. “I was able to locate my fastball, and get ahead with my breaking ball and changeup whenever I needed to.”

LSU rallied to win the last two games to advance to the College World Series, but White’s performance made all those baseball-crazy Cajuns nervous for a while.

2. Mark McCormick vs. Clemson, 2005. After dropping their Super Regional opener against Clemson at Baylor Ballpark, the Bears needed someone to step up and deliver a lights-out performance.

McCormick was up to the task as he struck out 10 and limited the Tigers to five hits in 8 1/3 innings as the Bears rolled to a 7-1 win.

On the next day, Cory VanAllen and LaMotta combined for another gem as the Bears romped to a 6-1 win to reach their first World Series in 27 years.