Dec. 12, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Former Kentucky baseball All-Southeastern Conference right-hander Alex Meyer was traded from the Washington Nationals to the Minnesota Twins, former UK hurlers Logan Darnell and James Paxton excelled in the Arizona Fall League and former consensus first-team All-America outfielder Sawyer Carroll was picked in the MiLB Rule-5 Draft.
MEYER TRADED TO TWINS
Former Kentucky All-SEC starting pitcher Alex Meyer was traded from the Washington Nationals to the Minnesota Twins for centerfielder Denard Span.
A native of Greensburg, Ind., Meyer had a great season in his first full professional season, earning a spot on the USA team in the MLB Futures Game. A former first-round pick by the Nationals in the 2011 MLB Draft and the No. 50 prospect in baseball according to MLB.com, Meyer made a combined 25 starts between two class-A levels in 2012.
“It caught me off guard, but I’m really excited about it,” Meyer told MLB.com after the trade. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for me. I’m thankful for what the Nationals helped me out with. I’m looking forward to getting ready for Spring Training with the Twins.”
A 6-foot-9, 220-pound righty, Meyer went 10-6 with a 2.86 ERA in 2012, tossing 129 innings, allowing 97 hits and 45 walks, striking out 139. He made 18 starts for the Hagerstown Suns in the South Atlantic League, posting a 7-4 record and a 3.10 ERA, with 107 strikeouts in 90 innings. After a promotion to the Carolina League, Meyer went 3-2 with a 2.31 ERA in seven starts, striking out 32 and walking 11 in 39 innings.
“He’s got four pitches with velocity and size, and he throws it over,” Minnesota general manager Terry Ryan told MLB.com. “So I’ll let him dictate where he’s going to end up in which spot in the rotation and all that. But he certainly has the capability of providing some quality innings.”
DARNELL, PAXTON STAR IN ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE
Logan Darnell and James Paxton, a pair of former Kentucky standout southpaws had a great offseason in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, the fall circuit for the top players in minor league baseball.
A native of Joelton, Tenn., Darnell made nine appearances with two starts for the Peoria Javelinas in the AFL, posting a 2-0 record and a 2.45 ERA. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder, worked 18.1 innings, allowing 18 hits and five walks, striking out 17. In 28 starts in Double-A, Darnell went 11-12 with a 5.08 ERA in 2012 with 98 strikeouts in 156 innings.
Paxton, a native of Richmond, British Columbia, made five starts in the AFL for the Javelinas. He worked 12.2 innings, allowing 14 hits and six walks, striking out 16. In 2012 in the Double-A Southern League, Paxton went 9-4 with a 3.05 ERA, tossing 106.1 innings, walking 54 and striking out 110.
CARROLL PICKED IN RULE 5 DRAFT
Consensus first-team All-America outfielder Sawyer Carroll was picked in the minor league portion of the MLB Rule 5 Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.
A former third-round pick in the 2008 MLB Draft by San Diego, Carroll has spent the last five seasons in the Padres organization. A 6-foot-4 left-handed hitter, Carroll played his first full season in Triple-A in 2012, logging 112 games in the Pacific Coast League.
A native of Henryetta, Okla., Carroll batted .263 (98-for-372) in 2012, with 15 doubles, six triples, eight homers and 56 RBI, stealing 10 bases and owning a .737 OPS (on-base + slugging percentage). In his five year minor league career, Carroll has played in 564 games and hit .274 (550-for-2010) with 117 doubles, 27 triples, 49 homers and 325 RBI, adding 46 stolen bases.
As a senior in 2008, after electing to return for his final season as a draft pick of the Washington Nationals, Carroll earned consensus first-team All-America honors. He hit .419 (98-for-234) in 63 games, with 19 homers and a school-record 83 RBI, leading UK to a then-record 44 wins. Following the season, the Padres picked him in the third round of the 2008 MLB Draft.
