Busy Offseason Has Faces Changing Places

Posted on January 11, 2015 by scott sypien in Player Interview, Player Updates, Uncategorized // 0 Comments

"Some games the atmosphere is so wild its like the circus came to town and a baseball game broke out.” (Photo: Chasing The Dream)

With the page officially turned on 2014, spring training and the start of the 2015 baseball season is fast approaching. It has been a busy off-season with many faces at the major and minor league level changing places and uniforms. A number of clubs have complete retooled either their major league roster or minor league systems. A number of players we have featured at Chasing MLB Dreams have wound up in new places. We take a look at who has new homes below.

Chris Bostick

It was a December day in 2013 when Bostick got a call. He had been traded from the Oakland Athletics to the Texas Rangers. When we caught up with Bostick for our original feature on him we asked him about getting traded. “Every player coming into this understands that being traded can be apart of the game. In today’s

Bostick celebrates a home run vs the Frederick Keys during a comeback win May 1st.

game the possibility of playing for multiple teams over the course of a career is something that can easily happen” he said. “It definitely did take me by surprise though. I wasn’t expecting to get traded. It was just a regular day in December when they called and told me that I was heading to the Texas organization.”

It must have been a bit of déjà vu for the 21 year-old second baseman in December of 2014. Just a handful of days after the year anniversary of his trade to the Texas Rangers organization he was traded once again. This time he would be heading to the Washington Nationals along with pitcher Abel de los Santos in exchange for left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler. With the Rangers depth at the middle infield spot, Bostick will have more opportunities to advance in the Nationals system. He could see a jump to AA, Harrisburg in 2015.

2014 Season
Team		AVG	G	AB	H	HR	RBI	BB	SO	OBP	SLG	OPS
MB	A+	.251	130	495	124	11	62	47	116	.322	.412	.734
4yrs		.270	343	1315	355	29	185	128	316	.341	.427	.768

Jake Brigham

In 2014 Brigham signed a free agent deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates and spent the entire season mostly pitching out of the Indianapolis Indians starting rotation. Brigham battled injuries throughout the season and spent some time on the disabled list which included a mid-season rehab stint in Jamestown. When healthy Brigham pitched well for the Indians finishing the season with a 3-5 record and a 4.29 ERA in 14 starts.

Brigham signed a free agent deal with the Atlanta Braves in November and hopes to put together a healthy 2015 season. Atlanta has made many changes throughout all levels of organization and Brigham could benefit. Brigham could have opportunities open up for him either as a starter or in the bullpen with the Braves as 2015 progresses.

2014 Season
Team		W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	BB	SO	WHIP	AVG
IND	AAA	3	5	4.29	18	14	92.1	51	28	70	1.30	.260
8yrs		35	54	4.36	190	137	826	826	330	717	1.40	.261

Marcus Hatley

While still only 26 years old, Hatley seemingly has grown up in the Cubs organization. After completing his 8th season in the Cubs system, Hatley signed with the Saint Louis Cardinals and was invited to major league camp as a non-roster invitee. Hatley broke the news of his signing and his excitement to have a new home in this November 10th tweet.

Grateful to be able to continue my dream of becoming a big league pitcher. Very excited to have a new team and organization to call home

— Marcus Hatley (@MHatley99) November 10, 2014

Playing the bulk of the last two seasons in Iowa at the AAA level, Hatley has continued to strike out batters at a high rate. The right-hander has averaged 10.71/9 strikeouts in 92 appearances. Hatley hopes to find an opportunity in 2015 out of the Cardinals bullpen.

2014 Season
Team		W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	BB	SO	WHIP	AVG
IOW	AAA	2	6	4.60	45	1	47.0	52	13	58	1.38	.283
8 yrs		24	24	4.25	251	19	419.2	410	193	399	1.44	.179

Steven Hensley

A 2013 trade marked the first time in the pitchers career he did not pitch in the Mariners organization. It also saw him establish himself at the AAA level. Unfortunately for Hensley the Rockies cut ties with the right-hander near the end of spring training and left him searching for a home. The Orioles offered him a landing spot but it would be a step back to AA in Bowie. Hensley shined with the Baysox as both a guy who could go multiple innings and also shut the door to finish games. In 37 appearances out of the pen Hensley went 3-1 with a 2.09 ERA. He held opponents to a .213 average and saved five games for the Baysox.

Hensley turned his solid campaign into opportunity and signed with Venados de Mazatlan of the Mexican Winter League. Serving as the closer for Venados de Mazatlan, Hensley picked up nine saves and finished the season with an ERA of 2.53 in 20 appearances. That body of work led to the LA Angels signing him to a contract stateside for the 2015 season as well as Navegantes del Magallanes signing him for their championship run in the Venezuela Winter League.

2014 Season
Team		W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	BB	SO	WHIP	AVG
BOW	AA	3	1	2.09	37	0	60.1	46	27	57	1.21	.213
7yrs		35	54	4.36	199	73	577	562	234	482	1.38	.256

Keyvius Sampson

Sampson hopes for new opportunities in the Reds organization

After putting together a solid 2013 season at the AA level the 24-year-old hurler made the full-time jump to AAA for the Padres. Sampson struggled throughout the 2014 season with El Paso and was eventually removed from the starting rotation. Sampson started 14 games and came out of the pen for 24 more appearances. He finished the season with a 2-5 record and an ERA of 6.68. Control problems plagued the power right-hander during the season. He walked 68 in 91.2 innings finishing the season with a WHIP of 1.73.

The Padres removed him from the 40 man roster during the off-season after acquiring Shawn Kelley from the Yankees. Sampson did not get through waivers as the Cincinnati Reds claimed him. Sampson just turned 24 will look to a new organization for new opportunities in 2015.

2014 Season
Team		W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	BB	SO	WHIP	AVG
ELP	AAA	2	5	6.68	38	14	91.2	91	68	94	1.73	.261
7yrs		37	29	4.29	130	102	524	437	256	560	1.32	.226

Robby Rowland

Rowland who had started his entire pro career was moved to the bullpen by the Pirates in 2014. Coming out of the Bradenton bullpen, Rowland struggled in 24 appearances. In 38.2 innings Rowland allowed 43 hits and 26 earned runs to a tune of a 6.05 ERA.

The right hander was then sent back to West Virgina but he only made 6 appearance before the Pirates cut ties with the former Diamondback 3rd round pick. Rowland confirmed with us on January 12th he will be getting a new opportunity in 2015 with the St. Louis Cardinals this spring.