GOAZCATS.com - Update on 2009 Wildcat Draftees

September 29, 2009

Derrick Fazendin
GOAZCATS.com Staff Writer

The 2009 Minor League baseball seasons have finally come to an end and seven members of last year's Arizona Wildcat baseball team just finished taking part in their first professional seasons. Let's take a look and see how some of these former Wildcats performed.

Jason Stoffel (RHP) - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (short season Class A San Francisco Giants affiliate):

The one thing Stoffel did experience in his first year as pro that he never experienced at Arizona was the feeling of a championship. His Volcanoes won the Northwest League Championship for the third time in four years, beating the Tri-City Dust Devils in four games. On a personal note, Stoffel finished his first professional season with a .90 ERA, 19 strikeouts, and four saves in 20 innings pitched in the short 2009 season.

Cory Burns (RHP) -Mahoning Valley Scrappers (short season Class A Cleveland Indians affiliate):

Burns is arguably performing the best out of all the 2009 UA draftees. Burns led his club in saves with 11, while posting a solid 1.93 ERA and 37 punch outs in 32.2 innings for the Scrappers. Burns was so good in his first year with Mahoning Valley that he was awarded a spot in the New York-Penn League's All-Star Game.

Preston Guilmet (RHP) - Mahoning Valley Scrappers (short season Class A Cleveland Indians affiliate):

Burns' fellow UA and Mahoning Valley teammate Preston Guilmet has had a decent start to his professional career as well. In his first season he had an ERA of 4.09, a 6-6 record, and 62 strikeouts in 70.1 innings pitched. Although Guilmet did not make an All Star team, he was awarded the New York Penn League pitcher of the week for the second week in August. He went 2-0, gave up only one earned run and struck out 13 during that stretch.

Dillon Baird (1B) - Orem Owlz (short season Class A Los Angeles Angels affiliate):

Last year's Pac-10 batting champion picked up right where he left off at the UA. Baird led his club in batting average, homeruns, and RBIs, with a .372 average, 49 RBIs, and seven jacks. Not to mention Baird's club also won the 2009 Pioneer League Championship, with a 13-10 win over the Missoula Osprey. Baird is a player you might see a little of in the majors when next year's September call-ups are announced.

Dwight Childs (C) - Mahoning Valley Scrappers (short season Class A Cleveland Indians affiliate):

Childs' first pro season didn't go quite as well as he would have liked it to go. He batted .093 with five RBIs and a homerun in 43 at bats for Mahoning Valley. As UA fans know however, offense is not what he was drafted for. His presence behind the plate and solid defense is why this guy is the starting catcher. Just ask fellow teammates Guilmet and Burns how much they love having Childs back there behind the dish, as they have a combined ERA of 3.01 with Childs catching.

Brad Glenn (3B) - Auburn Doubledays (short season Class A Toronto Blue Jays affiliate):

After struggling his senior year at Arizona, many felt Glenn's better baseball days were behind him. Only time will tell if that statement is true or not, but Glenn has shown a little life on his new club. He only batted .221, but he did lead his team and was second in the entire league in home runs with eight and was second on the club in RBIs with 38. Glenn's defense hasn't gotten much better however; he had the second most errors on the team with 10.

Daniel Butler (C) - Salem Red Sox Class A Advanced Boston Red Sox affiliate):

Although he wasn't drafted, former Wildcat catcher Daniel Butler has made it to the pros. The Boston Red Sox organization signed him late in the summer. Butler played most of his first professional year for the Lowell Spinners (Boston Red Sox short season Class A affiliate). He batted .179 in 22 games for the Spinners, but due to lack of playing time and his potential the Red Sox actually promoted him to their Class A advanced club, the Salem Red Sox. Butler only had three at bats with Salem and he went 0 for 3. He still needs more time to play before people can judge him fairly.

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