Major League Alumni: Batavia Muckdogs
By Drew Balen
Team: Batavia Muckdogs
League: New York-Penn League
Class Level: Short-Season A
Major League Affiliate: St. Louis Cardinals
City: Batavia, New York
Population: 16,256
Ballpark: Dwyer Stadium
Some current major league players that have played for Batavia on their journey through the minors include:
Ryan Howard (1B): In 2001, Howard hit .272 with 6 HR and 35 RBIs in 48 games with Batavia during his first season as a professional player. Howard was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 5th round of the 2001 MLB amateur draft out of Missouri State University.
Chase Utley (2B): In 2000, Utley hit .307 with 2 HR and 22 RBIs in 40 games with Batavia during his first professional season. Utley was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1st round (15th overall) of the 2000 MLB amateur draft out of UCLA.
Ryan Madson (RHP): In 1998, Madson posted a record of 5-5 with a 4.72 ERA in 15 starts with Batavia during his second professional season. Madson was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 9th round of the 1998 MLB amateur draft out of Valley View High School (Moreno Valley, CA).
Marlon Byrd (OF): In 1999, Byrd hit .296 with 13 HR and 50 RBIs in 65 games with Batavia during his first season as a professional player. Byrd was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 10th round of the 1999 MLB amateur draft out of Georgia Perimeter College (Covington, GA).
Carlos Carrasco (RHP): In 2005, Carrasco posted a record of 0-3 with a 13.50 ERA in 4 starts with Batavia during his second professional season. Carrasco was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent out of Venezuela in 2003.
Lou Marson (C): In 2005, Marson hit .245 with 5 HR and 25 RBIs in 60 games with Batavia during his second professional season. Marson was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 4th round of the 2004 MLB amateur draft out of Coronado High School (Scottdale, AZ).
Clayton Mortensen (RHP): In 2007, Mortensen posted a record of 1-1 with a 1.77 ERA over 6 games with Batavia during his first professional season. Mortensen was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the supplemental 1st round (36th overall) of the 2007 MLB amateur draft out of Gonzaga.
Alfredo Simon (RHP): In 2002, Simon posted a 9-2 record with a 3.59 ERA over 15 games with Batavia during his second professional season. Simon was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1999.
Brad Ziegler (RHP): In 2003, Ziegler posted a record of 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA over 3 games with Batavia during his first professional season. Ziegler was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 20th round of the 2003 MLB amateur draft out of Missouri State University.
Some notable former major league players that have played for Batavia include:
Johnny Estrada (C): In 1997, Estrada hit .314 with 6 HR and 43 RBIs in 58 games with Batavia during his first professional season. Estrada was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 17th round of the 1997 MLB amateur draft out of College of the Sequoias (Visalia, CA).
Marlon Anderson (2B): In 1995, Anderson hit .295 with 3 HR and 40 RBIs in 74 games with Batavia during his first professional season. Anderson was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1995 MLB amateur draft out of the University of South Alabama.
Kelly Gruber (3B): In 1980, Gruber hit .217 with 2 HR and 19 RBIs in 61 games with Batavia during his first professional season. Gruber was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 1st round (10th overall) of the 1980 MLB amateur draft out of Westlake High School (Austin, TX).
Doc Ellis (RHP): In 1964, Ellis posted a record of 6-7 with a 3.20 ERA in 16 starts with Batavia during his first professional season. Ellis was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1964.
Ned Yost (C): In 1974, Yost hit .252 with 2 HR and 11 RBIs in 44 games with Batavia during his first professional season. Yost was drafted by the New York Mets in the 1st round (7th overall) of the 1974 MLB June Draft-Secondary Phase out of Chabot College (Hayward, CA).
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