Former Saluki Baseball Players in the Pros
04/26/2004 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
April 26, 2004
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Here is an update on how several former Southern Illinois University baseball players are doing in the professional ranks. Please note that statistics in these updates are through games of April 25, 2004.
Toby Barnett (2002-03)
Was released by the Philadelphia Phillies...is back in his native country of Australia, where he is currently trying out for the Australian Olympic team...Barnett was signed as a free agent by Philadelphia shortly after the 2003 First-Year Player draft.
Sean Bergman (1989-91)
Currently in the Baltimore Orioles' organization...is playing for the Triple-A Ottawa Lynx of the International League...is 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA in three starts this season...also struck out 10 batters to just three walks in 15.1 innings.
Steve Finley (1984-87)
Outfielder on the Arizona Diamondbacks' active roster...is hitting .203 with 11 runs scored, 15 hits, two doubles, a home run and five RBI in 18 games...also drew eight walks and stole three bases...hit safely in six of his last seven outings and registered two or more hits in two of those contests...hit .287 in back-to-back seasons prior to the 2004 campaign...the 38-year old center fielder finished tied with Rafael Furcal for the National League lead in triples (10) in 2003, becoming the oldest player in Major League history to lead his respective league in three-base hits...played in 2,145 career games overall, tenth among active players, while his 108 career triples are tops among active players...he is the only active player with more than 300 doubles, 200 home runs and 100 triples, joining 17 others all-time (Earl Averill, Jim Bottomley, George Brett, Roberto Clemente, Joe DiMaggio, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Goose Goslin, Willie Mays, Joe Medwick, Paul Molitor, Stan Musial, Vada Pinson, Babe Ruth, Al Simmons, Robin Yount and Rogers Hornsby), 15 of whom are in the Hall of Fame...helped lead the Diamondbacks to a World Series Championship in 2001...after 16 years in the majors, he has won four Rawling's Gold Gloves for his superb defensive efforts in the outfield... prior to SIU, where he earned a degree in Physiology, Finley graduated from Paducah (KY) Tilghman High School...he was accepted to chiropractic school (Logan College in St. Louis), but opted to play pro ball...he was drafted by Atlanta in the 11th round of the 1986 June draft, but chose to remain at SIU, where he was a two-time, all-Missouri Valley Conference player, and third-team All-American in 1986...Finley's 1984 and 1986 SIU clubs each captured conference titles...he was later a member of Team USA in 1986 that won the Bronze medal in international competition in the Netherlands...after making his Major League debut on Apr. 3, 1989, he was signed as a free agent with Arizona on Dec. 7, 1998.
Jason Frasor (1996-99)
Is on the Toronto Bluejays' active roster after being called up from Triple-A Syracuse earlier this month...was previously with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who traded him to Toronto in March...since being called up, he gave up three hits, struck out five batters and issued three walks in 5.1 innings out of the Bluejays' bullpen...made his Major League debut on April 16, 2004...was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 33rd round of June 1999 First-Year Player Draft...is a veteran of six minor league seasons and three surgeries...was acquired by Los Angeles on Sept. 18, 2002...Frasor, 26, majored in speech communications at SIU.
Sal Frisella (2000-03)
Was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 37th round of 2003 First-Year Player Draft...made an immediate impact in his first year with the Johnson City Redbirds, the rookie affiliate of the Cards...Frisella ranked in several offensive categories for the Redbirds in 2003, including batting average (.338) and runs (32)...he was also named to the Appalachian League's Postseason All-Star Team...Frisella, however, is now playing with the Midwest League Single-A Peoria Chiefs...he is hitting .238 with five runs, 11 total bases, one double, one triple, one home run and three RBI in seven games.
Jerry Hairston (1996-97)
Currently on the Baltimore Orioles' 15-day disabled list...has a displaced fracture in the knuckle of his right ring finger...is expected to start rehab later this week...has played in 444 Major League games and boasts a .254 batting average in those contests...also collected career totals of 390 hits, 198 runs, 79 doubles, 11 triples, 24 home runs, 136 RBI and 563 total bases...made his Major League debut on Sept. 11, 1998...was named MVC Freshman of the Year for the Salukis in 1996...his father, grandfather and uncle all played in the majors...Father Jerry played 13 of 14 big league seasons with the White Sox...his late grandfather Sam Hairston, who died on Oct. 31, 1996, was the first African-American to play for the Chicago White Sox in July, 1951.
Al Levine (1990-91)
Since his career as a Saluki, Al Levine has been a part of several Major League organizations, including, most recently the Anaheim Angels (1999-02), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2003) and Kansas City Royals (2003), and presently Detroit Tigers (signed in mid-December, 2003)...is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 10 appearances with the Tigers this season...struck out six batters to three walks in 10.2 relief innings...made his Major League debut on June 22, 1996...pitched two seasons for SIU and holds the school's career record in saves (19)...played with Michael Jordan at Double-A Birmingham in 1994...was part of the Angels' World Series championship team in 2002.
Jeff Stanek (1999-02)
One other former Saluki who was playing pro ball last year was Jeff Stanek...he was recently released by the Arizona Diamondbacks.