Sunday, May 2, 2010

14 from '09 squad prepare for training camp

Flyers training camp in now one week away, and the team will have 14 members from last season’s team on hand. Training camp will be held daily at Fullerton College starting May 9 and is open to the public. The team has already added the big bat former Major Leaguer Keith Ginter, and with another major announcement on the horizon, the "Freight" returning core should have OC in contention to be the first two-time champion in GBL history.

Here are the players returning from the 2009 Flyers team:

Kevin Altman - P
A former draft pick of the Texas Rangers (16th round, 466 overall) in 2003, Altman spent four years in the Rangers’ minor league system, reaching High-A with Bakersfield in 2007. Last season with the Flyers, he started a career-high seven games, going 2-4 with a 3.68 ERA.

Manny Ayala - P
Ayala began his professional career in the GBL with the Mesa Miners in the inaugural 2005 season, where he set a career-mark with 12 wins. The following year, he was picked up by the San Diego Padres, playing for their Double-A and Triple-A affiliates from 2006-08. After being released from the Philadelphia Phillies affiliate in Clearwater last season, Ayala joined the Flyers, pitching in 10 games with a 3.72 ERA.

Julian Benavidez – 3B
The third baseman led all Flyers with nine homeruns in 2009, to go along with 38 RBI and .310 batting average. Benavidez was drafted by San Francisco in 2001 (3rd round, 106 overall), and played in the Giants system through 2006, reaching Double-A in 2004-05. He has spent the last two seasons in the GBL, playing for the Chico Outlaws in 2008 before joining the Flyers.

Steve Boggs - OF
Boggs returns for his fourth season in the GBL and second with the Flyers after a pair of seasons with the Chico Outlaws (2007-08). After playing college ball at San Diego State University, the outfielder spent three seasons in the Colorado Rockies organization. Last season, Boggs hi .285 with 25 RBI and six doubles while playing in 66 games for the Flyers.

Matt Durkin – SP
Reigning GBL Pitcher of the Year Matt Durkin returns to the Flyers after his best season as a professional. Durkin led the league with 11 wins in 2009, and was top 10 in most pitching categories. The right-handed hurler spent three standout seasons at San Jose State before the New York Mets selected him in the 2nd round (44 overall) of the 2004 draft. This season will be Durkin’s third in a Flyers uniform.

Jim Goethals - C
The former Houston Astros prospect spent last season at catcher for the Flyers. The Northern California native spent four seasons in the Astros farm system, reaching Double-A in 2007 and 2008.

Bryan Harris - P
Harris appeared in 30 games last season for the Flyers, earning 12 saves along with a 1-3 record and 4.97 ERA. He pitched 29 innings, striking out 28 and walking 10. The Seattle Mariners drafted the former Cal State Fullerton Titan in 2007 (22nd round, 675 overall). Harris played as high as Double-A while with the Mariners.

Ben Johnson - OF
A former Major Leaguer who played for the San Diego Padres (2005-06) and New York Mets (2007), Johnson joined the Flyers in August 2009. He played in 14 games with Orange County, batting .239 (11-for-46) with seven extra-base hits. The St. Louis Cardinals selected Johnson in the 4th round (127 overall) of the 1999 draft. In 2005, Johnson was a Triple-A All-Star outfielder and the San Diego Padres Minor League Player of the Year.

Mike Koons - P
The right-handed pitcher worked in relief for the Flyers in 2009, pitching 38.2 innings, going 2-2 with a 3.03 ERA. He struck out 35 and walked 15. After pitching in college for Arizona and San Diego State, he spent two seasons in the Houston Astros system.

Danny Morrow - 2B
The versatile infielder had two stints with the Flyers last season sandwiching 29 games played with the Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League. Morrow hit .260 with Orange County last season, and even pitched in one game, throwing two innings and striking out three batters.

Derek Perren - 1B
The former USC Trojan hit .348 with the Flyers in 2009, playing in 23 games for Orange County. The Southern California native had seven multi-hit games last season. He also scored 13 runs and tallied nine RBI.

Jimmy Rohan - SS
A former prospect of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Rohan had a successful 2009 season with Orange County, his first year in independent baseball. Rohan hit .324 with one homerun and 29 RBI last year after spending six years (2002-07) with the Dodgers. He played in 10 games with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s in 2005.

Andre Simpson - P
Simpson has spent his last three seasons in the Golden Baseball League with Long Beach (2006) and Orange County (2008-09). In 11 minor league seasons, Simpson has a career ERA of 3.86. Last season, he worked exclusively out of the bullpen, striking out 50 and walking 19 in 38 innings of work. His best season came in 2006 while in Long Beach when he started 17 games and struck out 140 batters in 123.1 innings.

Jesse Smith - SP
The Anaheim Angels drafted Smith in the 6th round (180 overall) in 2003, and he spent parts of six seasons in the Angels minor league system. He reached Triple-A in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, Smith helped pitch the Flyers to the GBL Championship, and last season his 10 wins was second-most in the league to teammate Matt Durkin.

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