Training camp is underway for the 2010 season, and the Flyers have a trio of former major leaguers working out. Returning from last season is outfield Ben Johnson, joining Fullerton native Keith Ginter and former NL All-Star Byung-Hyun Kim. Kim has been making big news on an international level, returning to baseball after two years away from the game. Here's a sampling of what the web is saying:
Balita-dot-ph: S. Korean pitcher Kim Byung-hyun signs...
Billy-Ball: Byung-Hyun Kim is Korean for...
The Korean Herald: Pitcher Kim Byung-hyun joins...
Giants-Baseball-News-Updates.com
The Raw Feed: MLN Sports
Yonhap News Agency
The Dong-a Ilbo
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Kim brings "Seoul Power" to OC pitching staff
It's official! The Flyers have added World Series Champ and NL All-Star Byung-Hyun Kim for the 2010 season. I know, I know, a lot of you remember lots of NYY home runs, but after that 2001 World Series, Kim bounced back to have his best season in the bigs, making the NL All-Star team in 2002. Many remember him as a reliever, but he did have success as a starter later on during his 9-year MLB career.
My guess would be that if Kim wants to start, and his arm is up for it, then he could be toward the top of the rotation. And yes, "toward the top" but not necessarily the "ace" of the staff considering the years that both Matt Durkin and Jesse Smith are coming off of. Durkin was named GBL pitcher of the year, notching a league-best 11-wins, and Smith wasn't far behind the lead with 10. Now you add B-Kim to the mix, and the Flyers now appear to be one of the stronger pitching team in the GBL.
Here's the official press release from the OC Flyers website:
The Orange County Flyers have agreed to terms with nine-year MLB veteran pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim. The South Korean, who won a World Series with Arizona, was selected to the 2002 National League All-Star team, and he played for South Korea in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. The announcement coincides with the Flyers releasing individual game tickets now on sale through the team website. Kim will provide first-year manager Paul Abbott a major league caliber arm for his pitching rotation in 2010.
Kim, 31, made his Major League debut May 29, 1999, and spent five seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks primarily as the team's closer, leading the team in saves in 2001 and 2002. The submarine-style pitcher is best remembered for surrendering game-tying homeruns in the late innings of Games 4 and 5 of the 2001 World Series to the New York Yankees. The Diamondbacks claimed the title in Game 7 at Bank One Ballpark, earning Kim his first championship.
The reliever followed his uneven World Series performance by showcasing the best season for a closer in Diamondbacks history. Kim recorded a team-record 36 saves on his way to a career-best 2.04 ERA and 8-3 record in 2002, earning a spot on the National League All-Star team.
The Diamondbacks experimented with Kim as a starter in 2003, and despite his 3.56 ERA, he went just 1-5 in seven starts and was traded to the Boston Red Sox in May for Shea Hillenbrand. The Red Sox returned Kim to the bullpen, where he finished 35 games for the club and recorded 16 saves. In 2004, Kim pitched in seven games for the Red Sox due to a past ankle injury that limited his effectiveness. Boston went on to win the World Series that season. In 2005-06, Kim worked his way into the starting rotation for the Colorado Rockies, making 49 starts over two seasons, and going 13-24 in that time. He spent 2007 between Colorado, a return-stint to Arizona, and with the Florida Marlins where he finished his season with 19 starts, going 9-5 with a 5.42 ERA.
This spring, Kim had a brief stint with the San Francisco Giants but was released after one Cactus League appearance in spring training. Harris Tulchin, executive VP of player personnel, inked Kim in an attempt to launch the pitcher's comeback to the Major Leagues.
Kim joins fellow former big-leaguers, infielder Keith Ginter and outfielder Ben Johnson, to give the Flyers plenty of big-league experience as Orange County attempts to become the first two-time GBL Champions.
Flyers individual game tickets are now on sale and available online through the team website at www.OrangeCountyFlyers.com. The Flyers' home opener is on Tuesday, June 15 against the 2009 GBL Champion Calgary Vipers in a match up of the past two GBL Champions.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Tickets on sale!!!
Flyers individual game tickets are now on sale through the team website!The first home game on Tuesday, June 15 will feature a magnet schedule giveaway to the first 500 fans presented by Locallife.com. The Flyers will face the defending GBL Champion Calgary Vipers in the first home series of the year in a match up of the past two GBL Champs. June 16 is a “Weenie Wednesday” with $1 hot dogs available at the concession stands, and the following night features “Thirsty Thursday presented by The Pint House” with $2 beer and soda available. June 18 marks the team’s first “Family Film Friday” with a movie to be shown after the game, and Saturday’s game will be the first “Souvenir Saturday” of the season.
The Flyers have some great giveaways in store, including a hat giveaway on June 26 presented by Outdoor Cap, a dry-fit T-shirt giveaway presented by Cunning Dental on July 10, and a 6-pack cooler bag giveaway presented by Locallife.com on July 31. The team is also giving away a new bobblehead featuring team owner John Kobylt from KFI AM 640’s “John & Ken Show” on Friday, August 20. The Flyers 2010 promotion schedule is currently available through the team’s ticketing website.
Orange County begins training camp in less than one week with 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.
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.
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.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Coach Auction in OC Register
Check out Jan Norman's write-up on the OC Flyers Coach for a Day auction from the OC Register's online small business blog.
The auction is still going on for a couple more days. Leave a comment, and let us know what you think. A half-dozen folks are following the auction, and we'll see if the bidding heats up as the clock ticks down.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Coach for a Day Auction
The Flyers are trailing, 2-1, in a tight game in the eighth inning. The speedy leadoff man takes his lead off first base. He's already been caught stealing once tonight. With two outs, and our batter behind in the count, are we sending the runner to second to get into scoring position? Well, Coach, you make the call.
The Orange County Flyers are auctioning off a chance for one lucky fan to serve as "Coach for a Day" during the 2010 season. The winning bidder will receive a personalized Flyers home uniform and warm up jacket, spend the entire day with the team - from pre-game warm ups and batting practice, all the way through the post-game meal in the clubhouse.
You'll be alongside Flyers manager and former Major Leaguer Paul Abbott, guiding the Flyerswhile experiencing the camaraderie and excitement of life in the dugout. As Coach for the Day, you will be working with players who have tasted Major League success as well as the games brightest rising stars.
The auction will be hosted through eBay with a minimum starting bid of only $2,500.00. Please refer to the attached advertisement for a complete list of everything the winning bidder will receive as Coach for a Day.
The Orange County Flyers are auctioning off a chance for one lucky fan to serve as "Coach for a Day" during the 2010 season. The winning bidder will receive a personalized Flyers home uniform and warm up jacket, spend the entire day with the team - from pre-game warm ups and batting practice, all the way through the post-game meal in the clubhouse.
You'll be alongside Flyers manager and former Major Leaguer Paul Abbott, guiding the Flyerswhile experiencing the camaraderie and excitement of life in the dugout. As Coach for the Day, you will be working with players who have tasted Major League success as well as the games brightest rising stars.
The auction will be hosted through eBay with a minimum starting bid of only $2,500.00. Please refer to the attached advertisement for a complete list of everything the winning bidder will receive as Coach for a Day.
Monday, April 26, 2010
MLB veteran Ginter joins Flyers
Paul Abbott and the Flyers are hard at work building a strong team for 2010. Today the Flyers have announced six-year MLB veteran Keith Ginter will join the squad, bringing plenty of experience and veteran leadership to the infield. Here's the official release from the team:
FULLERTON-NATIVE GINTER TO SOLIDIFY O.C. INFIELD
Former Texas League MVP spent six seasons in Major Leagues
ANAHEIM, Calif. (April 26, 2010) – The Orange County Flyers have agreed to terms with Fullerton native Keith Ginter, a six-year MLB veteran, to shore up the team’s infield in 2010. Ginter, who turns 34 the week before training camp, played primarily second- and third-base in his big-league career.
After graduating from Fullerton High School, Ginter was named a Big 12 Conference All-Star in 1997 and 1998 while playing for Texas Tech. The Houston Astros selected him in the 10th round of the 1998 draft (302 overall). In 2000, Ginter earned Texas League (AA) MVP Honors with Astros’ affiliate Round Rock Express before making his Major League debut for Houston Sept. 20, 2000.
The Astros traded Ginter to Milwaukee for Mark Loretta in late 2002, where he became a regular member of the Brewers lineup, playing both second- and third-base through 2004. In 2003, he played a career-high 127 games in the big leagues, batting .257 with 14 homeruns and 44 RBI. He improved the following year, batting .262 with 19 homeruns and 60 RBI in 113 games. The Brewers traded Ginter to Oakland prior to the 2005 season, where he played 51 games for the A’s. He has spent the last four seasons playing at the Triple-A level for Oakland, Cleveland, Boston and the Chicago White Sox.
In six MLB seasons, Ginter played in 325 games, batting .243 with 38 homeruns, 140 RBI, and an on-base percentage of .329. He has amassed 1,012 hits in 11 minor league seasons, batting .275 with 121 homeruns and 544 RBI in that time.
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