Mormon Baseball

With spring training beginning this past weekend, we should probably look at which Mormon players are with which teams, including the minor league players who have been invited to play in the early games. I hope to begin weekly updates of player stats on Monday.

Several recent changes have led to changes in this list. First, I was told of a couple of minor league players who are Mormon, Nik Turley and Boone Whiting, and Turley made spring training for the Yankees this year. In addition, the Marlins signed Mitch Talbot to a minor league deal, bringing him back from Korea and several other players have been traded or landed on other teams, including Brandon Lyon and Elliot Johnson.

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Current Roster Players:

• Darwin Barney—second base—Chicago Cubs
  Likely the Cubs’ starting second baseman.
• John Buck — catcher — New York Mets
  Buck is the Mets’ starting catcher — at least until prospect d’Arnaud is ready.
• Jacoby Ellsbury — outfielder — Boston Red Sox
  Will start in center field.
• Kyle Farnsworth — relief pitcher — Tampa Bay Rays
  Expected to be the setup man for closer Fernando Rodney.
• Jeremy Guthrie — starting pitcher (right handed) — Kansas City Royals
  Likely in the Royals’ starting rotation.
• Roy Halladay— starting pitcher (right handed) — Philadelphia Phillies
  Will continue in Phillies’ starting rotation.
• Bryce Harper — left field — Washington Nationals
  Harper is the Nationals’ starting left fielder.
• Elliot Johnson — infielder — Kansas City Royals
  Likely a backup infielder for the Royals.
• Josh Johnson — starting pitcher (right handed) – Toronto Blue Jays
  Johnson will be part of the Blue Jay’s starting rotation.
• Matt Lindstrom — right handed relief pitcher – Chicago White Sox
  Very likely part of the White Sox’ bullpen, perhaps as set up man for closer Reed.
• Brandon Lyon — right handed bullpen pitcher — New York Mets
  Veteran reliever Lyon will be part of the Mets bullpen, sharing setup duties with Parnell for closer Francisco.
• Mitch Maier —  outfielder — Boston Red Sox.
  As a non-Roster invitee, Maier seems to have little chance to make the starting team in April, but will instead begin the year in AAA Pawtucket.
• Clayton Mortensen — right handed relief pitcher —Boston Red Sox
  While Mortensen had strong numbers last year, whether or not he will make the starting bullpen is uncertain.
• Adam Rosales — infield — Oakland A’s
  Currently listed as 3rd for shortstop on the A’s depth chart, which may mean he will start the year in AAA.
• Mitch Talbot — pitcher — Miami Marlins
  Returning to the U.S. after playing as a starting pitcher for the Samsung Lions in Korea, Talbot is a non-roster invitee who could start in AAA.
• Nik Turley — pitcher — New York Yankees
  Pitched in AA last year and is expected to start there again.

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