May 9, 2010
STANFORD, Calif.-- Stanford Baseball continues to have a few former players excelling in pro ball, with one, former Johnny Bench Award winner, Jason Castro, catching Saturday Night Live alum Will Ferrell in a promotional bit for the Round Rock Express last week.
Ferrell, playing the role of "Rojo" Johnson was caught by Stanford All-American Jason Castro. Watch the You Tube video here.
Castro is one of nine players in Triple-A, and joins Nationals prospect and closer-in-waiting Drew Storen and A's outfielder Michael Taylor, looking for their first callups.
Storen recently got called up after an 0.96 ERA and four saves over seven games in Double-A Harrisburg. Since joining Triple-A Syracuse, he has a 2.45 ERA. The first round pick and 10th overall selection a year ago is in his second pro season.
Former Major Leaguers Joe Borchard and Chris Carter are looking for a return to the Majors. Borchard, in the Giants system with Triple-A Fresno is batting .351 with 23 RBIs and a .617 slugging percentage over 28 games. Carter, who just missed making the Mets out of spring training, is batting .337 with Triple-A Buffalo with a .604 slugging percentage and five homers.
Cord Phelps is having a nice season with Double-A Akron. The third round pick in 2008 is batting .365 over the first 25 games. James Rapoport, a 35th round pick of the Cardinals in 2006, is batting .325 over the first 24 games as the starting centerfielder for Double-A Springfield.
This season, Stanford has six players in the Majors and nearly two dozen playing professionally in the minors.