Yankee 21
01-23-2002, 06:48 PM
Sojo among 19 non-roster invitees
Elster, Alexander also invited to Spring Training
By Mark Feinsand
Yankees.com
NEW YORK -- Fan favorite and 2000 World Series hero Luis Sojo is among 19 non-roster players that have been invited to the New York Yankees' Spring Training camp in Tampa, Fla.
The non-roster invitees include eight pitchers, three catchers, seven infielders and three outfielders.
Sojo, who announced after the 2001 World Series that he would retire if he was not re-signed by the Yankees, will have an opportunity to compete for a utility infield position this spring. The 36-year-old Sojo drove in the World Series-winning run in Game 5 of the 2000 Subway Series, clinching the Yankees' 26th title. He has been a part of all four of Joe Torre's world championship teams, batting .262 (192-for-733) with four home runs and 86 RBIs in 271 games.
Also invited to camp is Kevin Elster, who played in the Bronx in 1994 and '95. Elster, 37, did not play professional baseball in 2001, but has spent parts of 12 seasons in the Majors, including seven seasons with the New York Mets (1986-'92). In 940 games, Elster has a .228 average with 88 HRs and 376 RBIs.
Here is a list of the Yankees' other non-roster invitees, in alphabetical order:
Infielder Manny Alexander, 30, spent the 2001 season with Triple-A Tacoma (Seattle Mariners). He batted .282 (97-for-344) in 97 games with 26 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 51 RBIs. Alexander spent parts of nine seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, batting .234 (280-for-1198) with 15 HRs, 108 RBIs and 37 stolen bases in 541 games.
Infielder Kurt Bierek, 29, played 105 games at Triple-A Toledo (Detroit Tigers) and batted .272 (107-for-394), which was ninth among Tigers minor-leaguers. He also had 27 doubles, 16 homers and 53 RBIs.
Right-handed pitcher Jeremy Blevins, 24, spent the entire 2001 season with Double-A Norwich, going 1-6 with a 2.98 ERA and six saves in 50 games. He allowed 46 hits, 30 runs, 21 earned runs and 26 walks in 63 1/3 innings pitched, striking out 63 while holding opponents to a career-best .198 batting average.
Infielder Kary Bridges, 29, spent the 2001 season with Triple-A Columbus after signing with the Yankees on Nov. 16, 2000. He led the Clippers with a .297 average and 121 hits in 109 games. Bridges was third in the International League in strikeouts per total plate appearances (1/15.66) and had a 20-game hitting streak from June 22-July 13.
Right-handed pitcher John Dillinger, 28, played entire season with the Triple-A Syracuse (Toronto Blue Jays), pitching in 26 games and posting a career-high 11-7 record with one complete-game shutout on May 12, allowing 150 hits, 79 runs and 69 earned runs in 155 2/3 innings, striking out 108.
Right-handed pitcher Bo Donaldson, 27, split time between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Nashville (Pittsburgh Pirates) in 2001 before being traded to Triple-A Portland (San Diego Padres). He combined to go 4-2 with five saves and a 2.10 ERA in 19 games with Altoona and Nashville.
Outfielder Kevin Gibbs, 27, did not play in 2001 due to a right shoulder strain. He was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth-round of the 1995 First-Year Player Draft and has played his entire minor-league career in the Dodgers’ organization, batting .298 (338-for-1135) with five home runs and 109 RBIs.
Catcher Creighton Gubanich, 29, began the season with Triple-A Indianapolis (Milwaukee Brewers) and batted .181 (15-for-83) in 30 games with two home runs and four RBIs. He was released by the Brewers organization (on July 14) and signed by the Chicago White Sox organization (July 17). He batted .246 (28-for-114) in 32 games with three doubles, seven homers and 19 RBIs on the season with Triple-A Charlotte.
Left-handed pitcher Eric Gunderson, 35, started the season with Triple-A Buffalo (Cleveland Indians) and made two appearances in relief (2.0 IP, 0 ER). He was released by the Indians on April 11 and signed by the New York Yankees the following day. Gunderson spent the remainder of the season at Triple-A Columbus, going 2-4 record with six saves and a 3.05 ERA in 56 games (73.2 IP, 70 H, 25 ER, 24 BB, 60 K).
Outfielder Jalal Leach, 32, made his Major-League debut on Sept. 5 with San Francisco, and recorded his first big-league hit and RBI on Sept. 19 vs. Houston. Leach hit .285 (133-for-467) with 30 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 70 RBIs and stole 13 bases in 130 games with Triple-A Fresno (San Francisco Giants).
Left-handed pitcher Kevin Lovingier, 30, split the season between Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Norwich, combining for a 3-7 record with a 2.17 ERA in 60 games (24 ER, 99.2 IP). He held lefties to a .150 batting average, while righties hit just .209 on the season.
Catcher Dave Parrish, 22, was promoted to Class-A Tampa Yankees of the Florida State League and batted .253 (93-for-367) with 25 doubles, six home runs and 49 RBIs in 115 games. He was named to the FSL All-Star Team. He was originally selected by the Yankees in the first-round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft.
Infielder Kevin Polcovich, 31, spent the entire season with Triple-A Memphis (St. Louis Cardinals) and batted .295 (54-for-183) in 72 games with three home runs and 20 RBIs. He batted .750 (3-for-4) as a designated hitter, .323 (29-for-89) with runners on base and .346 (18-for-52) with runners in scoring position.
Infielder Ivan Reyes, 20, split the season between the Class-A Tampa Yankees and Class-A Greensboro Bats. He combined to bat .253 (44-for-174) with eight home runs 24 RBIs in 54 games.
Infielder-outfielder F.P. Santangelo, 34, spent the first four months of the season at Triple-A Sacramento (Oakland Athletics) before being called up to Oakland on July 31. He appeared in 32 games with the A's and batted .197 with eight RBIs. Santangelo spent the balance of the season with Sacramento where he batted .202 (38-for-188) with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 71 games. Santangelo has also spent time with the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants over seven seasons in the Majors.
Right-handed pitcher Jay Tessmer, 30, started the season with Triple-A Colorado Springs (Colorado Rockies) and was 1-0 with a 6.59 ERA in 10 games allowing 23 hits, 14 runs and 10 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings. He was traded to the Brewers organization on May 12, 2001 and finished the season with Triple-A Indianapolis, going 7-5 with four saves and a 2.79 ERA in 35 relief appearances.
Catcher Victor Valencia, 24, spent the entire season with Double-A Chattanooga (Cincinnati Reds), where he batted .230 (53-for-230) with six home runs and 33 RBIs in 76 games. The Yankees originally signed him as a non-drafted free agent on July 22, 1993.
Elster, Alexander also invited to Spring Training
By Mark Feinsand
Yankees.com
NEW YORK -- Fan favorite and 2000 World Series hero Luis Sojo is among 19 non-roster players that have been invited to the New York Yankees' Spring Training camp in Tampa, Fla.
The non-roster invitees include eight pitchers, three catchers, seven infielders and three outfielders.
Sojo, who announced after the 2001 World Series that he would retire if he was not re-signed by the Yankees, will have an opportunity to compete for a utility infield position this spring. The 36-year-old Sojo drove in the World Series-winning run in Game 5 of the 2000 Subway Series, clinching the Yankees' 26th title. He has been a part of all four of Joe Torre's world championship teams, batting .262 (192-for-733) with four home runs and 86 RBIs in 271 games.
Also invited to camp is Kevin Elster, who played in the Bronx in 1994 and '95. Elster, 37, did not play professional baseball in 2001, but has spent parts of 12 seasons in the Majors, including seven seasons with the New York Mets (1986-'92). In 940 games, Elster has a .228 average with 88 HRs and 376 RBIs.
Here is a list of the Yankees' other non-roster invitees, in alphabetical order:
Infielder Manny Alexander, 30, spent the 2001 season with Triple-A Tacoma (Seattle Mariners). He batted .282 (97-for-344) in 97 games with 26 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 51 RBIs. Alexander spent parts of nine seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, batting .234 (280-for-1198) with 15 HRs, 108 RBIs and 37 stolen bases in 541 games.
Infielder Kurt Bierek, 29, played 105 games at Triple-A Toledo (Detroit Tigers) and batted .272 (107-for-394), which was ninth among Tigers minor-leaguers. He also had 27 doubles, 16 homers and 53 RBIs.
Right-handed pitcher Jeremy Blevins, 24, spent the entire 2001 season with Double-A Norwich, going 1-6 with a 2.98 ERA and six saves in 50 games. He allowed 46 hits, 30 runs, 21 earned runs and 26 walks in 63 1/3 innings pitched, striking out 63 while holding opponents to a career-best .198 batting average.
Infielder Kary Bridges, 29, spent the 2001 season with Triple-A Columbus after signing with the Yankees on Nov. 16, 2000. He led the Clippers with a .297 average and 121 hits in 109 games. Bridges was third in the International League in strikeouts per total plate appearances (1/15.66) and had a 20-game hitting streak from June 22-July 13.
Right-handed pitcher John Dillinger, 28, played entire season with the Triple-A Syracuse (Toronto Blue Jays), pitching in 26 games and posting a career-high 11-7 record with one complete-game shutout on May 12, allowing 150 hits, 79 runs and 69 earned runs in 155 2/3 innings, striking out 108.
Right-handed pitcher Bo Donaldson, 27, split time between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Nashville (Pittsburgh Pirates) in 2001 before being traded to Triple-A Portland (San Diego Padres). He combined to go 4-2 with five saves and a 2.10 ERA in 19 games with Altoona and Nashville.
Outfielder Kevin Gibbs, 27, did not play in 2001 due to a right shoulder strain. He was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth-round of the 1995 First-Year Player Draft and has played his entire minor-league career in the Dodgers’ organization, batting .298 (338-for-1135) with five home runs and 109 RBIs.
Catcher Creighton Gubanich, 29, began the season with Triple-A Indianapolis (Milwaukee Brewers) and batted .181 (15-for-83) in 30 games with two home runs and four RBIs. He was released by the Brewers organization (on July 14) and signed by the Chicago White Sox organization (July 17). He batted .246 (28-for-114) in 32 games with three doubles, seven homers and 19 RBIs on the season with Triple-A Charlotte.
Left-handed pitcher Eric Gunderson, 35, started the season with Triple-A Buffalo (Cleveland Indians) and made two appearances in relief (2.0 IP, 0 ER). He was released by the Indians on April 11 and signed by the New York Yankees the following day. Gunderson spent the remainder of the season at Triple-A Columbus, going 2-4 record with six saves and a 3.05 ERA in 56 games (73.2 IP, 70 H, 25 ER, 24 BB, 60 K).
Outfielder Jalal Leach, 32, made his Major-League debut on Sept. 5 with San Francisco, and recorded his first big-league hit and RBI on Sept. 19 vs. Houston. Leach hit .285 (133-for-467) with 30 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 70 RBIs and stole 13 bases in 130 games with Triple-A Fresno (San Francisco Giants).
Left-handed pitcher Kevin Lovingier, 30, split the season between Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Norwich, combining for a 3-7 record with a 2.17 ERA in 60 games (24 ER, 99.2 IP). He held lefties to a .150 batting average, while righties hit just .209 on the season.
Catcher Dave Parrish, 22, was promoted to Class-A Tampa Yankees of the Florida State League and batted .253 (93-for-367) with 25 doubles, six home runs and 49 RBIs in 115 games. He was named to the FSL All-Star Team. He was originally selected by the Yankees in the first-round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft.
Infielder Kevin Polcovich, 31, spent the entire season with Triple-A Memphis (St. Louis Cardinals) and batted .295 (54-for-183) in 72 games with three home runs and 20 RBIs. He batted .750 (3-for-4) as a designated hitter, .323 (29-for-89) with runners on base and .346 (18-for-52) with runners in scoring position.
Infielder Ivan Reyes, 20, split the season between the Class-A Tampa Yankees and Class-A Greensboro Bats. He combined to bat .253 (44-for-174) with eight home runs 24 RBIs in 54 games.
Infielder-outfielder F.P. Santangelo, 34, spent the first four months of the season at Triple-A Sacramento (Oakland Athletics) before being called up to Oakland on July 31. He appeared in 32 games with the A's and batted .197 with eight RBIs. Santangelo spent the balance of the season with Sacramento where he batted .202 (38-for-188) with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 71 games. Santangelo has also spent time with the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants over seven seasons in the Majors.
Right-handed pitcher Jay Tessmer, 30, started the season with Triple-A Colorado Springs (Colorado Rockies) and was 1-0 with a 6.59 ERA in 10 games allowing 23 hits, 14 runs and 10 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings. He was traded to the Brewers organization on May 12, 2001 and finished the season with Triple-A Indianapolis, going 7-5 with four saves and a 2.79 ERA in 35 relief appearances.
Catcher Victor Valencia, 24, spent the entire season with Double-A Chattanooga (Cincinnati Reds), where he batted .230 (53-for-230) with six home runs and 33 RBIs in 76 games. The Yankees originally signed him as a non-drafted free agent on July 22, 1993.