Tar Heel Times

Mariners' Ackley picks up his first RBI in AFL rout

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:25:00 -0400

Dustin Ackley made sure his first swing as a Mariner was memorable, taking a four-seamer from Brandon Sisk (Royals) into left field for a base hit in his unofficial pro debut with the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League. Eight games later, the highly touted prospect added another check to his pro resume, driving in his first RBI in a Mariners uniform in the Javelinas' 12-5 rout of the Surprise Rafters on Saturday night.

Hansbrough, Ackley, Averbuch To Receive UNC's Patterson Medals

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:54:00 -0400

Tyler Hansbrough, ACC basketball's all-time leading scorer, College World Series hits leader Dustin Ackley and Yael Averbuch, a national player and scholar-athlete of the year in women's soccer, are the recipients of the 2009 Patterson Medal, the most prestigious award presented to student-athletes at the University of North Carolina.

(Alex) White Christmas in Arizona

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:40:00 -0400

It felt like Christmas in October seeing 2009 1st rounder Alex White on the mound and pitching for the Indians. It may have been a buzzer beater at the signing deadline in mid-August, but he is now 100% the property of the Indians and has since been working out in various places looking to gain some ground that was lost because he signed so late.

Mariners' Dustin Ackley aces first test

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:42:00 -0400

Dustin Ackley made sure his first swing as a Seattle Mariner was memorable. The No. 2 overall Draft pick took a four-seamer from reliever Brandon Sisk (Royals) into left field for a third-inning base hit in his unofficial professional debut with the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League. Ackley later scored on Trayvon Robinson's triple and went 2-for-4 on Wednesday afternoon.

Dustin Ackley to play all three outfield positions, DH

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:39:00 -0400

The first of many adjustments Dustin Ackley faces during his journey from being the second overall Draft selection to becoming a mainstay in the Mariners' outfield occurred Tuesday afternoon. The Peoria Javelinas played their Arizona Fall League opener, and Ackley was not in the starting lineup, something he could not recall happening when he was physically able to play. But he smiled and said it was no big deal.

Mariners ready to see what they have in Dustin Ackley

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:52:00 -0400

More than four months after the Seattle Mariners selected him with the second overall pick in the June draft, outfielder Dustin Ackley will suit up for his first professional game today. Ackley and seven other Mariners prospects play for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League, which begins its season this afternoon. Let the lofty expectations begin? Not yet, says Pedro Grifol, the Mariners' minor league director.

Red Sox reliever Daniel Bard describes disappointing finish

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:12:00 -0400

Red Sox reliever Daniel Bard has been ESPNBoston.com's playoff correspondent. Moments after Boston's 7-6 Game 3 loss, and Anaheim's ALDS sweep, he took time to look back on the team's short playoff run and his own rookie season from inside a very solemn Red Sox clubhouse. "I'm not feeling very good right now. This ending is not how we would have planned it, obviously."

Tales from Bard on life in the playoffs

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:29:00 -0400

"The experience of my first playoffs has been pretty cool, even if we aren't happy to be down two games. The atmosphere out there was unbelievable. I made my debut in Anaheim back in May. I remember thinking this was the big leagues. This is that same park, but now it's on a whole other level. The way the fans are into every time a guy gets on base and everyone is on their feet the whole time."

Dustin Ackley to begin pro career in AA

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:12:00 -0400

Q: What is the plan for Dustin Ackley next season? Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik: He has been in Arizona working out with our staff since the beginning of September. He's made a very nice impression in a short period of time as a hitter, defensively and with his speed. We think he will be somewhat of a fast-track player and probably will start the year in AA.

How Daniel Bard got his groove (and career) back

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:56:00 -0400

The legend of Daniel Bard was born three years ago at this time. A first-round pick in the 2006 draft, Bard made his professional debut in the Florida Instructional League. And there, the young pitcher made heads turn. Word circulated quickly. Bard was firing his fastball at — and in excess of — 100 miles per hour. Everyone who witnessed him throw was dazzled by the apparent effortlessness of his ability to generate incredible velocity.

Ackley among prospects to watch in Arizona Fall League

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:53:00 -0400

Dustin Ackley, 1B/OF, Mariners: Still recovering from Tommy John surgery, it will be interesting to see if he gets time in center field in the AFL, the position he should play in the majors. As a high draft pick with five-tool talent, expectations for him will be high, as will the pressure he feels making his professional debut.

Iannetta's HR gives Rockies 3-game wild-card lead

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:41:00 -0400

After feeling his pain for so long, Chris Iannetta's teammates relished the chance to mob him at home plate when his homer in the 11th inning gave the Colorado Rockies a 7-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Daniel Bard Interview

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:54:00 -0400

David Glenn caught up with Daniel Bard of the Boston Red Sox. Bard got his 2nd win of the season last night. Bard talks about making the switch from being a starter to a reliever.

Portland latest stop for Russ Adams

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:01:00 -0400

Laurinburg native Russ Adams has moved on from the Toronto Blue Jays organization, and is trying to get back to the show with the San Diego Padres. The Blue Jays designated Adams for assignment on July 3, marking the second time the organization that took him as the 14th overall pick in 2002 had done that this year.

Daniel Bard has become a trustworthy option for Red Sox

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:55:00 -0400

Back in mid-May, Daniel Bard was just a young reliever trying to find his place in a loaded Red Sox bullpen. Considering his competition, Bard had every reason to feel overwhelmed. But now, four months into his first big league campaign, the only ones feeling overwhelmed are the hitters standing in the batter's box against the flame-throwing right-hander.

Luke Putkonen will make first pro playoff start in must-win game

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:29:00 -0400

Luke Putkonen pitched on the grandest stage in college baseball while playing for UNC. As a sophomore, he started for the Tar Heels in the championship game of the 2007 College World Series. North Carolina lost to Oregon State, 9-3. Putkonen will get his first taste of playoff baseball at the professional level when he takes the hill for the West Michigan Whitecaps on Friday night.

Thinking hard about Bard

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:25:00 -0400

Billy Wagner was sprawled out on the couch in the clubhouse in St. Petersburg, Fla., earlier this week sharing stories, when he turned to Daniel Bard, sitting on the adjacent chair, and tried to spin a yarn about Randy Myers. Problem was, in the year in question, Bard was just 10 years old. Wagner shook his head. But the age difference - it’s 14 years - has hardly stopped Wagner from seeing a bit of his old self in the 24-year-old Bard.

Dustin Ackley gets chance to meet Mariners

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:13:00 -0400

Dustin Ackley, who was Seattle's second overall pick in June's draft out of North Carolina, was formally introduced yesterday at Safeco Field, two weeks after he agreed to a five-year major-league contract worth $7.5 million. He was then given an oversized practice jersey with his college number 13 on the back. It made Ackley, 21, look smaller and younger than his listed 6-1 and 184 pounds. Ken Griffey Jr. loved that.

Dustin Ackley gets acclimated to Seattle

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:19:00 -0400

It may still be a while before the Mariners' first-round pick in June's First-Year Player Draft suits up and sees his name in the lineup, but Seattle fans got a chance to catch their first glimpse of Dustin Ackley prior to Monday's series opener against the Angels. Ackley, the No. 2 overall pick in the Draft, was introduced at an afternoon news conference and took batting practice with the team, allowing fans to get a look at the outfielder/first baseman of the future.

Alex White learns Indians' ways

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:22:00 -0400

Since right-handed pitcher Alex White tossed 107 innings in 16 starts as a junior at the University of North Carolina, and then didn't sign with the Tribe until two minutes before the Aug. 15 deadline, it was deemed too late to join even a short-season squad. So the Indians brass went with Plan B and told the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder to just hang out with the Double-A Aeros while he works to get his arm back in shape.