Spartans Well Represented On Minor League Rosters

TAMPA, Fla. - A total of 11 former University of Tampa baseball players are currently listed on rosters of minor league baseball teams. Each of the 11 are also affiliated with Major League Baseball organizations.

A pair of players are currently at the Triple A level, as each have also played in the majors. Charlie Manning is pitching for the Memphis Redbirds, the AAA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Manning spent part of the 2008 season with the Washington Nationals.

Mike Rabelo, who has had major league stints with both the Detroit Tigers and the Florida Marlins, is presently with the New Orleans Zephyrs. The Zephyrs are the AAA team for the Marlins.

Pitcher Sergio Perez has enjoyed a fabulous start to the 2009 season as the ace of the Corpus Christi Hooks. At the Houston Astros Double A team, Perez is 2-0 while sporting a 0.82 ERA in a pair of outings. He has also been listed as one of the organization's top prospects by Baseball America.

Catcher JR Hopf and outfielder Lee Cruz are also on AA rosters, while Hopf is with the Huntsville Stars of the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Cruz, UT's all-time home run leader, is in the Chicago White Sox system with the Birmingham Barons.

A total of six Spartans are presently playing Single A baseball, including Nolan Brannon, Craig Corrado, Paul Cruz, Kevin Ferguson, Jonathan Holt and Chris Rosenbaum. Among them, Corrado, Holt and Rosenbaum are at the high A level. Corrado is with the Lancaster Jet Hawks (Astros) while Holt plays for the Kinston Indians (Cleveland Indians). Rosenbaum is active with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Los Angeles Angels).

Paul Cruz, a member of the Cardinals organization, was promoted from short-season to the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Midwest League. Nolan Brannon and Kevin Ferguson each play for the Angels, where they remain with the Arizona League team.

"We are extremely proud of each of these individuals," says UT head coach Joe Urso. "It takes a lot of hard work to get to this level and it is a reflection of the University as well as the strong tradition of this baseball program."

To follow these players, please visit the official site of Minor League Baseball