Prep baseball: Catching up with some area draft picks

(minorleaguebaseball.com)

Now that Palmetto grad Granden Goetman has begun his professional baseball career with the Gulf Coast Rays, we check in to see how other area draft picks are faring on their road to the big leagues.

If you know of any we may have missed, please email me at jlembo@bradenton.com.

MICHAEL OHLMAN - Ohlman, pictured above, was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 11th round of the 2009 draft, and is currently with the franchise's Single-A affiliate in Delmarva. In 51 games this season, the Lakewood Ranch grad is hitting .247 with three home runs and 23 RBIs and a .367 slugging percentage. Ohlman, 20, has been behind the plate for 41 games and has thrown out 26 percent of runners trying to steal.

J.R. MURPHY - The New York Yankees selected this Pendleton School alum during the second round of the '09 draft, and like Ohlman, Murphy is playing with his team's Single-A club based out of the South Atlantic League. Murphy, 20, is hitting .297 with the Charleston RiverDogs and is sixth in the league in hits (76) and tied for first in doubles (23). He has driven in 23 runs and slugged six home runs while slugging a .476 clip, and has split time between third base, catcher and DH. Both Ohlman and Murphy have been picked for tonight's SAL All-Star Game.

TYLER PASTORNICKY - Another Pendleton grad, Pastornicky was picked by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2008 and dealt to the Atlanta Braves last summer. A shortstop, the 21-year-old Pastornicky is hitting .301 with the Braves' Double-A team in Mississippi, with 14 stolen bases (good for fifth in the Southern League) and 33 RBIs in 66 games.

RYAN POPE - The Bayshore grad made history in 2007 when the New York Yankees made him the first baseball player drafted out of the Savannah College of Art and Design. A third-round pick, the 25-year-old Pope is with the Yankees' Triple-A team in Scranton/Wikes-Barre, but has struggled. He is 2-1 with a 8.14 ERA in 14 games, allowing 19 earned runs and 29 hits in 21 innings. Pope showed promise last year, when he saved 17 games and posted 4.20 ERA with the Yanks' Double-A club in Trenton.

Prep baseball: Bayshore's Ryan Pope off to Triple-A

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie)

Bayshore graduate Ryan Pope begins the baseball season one step closer toward becoming a major-leaguer.

Pope is on the roster of the New York Yankees' Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

The pitcher spent all of last season with the organization's Double-A team in Trenton, N.J, and this is the first time he has cracked a Triple-A roster, and he is on the seven-day disabled list.

Pope, who is also listed on the Yankees' 40-man roster, pitched out of the bullpen for the majority of last season and recorded 17 saves with the Thunder.

The Yankees took Pope, who graduated from Bayshore in '04, during the third round of the 2007 draft, making him the first player ever drafted from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Prep baseball: Bayshore's Pope sent to Double-A

(photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie) Bayshore graduate Ryan Pope, a reliever in the New York Yankees organization, was reassigned to the team's Double-A affiliate in Trenton, N.J. last week, according to Wallace Matthews with ESPN New York. Pope made six appearances with the Yankees this spring, posting a 3.60 ERA in five innings. He allowed five hits and two earned runs, struck out five, walked none and hit a batter. He made his spring debut this year at McKechnie Field, where he tossed a perfect inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pope graduated from Bayshore in 2004 and was chosen by the Yankees in third round of the '07 draft. He was the first baseball player to be drafted out of the Savannah College of Art and Design. Pope spent all of last season in Trenton, posting 17 saves and a 4.20 ERA.

Prep baseball: Pope perfect for Yanks

(photo from NJ.com)

BRADENTON - Bayshore's Ryan Pope tossed a perfect inning of relief for the Yankees, who fell 2-0 to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday at McKechnie Field.
Check out Wednesday's edition of The Bradenton Herald to read about Pope's happy return home.

Prep baseball: Bayshore grad Pope joins Yanks at McKechnie

(photo from nj.com)

BRADENTON - Bayshore alum Ryan Pope is in Bradenton today with the New York Yankees.
A right-handed reliever, Pope was picked by the Yankees in the third round of the 2007 draft. He played college baseball at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Pope may pitch an inning in today's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field.