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 Events

October Gonzo

Winter Leagues: Arizona Fall League: News: Player Journals
2007 Player Journals

Each weekday throughout the 2007 Arizona Fall League season, get a first-hand account of what it's like to be a top prospect competing in the AFL. Steve Hammond, Joe Savery, Andrew McCutchen, John Mayberry Jr., Justin Maxwell and Max Scherzer share their experiences in exclusive journals on MLBFallBall.com.

A 2005 sixth-round pick by Milwaukee out of Long Beach St., Steve Hammond posted sub-3.00 ERAs in five different stops over his first two seasons in the Brewers farm system. The 25-year-old southpaw went 7-9 with a 4.69 at Double-A Huntsville in 2007, helping lead the Stars to the Southern League Championship Series. Hammond is a member of the Mesa Solar Sox.


Perhaps the premier two-way player in the nation while at Rice, Joe Savery was a three-time All-American for the Owls. As a junior, he led his team to the College World Series semifinals, going 11-1 with a 2.99 ERA, while hitting .356 with six homers and 60 RBIs. The 19th overall pick by Philadelphia in 2007, Savery posted a 2.73 ERA for Williamsport in his pro debut and is part of the Peoria Saguaros staff.


Andrew McCutchen is one of the most exciting players in the Pirates farm system. The 11th overall pick in the 2005 Draft, McCutchen earned the organization's Minor League Player of the Year award in his first full season (2006). The Phoenix Desert Dogs outfielder hit .265 with 11 homers and 21 stolen bases between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis during the 2007 regular season.


Stanford product John Mayberry has clubbed 62 homers in his first three Minor League seasons, including a career-high 30 in 2007. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Rangers prospect also stole 16 bases in 18 attempts in splitting the season between Class A Advanced Bakersfield and Double-A Frisco. A Hawaii Winter Baseball All-Star in 2006, Mayberry is part of the Surprise Rafters outfield.


Justin Maxwell exploded onto the scene in his second pro season, nearly reaching the 30-30 plateau between Class A Hagerstown and Class A Advanced Potomac. He then impressed at the Major League level, hitting .304 with a pair of homers and five RBIs in 14 games for Washington. Maxwell, who turned down the chance to attend Harvard in order to play baseball at Maryland, is with the Peoria Javelinas.


The 11th overall pick in the 2006 draft, right-hander Max Scherzer didn't make his pro debut until June of 2007, when he exploded onto the scene at Visalia, going 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA and just two walks vs. 30 strikeouts in three starts for the Oaks. He moved up to Double-A Mobile where he was 4-4 with a 3.91 mark in 14 starts, and finishes off the 2007 season with the Scottsdale Scorpions.