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<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_6250.png" height="270" width="180" style="float:right;border:2px solid black;margin-right:63px;margin-left:14px;margin-bottom:14px;margin-top:14px;">PORTLAND, ME — The Maine Guides announced today top prospects Jaylen Sifford and Dave Toste will join the club for the home series against Pittsburgh when play resumes following the All-Star break.
Sifford, a 24-year-old second baseman chosen in the first round in 2009 out of the University of Texas, batted .295 in 78 games at AAA this season.
Baseball News Network ranked him the 56th best prospect in baseball earlier this year.
Known for his left-handed bat and sure glove, the sturdy second baseman will start at the position for Maine going forward.
The release of longtime infielder Tristan Romarigues on Monday opened the infield spot for Sifford.
William Kroll looks to slide back to shortstop to make room, while Oscar Vargas takes up a bench role that better suits his gifts.
<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_5708.png" height="270" width="180" style="float:right;border:2px solid black;margin-right:63px;margin-left:14px;margin-bottom:14px;margin-top:14px;">The 23-year-old Toste arrives in Maine with much fanfare.
The organization dealt three first round picks to California in order to draft the Oklahoma State right-hander with the third overall selection in the 2010 draft.
Toste entered the professional ranks with a storied college résumé that included an NCAA Outstanding Pitcher Award and College World Series championships in his junior and senior seasons at Oklahoma State.
A sinkerballer who throws in the low-to-mid 90s, Toste's arsenal also includes a slider and an above-average changeup that makes him effective against left-handed hitters.
His strong performance in the minor league ranks suggests a young pitcher prepared for the challenges of joining a team in a pennant race.
In his three July starts at AAA-affiliate Portsmouth, Toste posted a 2-0 record with a 1.08 ERA, striking out 17 batters in 25 innings while permitting six walks and a meager nine hits.
Earlier this year, Baseball News Network placed Toste 25th overall in their prospect rankings.
With the Guides' rotation holding strong with a league-best 3.08 ERA between them, Toste slides into a bullpen role that includes high-leverage work in the late innings.
Sources suggested the organization expects Toste to step into the rotation next season following the expected offseason departure of Robby Aten. Despite ongoing speculation that Aten could be on the move much sooner—perhaps even before the trade deadline—no such deal appears imminent.
The two former Big 12 players Sifford and Toste bolster a club that entered the All-Star break with a 53-35 record that ranks second in the Domestic League and third in all Brewers League Baseball—yet, also second in the always-competitive Ale division.
With Pittsburgh and Pawtucket mounting strong challenges as they have for many years, any extra firepower at the BLB-level looks to come in handy.
Sifford, a 24-year-old second baseman chosen in the first round in 2009 out of the University of Texas, batted .295 in 78 games at AAA this season.
Baseball News Network ranked him the 56th best prospect in baseball earlier this year.
Known for his left-handed bat and sure glove, the sturdy second baseman will start at the position for Maine going forward.
The release of longtime infielder Tristan Romarigues on Monday opened the infield spot for Sifford.
William Kroll looks to slide back to shortstop to make room, while Oscar Vargas takes up a bench role that better suits his gifts.
<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_5708.png" height="270" width="180" style="float:right;border:2px solid black;margin-right:63px;margin-left:14px;margin-bottom:14px;margin-top:14px;">The 23-year-old Toste arrives in Maine with much fanfare.
The organization dealt three first round picks to California in order to draft the Oklahoma State right-hander with the third overall selection in the 2010 draft.
Toste entered the professional ranks with a storied college résumé that included an NCAA Outstanding Pitcher Award and College World Series championships in his junior and senior seasons at Oklahoma State.
A sinkerballer who throws in the low-to-mid 90s, Toste's arsenal also includes a slider and an above-average changeup that makes him effective against left-handed hitters.
His strong performance in the minor league ranks suggests a young pitcher prepared for the challenges of joining a team in a pennant race.
In his three July starts at AAA-affiliate Portsmouth, Toste posted a 2-0 record with a 1.08 ERA, striking out 17 batters in 25 innings while permitting six walks and a meager nine hits.
Earlier this year, Baseball News Network placed Toste 25th overall in their prospect rankings.
With the Guides' rotation holding strong with a league-best 3.08 ERA between them, Toste slides into a bullpen role that includes high-leverage work in the late innings.
Sources suggested the organization expects Toste to step into the rotation next season following the expected offseason departure of Robby Aten. Despite ongoing speculation that Aten could be on the move much sooner—perhaps even before the trade deadline—no such deal appears imminent.
The two former Big 12 players Sifford and Toste bolster a club that entered the All-Star break with a 53-35 record that ranks second in the Domestic League and third in all Brewers League Baseball—yet, also second in the always-competitive Ale division.
With Pittsburgh and Pawtucket mounting strong challenges as they have for many years, any extra firepower at the BLB-level looks to come in handy.
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