Sunday, May 12, 2002
Down on the farm
Infield pickup Leon coming on quickly
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Donny Leon is one of those players the Reds took a flyer on. They signed him as a sixth-year minor-league free agent. They sign dozens of players like that each year. It's the chance to get something for nothing.
In Leon's case, it looks as if they got something. Leon, a 26-year-old switch-hitter, was leading the Southern League in home runs (13), RBI (31), runs (33), doubles (14) and slugging percentage (.770) going into the weekend.
Saturday, he was promoted to Triple-A Louisville from Chattanooga.
“We could see him here as an extra player,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said, referring to the Reds. “We've seen you can just as easily go from Double-A to the big leagues as Triple-A.”
Leon spent seven years in the New York Yankees organization. Leon hit .302 with 21 home runs and 100 RBI at Double-A Norwich in 1999.
“He fell out of favor with the Yankees because of attitude problems,” Bowden said. “Jorge Oquendo (the Reds director of international scouting) signed him for the Yankees. He recommended him.”
Leon's attitude has been fine with the Reds.
“He's one of the leaders on that (Chattanooga) team,” said Grant Griesser, assistant director of player development. “He's played well at third. He can also play first or left. He swings just as well right-handed as left-handed.”
HOWINGTON UPDATE: Ty Howington, the No.1 pick in 1999, has started throwing again. Howington has spent the last three weeks in Cincinnati rehabbing his left (throwing) shoulder with Reds physical therapist Lonnie Soloff.
Howington is merely tossing from 30 to 40 feet. There's no date for when Howington will start throwing off the mound. He hopes it is soon.
“I've been anxious since this started,” he said.
A CLASSIC: Philip Wellman, the manager at Double-A Chattanooga, had an ejection worthy of America's Funniest Home Videos the other night. The umpire failed to call out a runner on an apparent caught-stealing.
Wellman came out to argue. Then he recreated the play. He took third baseman Pete Rose Jr.'s glove, put it on the bag, took 10 steps back and slid head-first into the bag. He then jumped up and gave the out sign.
Wellman can be animated.
“That's him,” Adam Dunn said after seeing the video. “He's like that every night.”
Dunn, who played for Wellman last year, tried to call him and give him some grief over getting run.
NICE STAFF: The Reds are pretty well stocked at high-A Stockton as far as starting pitching is concerned. Look at the numbers: Josh Hall (4-0, 2.27 ERA), John Koronka (7-0, 4.50), Ryan Mottl (2-2, 3.73), Ryan Snare (3-1, 4.21) and Dustin Moseley (4-0, 3.34).
That's a combined 20-3.
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Down on the farm
