(Provided by Adam Eichstedt)
D-Cubs lose Cashner, Samson and Keedy
DAYTONA BEACH - The Daytona Cubs have been an offensive force since the All-Star break, and now the lineup is set to get even better. The top overall prospect in the Chicago Cubs organization according to Baseball America, third baseman Josh Vitters, has been promoted from Peoria to the Advanced-A level. Along with Vitters, the Cubs will receive right handed pitcher Chris Carpenter, both of whom were All-Stars in the Midwest League. They will replace pitcher Andrew Cashner and second baseman Nathan Samson, who were promoted to Double-A Tennessee.
Vitters, a first round draft choice from 2007, was hitting .316 through 73 games to lead the Peoria Chiefs. He was also leading the team with 15 home runs and was near the top in hits, runs, and RBI. Drafted third overall out of high school, Vitters was signed to a $3.2-million contract. Following a short layoff with a hand injury, the right handed hitting Vitters went on to lead the Northwest League in doubles and put together a 26-game hit streak in 2008.
Carpenter, the Cubs 18th best prospect according to Baseball America, has had good success in 2009, as he posted a 4-3 record with a 2.44 ERA. On June 15 against Quad Cities, the Ohio-native threw a seven-inning, complete game shutout with just three hits allowed. The right hander was drafted in the third round of the 2008 draft out of Kent State and features a mid-90s fastball.
The additions do come as a result of some key losses to the Daytona roster. Starting pitcher Andrew Cashner, the third highest rated prospect for the Cubs, has thrown well since coming to Daytona from extended spring training, where he worked out an oblique injury. A strict pitch count prevented Cashner from factoring in any decisions while in Daytona, but had an ERA at 1.50 after twelve starts. The allowed just seven earned runs through 42 innings of work with a better than 2:1 strike-out-to-walk ratio.
Nathan Samson will join Cashner on the trip to Tennessee. The sure handed second baseman hit .251 in 61 games this season, was second in runs scored and first in walks with 24. The contact hitter struck out just ten times in 207 at-bats and displayed a great eye and discipline at the plate. Samson also committed just ten errors at in the field while being the Cubs every day second baseman. In Tennessee he will be reunited with former Ocala Forest High School and Daytona Cubs teammate Marquez Smith.
Daytona has also lost the services of Ryan Keedy, who was waived by the Cubs prior to Monday's game with Jupiter. Keedy appeared in 27 games for Daytona and hit .236 with 14 runs driven in. Keedy was a selected in the 16th round of the 2008 draft out of University of Alabama-Birmingham.
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Adam Eichstedt
Asst. Dir. of Broadcasting/
Media Relations
Daytona Cubs (Advanced Single-A)
386.257.3172
adameichstedt@daytonacubs.com