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Buriff Off To A Good Start
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Published: July 24, 2008
LAND O' LAKES - Former Saint Leo relief pitcher Shane Buriff has had a rousing start to his professional career.
The undrafted left-hander, who signed with the Chicago White Sox on June 16 and was assigned to the club's Bristol, Tenn., affiliate of the rookie Appalachian League, earned victories in his first three professional appearances. He is tied for third in the league in wins.
His last two appearances, however, have been a struggle, with five runs allowed. In five games overall, he has a 5.23 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings, serving primarily as a long reliever.
Buriff was Saint Leo's most consistent reliever last season, posting a 3-0 record while holding opponents to a .190 batting average in 36 innings.
TEAMMATES AGAIN: Former Saint Leo catcher Braulio Pardo and shortstop Jerry Gonzalez are once again teammates, playing for Single-A Cedar Rapids (Iowa) in the Midwest League, a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim affiliate.
Pardo joined the Kernels from Orem (Utah), a rookie-league team, and has been the team's regular catcher since. He is off to a slow start at the plate, hitting .091 in nine games after hitting .250 for Orem.
Gonzalez is hitting .235 in 70 games, and he has been used as a utility player in the field. So far this month, he has started at second base, third base, shortstop and left field.
BROWN STANDING OUT: Former Pasco High star Dominic Brown is continuing to stand out in the minors, hitting .293 with seven homers, 44 RBIs and 16 stolen bases for Single-A Lakewood (N.J.), the South Atlantic League affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Brown hit .299 in 2007, advancing through the rookie league and low Single-A ball. He hit .444 in a brief stint at Clearwater.
MIXED BAG FOR CRUZ, ROSALES: Two other former Pirates, Lee Cruz and Orlando Rosales, were promoted to Double-A this season as they continue their quest to reach the major leagues. But they have struggled to adjust to the new surroundings.
Cruz, a 10th{+-}round pick of the White Sox in 2006, hit .277 with 10 homers at Single-A in 2007. He is now with the Birmingham Barons, his third team this year. Cruz is hitting .215.
Rosales, a Houston Astros prospect, hit .276 in 36 games at advanced Single-A Salem this season before being promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas). But after hitting .217 in 32 games, he was reassigned to Salem and has not played since last Thursday.
AROUND THE HORN: Former Ridgewood standout and current New York Mets prospect John Servidio is hitting .256 for short-season Single-A Brooklyn. ... Triple-A Sacramento River Cats third baseman Jeff Baisley, son of Land O' Lakes coach Calvin Baisley, remains on the disabled list with a stress fracture in his foot. His twin brother, Brian, is tearing up rookie-league pitching at Staten Island, hitting .457 in his last 10 games for the Yankees affiliate and .365 overall. ... Former Mitchell pitcher Tyler Clippard is 6-7 with a 4.30 ERA at Triple-A Columbus, and former Ridgewood catcher Mike Rabelo is on the disabled list at Triple-A Albuquerque. Both have spent time in the majors this year with Washington and Florida, respectively.
Correspondent Bart O'Connell can be reached at boconnell@pop.tampatrib.com.
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