Summer Olympics 2000 A look at the U.S. baseball team

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	Schedule \| Fan Guide \| History \| U.S. Roster

Tuesday, September 19
A look at the U.S. baseball team
ESPN.com's news services

Hitters
Marcus Jensen, C (Twins) -- First-round selection of the Giants in 1990 draft and made major league debut in 1996 for San Francisco. ... Had best offensive season with Clinton (A) in 1993 (.262, 11 HR, 56 RBI). ... Lifetime minor league batting average of .251. ... Hit .209 in 52 games for Minnesota this year and is currently batting .235 for Salt Lake (AAA).

Mike Kinkade, C (Orioles) -- Originally selected by the Brewers in first round of 1995 draft. ... Started career as third baseman but was converted to catcher prior to 2000 season. ... Made major league debut with Mets in 1998. ... League All-Star in 1995, 1996, and 1997. ... Texas League (AA) MVP in 1997, where his .385 average ranked third-highest among minor leaguers in past two decades. ... Traded from Mets to Orioles in Mike Bordick deal at trading deadline this summer. ... Hitting .358 with 14 homers and 82 RBI while playing mostly for Binghamton (AA) and Bowie (AA) this season.

Pat Borders, C (Devil Rays) -- Was originally a sixth-round selection by Blue Jays in 1982 draft. ... Spent 12 seasons in major leagues, playing for seven teams and compiling a .256 lifetime average. ... Made major league debut with Blue Jays in 1988 and was starting catcher for World Series champions in 1992 and 1993. ... Hitting .276 with 12 homers and 54 RBI for Durham (AAA) in 2000.

Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B (Twins) -- Fifth-round selection by Twins in 1995. ... Led Class A Eastern League with .323 average in 1998. ... Spent all of 1999 with Minnesota and played in 118 games, hitting .229 with a pair of homers and 32 RBI. ... Has posted career highs with 17 homers and 92 RBI while hitting .331 for Salt Lake (AAA) this season.

Brent Abernathy, 2B (Devil Rays) -- Originally selected by Blue Jays in second round of 1996 draft and dealt to Devil Rays this summer for Mark Guthrie and Steve Trachsel. ... League All-Star in 1997 and 1998. ... Member of Howe Sportsdata All-Teen team in 1997, where he hit .309 for Hagerstown in first pro season. ... Set a Class A Knoxville franchise record with 42 doubles in 1999. ... Hitting .295 with five homers, 46 RBI, and 21 steals between Syracuse (AAA) and Durham (AAA) this year.

Brent Butler, 2B (Rockies) -- Originally a third-round selection by the Cardinals in 1996 and traded to Rockies in Darryl Kyle deal last November. ... Voted MVP of the Rookie Level Appalachian League in 1996, leading the circuit with 85 hits and posting a .343 batting average. ... Member of Howe Sportsdata All-Teen Team in 1997, when he hit .306 with 15 homers and 71 RBI for Peoria (A). ... Hitting .288 with seven homers and 52 RBI with Colorado Springs (AAA) this year.

Adam Everett, SS (Astros) -- Was 12th overall pick in 1998 draft by Red Sox and dealt to the Astros in Carl Everett deal this past offseason. ... Hit 10 home runs and collected 44 RBI with Trenton (AA) in '99. ... Hitting .244 with five homers and 37 RBI in 117 games with New Orleans (AAA) this year.

Travis Dawkins, SS (Reds) -- Second-round selection by Reds in 1997 who was Rookie level Pioneer League All-Star with Billings that summer. ... Made Major League debut with Reds last season, appearing in seven games. ... Midwest League All-Star in 1999, when he finished season hitting .272 with eight homers and 32 RBI. ... Hit .220 in 14 games with Cincinnati this season and is now hitting .234 with six home runs and 31 RBI for Chattanooga (AA).

Mike Coolbaugh, 3B (Yankees) -- Originally a 16th-round pick of the Blue Jays in 1990. ... Selected by Rangers in Rule V minor league draft in 1995. ... Now with his fifth major league organization after being re-signed by Yankees in October 1999. ... Florida State League All-Star with Charlotte (A) in 1996. ... Southern League All-Star with Huntsville (AA) in 1997, when he hit .308, belted 30 homers and collected 132 RBI. ... Hitting .264 with 20 home runs and 55 RBI for Columbus (AAA) this year.

Sean Burroughs, 3B (Padres) -- Selected by Padres as ninth overall pick in 1999 draft. ... Earned organizational Player of the Year honors and spot on Howe Sportsdata All-Prospect and All-Teen Teams in 1999, when he hit .359 with eight homers and 80 RBI for Fort Wayne of the Class A Midwest League before being promoted to Rancho Cucamonga of the Class A California League, where he went 10-for-23 in six games. Posted a 23-game hitting streak and reached base by hit or walk in his final 54 games. ... Batting .291 with two homers and 42 RBI for Mobile (AA) this year.

Shawn Gilbert, OF (Dodgers) -- Originally a 12th-round pick of the Twins in 1987. ... Now playing with his sixth major league organization. ... Made Major League debut with the Mets in 1997, when he had three hits in 22 at-bats. ... Appeared in 15 games for Dodgers this season and went 3-for-20 with a home run and three RBI. ... Has spent majority of season at Albuquerque (AAA), batting .338 with 10 homers and 43 RBI.

Mike Neill, OF (Mariners) -- Originally a second-round pick of the Athletics in 1991 and acquired by Mariners through free agency in November of '99. ... Rookie Level All-Star with Southern Oregon (A) in 1991. ... Twice a Class A California League All-Star, with Reno in 1992 and Modesto in 1996. ... Finished first in the Double A Southern League with a .340 average and 129 runs scored for Huntsville in 1997, the most scored in the league in over two decades. ... Made Major League debut with Oakland in 1998, collecting four hits in 15 at-bats. ... Hitting .298 with 10 homers and 58 RBI in 107 games with Tacoma (AAA) this year.

Anthony Sanders, OF (Mariners) -- Originally a seventh-round draft choice by the Blue Jays in 1992. ... Claimed off waivers by Mariners from Toronto in spring training. ... Florida State League All-Star for Class A Dunedin in 1996, when he was tied for second in league with 17 homers. ... Named to Southern League All-Star team in 1997, when he hit career-high 26 homers. ... Batting .307 with 19 homers and a career-high 76 RBI for Tacoma (AAA). ... Belted three homers and drove in five runs in a game at Calgary (AAA) on Aug. 4.

Brad Wilkerson, OF (Expos) -- Was 33rd overall selection in 1998 draft by Expos. ... Tied Harrisburg (AA) club record with 88 walks in 1998. ... Began 2000 season with Harrisburg and hit .336 with six home runs, 36 doubles and 44 RBI over 66 games. ... Promoted to Ottawa (AAA) in mid-June and is hitting .258 with nine homers and 31 RBI in 55 games.

Ernie Young, OF (Cardinals) -- Originally a 10th-round pick of Athletics in 1990. ... Now with fourth major league organization in his 11th pro season. ... Named to Class A California League All-Star team while playing for Modesto in 1993, when he finished the season with one home run every 13.09 at-bats, tops in the league. ... Member of Southern League All-Star team in 1994 while with Huntsville (AA). ... Made major league debut in 1994 for A's and went 2-for-30 in 11 games. ... Hit .294 with 30 homers and 95 RBI in 126 games last season for Tucson (AAA). ... Has posted career-highs this season with a Pacific Coast League-leading 35 homers and 98 RBI while batting .263 for Memphis (AAA).

Pitchers
Ben Sheets, RHP (Brewers) -- Was 10th overall selection by Brewers in 1999 draft. ... Made two starts for Ogden of the Rookie Level Pioneer League before finishing the 1999 season at Stockton (A). ... Struck out career-high 14 batters and allowed only one hit over 7 2/3; scoreless innings at Bakersfield on Aug. 27, 1999 in fifth Class A start. ... Began this year with Huntsville (AA), going 5-3 with 1.88 ERA in 72 innings spanning 13 starts. ... Was promoted to Indianapolis (AAA) in mid-June and has gone 3-5 with 2.97 ERA, starting 12 games and tossing 72 2/3; innings.

Jon Rauch, RHP (White Sox) -- Was third-round selection in 1999 draft. ... Went 4-4 for short season Bristol last summer, fanning 66 batters in 56 2/3; innings. ... Promoted to Winston-Salem (A) for one start last year, where he tossed six solid innings but did not get a decision. ... Began this year at Winston-Salem and went 11-3, 2.86 ERA ... Won nine consecutive decisions, including seven consecutive starts, and pitched a minor-league best 30 consecutive innings without a walk this season.

Roy Oswalt, RHP (Astros) -- Was 23rd-round pick by Astros in 1996 draft. ... Went 13-4 for Class A Michigan in 1999. ... Started this season at Class A Kissimmee and went 4-3, 2.98 ERA in eight starts before being promoted to Round Rock (AA). ... Has gone 11-3, 1.88 ERA in 17 outings for the Express to give him a 15-6 mark with a 2.19 ERA, fourth best among all minor leaguer hurlers through Aug. 22. ... Recorded a 15-strikeout performance in his first Texas League game, most in the league in more than a decade.

Kurt Ainsworth, RHP (Giants) -- First-round pick in 1999 draft. ... Went 3-3, 1.61 ERA in 10 starts for Salem-Keizer (A) last summer, fanning 64 batters in 44 2/3 innings and missing Northwest League's ERA title by 17 innings. ... Went 2-0, 0.44 ERA in three Class A California League playoff starts in 1999, allowing seven hits in 20 innings while striking out 27. ... Has gone 8-9 despite 3.54 ERA in 26 starts for Shreveport (AA) this season.

C.C. Sabathia, LHP (Indians) -- First-round pick in 1998 draft. ... Went 1-0 in five starts for Rookie Level Burlington in summer of '98. ... Pitched at three different levels last season and finished at Class-A Kinston, where he went 3-3 in seven starts. ... Started this year at Kinston and went 3-2, 3.54 ERA in 10 outings before being promoted to Double-A Akron in late May. ... Has gone 3-7 despite 3.81 ERA in 15 starts.

Matt Ginter, RHP (White Sox) -- First-round pick in 1999 draft. ... Made three appearances in Rookie Level Arizona League last summer and finished season at Burlington (A), where he went 4-2 in nine starts. ... Has spent this entire season at Double-A Birmingham, going just 11-7 despite a 2.32 ERA, tied for seventh best among minor league pitchers through August 22.

Shane Heams, RHP (Tigers) -- Originally selected by Mariners in 41st round of 1994 draft. ... Signed with Tigers as free agent in April 1998. ... Went 6-2, 1.70 for Mariners in Rookie Level Arizona League in 97...Went 5-4, 2.35 ERA in 51 games for West Michigan (A) last season, picking up 10 saves and fanning 101 batters in 69 innings. ... Started season at Double-A Jacksonville and went 6-2, 2.59 ERA in 39 outings and was recently promoted to Toledo (AAA).

Todd Williams, RHP (Mariners) -- Selected by Dodgers in 54th round of 1990 draft. ... Now with his fourth organization after spending time in both Reds and A's systems. ... Has been with Triple A Tacoma all season, where he is 2-3, 3.11 ERA in 47 outings. ... His 31 saves through August 22 placed fourth among minor leaguers.

Ryan Franklin, RHP (Mariners) -- Selected by Mariners in 23rd round of 1992 draft. ... Made big league debut for Seattle last season, when he pitched in six games. ... Participated in two no-hitters at Double A Memphis in 1997 and pitched 14 consecutive hitless innings. ... This marks his fourth straight year pitching for Triple-A Tacoma, where he is 11-4, 3.37 ERA, tied for second in the league in wins, fourth in ERA, and third with 133 strikeouts.

Rick Krivda, LHP (Orioles) -- Selected by Orioles in 23rd round of 1991 draft. ... Now in second tour of duty with Orioles after spending time with Indians, Reds and Royals. ... Made major league debut for Baltimore in 1995, when he went 2-7 in 13 starts. ... Went 14-2, 3.39 ERA for Rochester in 1997. ... Has spent this entire season at Rochester, where he is 11-8, 3.12 ERA in 25 starts.

Bobby Seay, LHP (Devil Rays) -- Originally selected by White Sox with 12th pick in 1996 draft but was granted free agency when it was ruled that the club did not officially tender him a contract. ... Signed with Devil Rays in November of 1996. ... Has been with Orlando in the Double-A Southern League all season and has compiled a 7-7 record with a 4.15 ERA in 22 starts.

Tim Young, LHP (Red Sox) -- Originally selected by Expos in 19th round of 1996 draft. ... Went 1-0 with 0.31 ERA in 27 games for Vermont (A) in first pro season, saving 18 games and earning New York-Penn League All-Star honors. ... Made major league debut with Expos in 1998. ... Signed with Red Sox as free agent in February of 1999 and went 4-4 that season for Trenton (AA). ... Made eight appearances in Boston this year but pitched mostly for Pawtucket, where he is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA.

Chris George, LHP (Royals) -- Selected by Royals in first round of 1998 draft. ... Went 9-7, 3.60 ERA for Wilmington last year as the third-youngest player in the Class A Carolina League. ... Opened this year at Double A Wichita and went 8-5, 3.14 ERA in 18 starts before being promoted to Omaha. ... Has posted 2-2 mark in seven Triple A outings.

ALSO SEE
Prospects, but no stars on Olympic baseball team

Raines cut from Olympic baseball team