Buchholz (O's '07) also earns mention

By John Fay, Larry Millson, & Evan Grant
Baseball America
October 6-19, 2008; pp.18,22

CRSCBL alumni playing professional baseball

Baseball America has named Brett Cecil (Silver Spring Takoma T-Bolts 2005) the Best Pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system and Neil Ramirez (Youse's Orioles 2006) its ''Keep an Eye On'' selection in the Texas Rangers farm system for 2008.

On Cecil: ''Lefthander Brett Cecil, 22, was 8-5, 2.88 with 129 strikeouts and 41 walks in 119 innings over three levels, beginning at Dunedin, moving through New Hampshire and finishing at Syracuse. The Blue Jays considered calling him up to Toronto but decided against it. Cecil, a first-round supplemental pick in 2007 from Maryland, ranked as the organization's No. 2 prospect to start the year and has moved quickly through the system.''

On Ramirez: ''The Rangers' 2007 draft class may well be the foundation for future success. Twin first-round righthanders Blake Beavan and Michael Main received most of the hype. But don't overlook righty Neil Ramirez, the 44th overall selection. The Rangers paid well-above slot for Ramirez and didn't get a deal done until right before the Aug. 15 deadline, so he didn't make his professional debut until this season. Pitching for short-season Spokane, Ramirez dominated despite a 1-2 record. In his 13 starts, he held hitters to a .166 batting average while compiling a 2.66 ERA.''

Alex Buchholz (Youse's Orioles 2007) earned a mention in Baseball America's organizational report for the Chicago White Sox: ''Billings second baseman Alex Buchholz made a strong impression in his pro debut. Buchholz, the organization's sixth-round pick this season out of Delaware, hit .396/.471/.604 in 134 at-bats. Buchholz hit .366 in his three-year career with the Blue Hens as well.''