Good-looking crop at Sussex County farm
SUSSEX COUNTY-The cream of the St. Louis Cardinals draft class will be unveiled here in Sussex County, as the team's two first-round picks are schedules to begin their pro careers at Skyland Park. Baylor pitcher Mark McCormick was selected with the team's first draft pick. He is 8-2 for the Bears, with a 2.95 ERA. Currently, the righty is not in Augusta as his team is still alive in the College World Series. The Cards' second first-round pick was spent on stud shortstop Tyler Greene. At Georgia Tech this season, he batted .370 with 12 home runs, 72 RBI and 30 stolen bases.. Greene was a second-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2002, but elected to go to college. He also is not in camp yet, but should be when the Cardinals travel to Staten Island at the start of the season. The Cards will be led by Mark DeJohn, who begins his first season as the manager for short-season New Jersey. He led the Cardinals AA affiliate to the playoffs each of the last three seasons, the last two years with Tennessee and in 2002 with New Haven. Prior to becoming a minor league manager, DeJohn had served as a coach at the major league level from 1996-2001. He was the organization's minor league field coordinator for three seasons and managed in the Cardinals' farm system from 1986-1991. He has also managed in Detroit's and Kansas City's minor league organizations. Sid Monge, in his fourth season in the Cardinals' organization, is the pitching coach. Each season brings a new challenge for Monge, who has been pitching coach with Potomac (2002), Johnson City (2001), and Peoria (2000). Before joining the Cardinals, he split his coaching career between the Padres' and Tigers' minor league affiliates. Monge enjoyed a formidable playing career, as well. In 10 major league seasons, he compiled a 49-40 record along with a 3.53 ERA. Teams that Monge toured with include the Angels (1975-77), Indians (1977-1981), Phillies (1982-83), Padres (1983-84), and Tigers (1984). He was an American League All-Star team in 1979, when he posted career bests with 79 appearances, 12 victories, 108 strikeouts, and a 2.40 ERA. The New Jersey Cardinals enter their eleventh season in the New York-Penn League. The 14-team league is comprised of teams in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Maryland and Ohio. Position Players Adam Daniels Sean Danielson Carlos De la Cruz Jose Delgado Sean Dobson Chad Gabriel Tyler Greene Brandon Marcelli Jose Mendez Daniel Nelson Adam Rogers Casey Rowlett Jonathan Sivira Jon Skorupski Matt Wilkerson Brandon Yarbrough Pitchers Mitchell Boggs Justin Brown Michael Cooper Roy Dickerson Chris Farley Jessen Grant Michael Gross Trey Hearne Michael Repole Matthew Trent Nick Webber Zack Zuercher