News and Notes: Okert To Play In Fall Stars Game
By Joe Ritzo
Rosters for the Fall Stars Game, the annual All-Star Game in the Arizona Fall League, were announced today with former San Jose Giant Steven Okert selected to participate in the contest. Okert, San Jose’s Relief Pitcher of the Year this season and a California League All-Star, is the lone representative from the San Francisco organization in the game.
The AFL Fall Stars Game is scheduled for this Saturday, November 1 at 4:00 PM PDT and will be televised live on MLB Network.
His inclusion on the Fall Stars Game roster is another impressive accomplishment for Okert during his 2014 breakout season. The former fourth round draft pick out of Oklahoma began the year as a middle reliever in San Jose before emerging as the club’s closer in late-April. A standout first half earned Okert a spot on the Cal League All-Star team before a promotion to Double-A Richmond early in the second half. Between the two teams, Okert compiled a 2.11 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings. His 24 saves (19 in SJ, five in Richmond) led the entire Giants farm system. Armed with a low-to-mid 90’s fastball and a plus-slider, Okert will certainly open the 2015 campaign regarded as one of the top relief pitcher prospects in the organization.
Okert has been impressive through the first three weeks of the AFL season. He’s tossed seven innings out of the Scottsdale bullpen surrendering just one run on four hits with one walk and nine strikeouts. He’s also collected one save.
EDIT- Clayton Blackburn was originally on the Fall Stars Game roster released by MLB.com, but now no longer appears
MINOR LEAGUE FREE AGENTS
Once the World Series concludes, free agent season begins around baseball, not only with the high-profile major league talent, but also at the minor league level. Several former San Jose Giants that played in the upper levels of the system this year will officially declare free agency next month (players can become a free agent after their seventh season in the minor leagues).
However, two former SJ Giants due to become free agents in November have already decided to re-sign with San Francisco. Veteran left-handed starting pitcher Kelvin Marte, who was also free agent last offseason and re-signed with the Giants, played in San Jose over four years from 2010–13. His 20 wins in a SJ Giant uniform rank tied for fifth in team history. This season, Marte made 21 starts between Richmond (AA) and Fresno (AAA) combining for a 9–5 record and a 4.31 ERA over 123 1/3 innings.
Outfielder Darren Ford has also already re-signed with the organization after a successful season in Fresno. Ford, the starting center fielder on San Jose’s 2009 championship team, has 33 games of major league experience with San Francisco during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. After stints in the Mariners (2012) and Pirates (2013) systems, Ford returned to the Giants earlier this year. He spent the entire 2014 campaign at the Triple-A level and posted solid numbers batting .283 with three homers and 27 RBI’s in 107 games. Known for his top flight speed, Ford ranked second on the Grizzlies with 35 stolen bases.
A full list of Giants minor league free agents will be available next month.
EARLY WINTER LEAGUE STANDOUT
Winter league season is underway and a former San Jose relief pitcher is off to a scorching hot start in Venezuela. Cody Hall, a top SJ reliever in 2012 and 2013, leads the Venezuelan Winter League with six saves through early action. Hall also owns a perfect 0.00 ERA having not allowed an earned run over 9 1/3 innings. The right-hander has surrendered just two hits, walked one and struck out 11.
Hall had a 3.14 ERA and 11 saves out of the Richmond bullpen this year and will be looking to make the jump to Triple-A Sacramento next spring.
