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10/15/2009 12:37 PM ET
Former Whitecaps honing their skills in Arizona Fall League
West Michigan Whitecaps
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COMSTOCK PARK, MI- Several former Whitecaps are preparing to make the next step toward the majors by participating in the Arizona Fall League. Scott Sizemore, Casper Wells, Thad Weber and Randor Bierd are set to take the field as the AZL kicks off this week.
Sizemore, Wells and Weber will suit up for the Peoria Javelinas and Bierd will play for the Mesa Solar Sox.
Sizemore, the 2009 Tigers Minor League Player of the Year, split the 2009 season between Double A Erie and Triple A Toledo. He batted .308 with 17 home runs and 66 RBI in 130 total games. Sizemore hit .265 with four home runs and 48 RBI in 125 games with the Whitecaps in 2007.
Wells was slowed by injuries this season but finished the year strong. He batted .260 with 15 home runs and 41 RBI in 86 games with Erie. Wells played 50 games with West Michigan in 2008 and hit .240 with 10 home runs and 26 RBI before being promoted to Erie.
Weber split the 2009 season between High A Lakeland and Erie, going 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA. On August 22, he tossed a no-hitter against the Akron Aeros. He started 11 games for the Whitecaps in 2008, going 1-4 with a 2.56 ERA.
Bierd, now in the Boston Red Sox organization, went 3-1 with a 4.55 for Triple A Pawtucket this season. Unlike the other three, Bierd has Major League experience. He made his debut in 2008 with the Baltimore Orioles, going 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in 29 appearances. He spent parts of the 2005 and 2007 seasons with West Michigan, compiling a 5-2 record and a 2.44 ERA.
The AZL was formed in 1992 to give professional ballplayers a place to showcase their talents in the United States during the offseason. Each Major League team sends six players, usually from Double or Triple A, to participate in the six-team league.
Although the Whitecaps� season has come to a close, things are still happening at Fifth Third Ballpark. There is one more football game left at the ballpark this year. Catholic Central and Caledonia will square off on Friday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the game can be purchased at the West Michigan Glass Block Ticket Office at Fifth Third Ballpark, by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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