I posted a "where are they now" piece last summer covering the 2000 Express roster, and since I would otherwise have had to work this afternoon, I decided to update it for the 2001 alumni.
2001
Starters
C: Carlos Maldonado 2001 was the 2nd of his three seasons in the Astros organization, mostly with the Express. He then spent two years in the White Sox organization at Birmingham (AA) and the past three years in the Pirates organization at Altoona (AA) & Indianapolis (AAA). He did have a brief look at the majors for Pittsburgh in 2006. He was an NRI to spring training in 2008 and is currently on the 7 day DL at Indianapolis.
1B: Charlie Carter After a brief stint with the Express in 2000 (filling in for Burns), Charlie was a regular at 1B in 2001, but left after the season as a free agent. He played for AA Erie in the Tigers organization in 2002 and then, having signed with Baltimore, retired before spring training in 2003. After three years out of baseball, he played briefly in 2007 for the independent Fort Worth Cats.
1B/DH: Kevin Burns Split time in both 2000 and 2001 between the Express and AAA New Orleans, with most of the time in Round Rock. As a six-year free agent in 2002 he signed with Anaheim, but a back injury sidelined him early. After a brief attempt at a comeback for AA Arkansas, he was released in July, 2002.
2B: David Matranga After spending most of 2000 and 2001 with the Express, he spent two years in New Orleans before returning to the AA Express in 2004. He did get a brief shot at the majors in 2003, going yard in his first at bat. Most of the last three years have been spent knocking around AAA at Salt Lake City, Portland and Oklahoma, often struggling with minor injuries. He signed a minor league deal with Kansas City for 2008 and is listed on the Omaha roster.
3B: Royce Huffman A late call-up in 2000, Royce became a Round Rock institution over the next seven years. A starter at 3B in 2001 and at 1B in 2002, he then spent 2003 and 2004 with AAA New Orleans. With the Express moving to AAA, Royce returned to the Dell Diamond, playing mostly 1B in 2005 and 2006. After spending 2007 with AAA Portland (San Diego), he signed with the White Sox and was an NRI at spring training. He is currently a reserve at Charlotte (AAA).
SS: Eric Bruntlett The regular SS in 2001, Bruntlett began 2002 in New Orleans before being sent back to RR where he split time at the middle infield positions. He got a taste of the big leagues in 2003 and has spent most of his time there since as a utility player. Involved in the Bourn trade, he is now filling that role for the Phillies.
LF/CF: Jason Lane After tearing up the Texas League in 2001, Jason earned a call-up from new Orleans in 2002 and again in 2003 before reaching Houston full time in 2004. Struggling often, he spent time in Round Rock again in 2006 and 2007 before heading to the Padres at the end of the year. Having been non-tendered, he signed with the Yankees and was a late cut in spring training. He is now tearing up the International League at Scranton Wilkes-Barre.
CF: Colin Porter Assigned to RR for a second season, Colin hit .320 for the first month and was promoted to New Orleans, where he spent most of the next three years (getting a brief taste of the majors in 2003). Claimed off waivers by St. Louis, he spent most of 2004 at AAA Memphis and then split time in 2005 between the Yankee and Diamondback organizations, mostly at AAA. Signed by Milwaukee in the off-season, he was released in April 2006 and has not played since.
CF/LF: Barry Wesson After being demoted to Kissimmee for much of the 2000 season, Barry returned to Round Rock in 2001 and moved on to AAA New Orleans in 2002, even getting a brief shot with the Astros at the end of the season. After two years mostly at AAA Salt Lake City in the Angels organization, he returned to Round Rock in 2005. He then spent most of 2006 playing for the independent Bridgeport Bluefish, before coming back to Round Rock for the play-off season. He spent most of 2007 in a reserve OF role for the Express, but appears to be out of baseball at this point.
RF: Kyle Logan Another outfielder who spent time in Kissimmee in 2000, Kyle returned to Round Rock in 2001 and then spent three years with AAA New Orleans. Finding no takers as a minor league free agent, he played for the independent Joliet JackHammers in 2005 before leaving baseball.
Bench
C: Chris Tremie A serviceable journeyman, Chris spent 2001 as the first of three years with the AA Express. He then spent two more at AAA, the last a return to the Dell Diamond for the first year in the PCL. He joined the Indians in 2006 as a roving catching instructor, and became the maager of the GCL Indians in 2007 where his contract was renewed for 2008.
C: Danny Fatheree A long-time bullpen catcher in the Astros organization, “Tank” made brief appearances in Round Rock in both 2001 and 2002. He spent 2003 and 2004 in New Orleans with very little playing time before returning to AA Corpus Christi in 2005. He remained in Corpus Christi in 2006 & 2007, but was inactive. He signed with the Chicago Cubs for 2008, but is not on an active roster.
C: Scott Chapman An early season cut, Scott finished out 2001 with the independent Yuma Bulldogs. After sitting out a year, he signed a minor league deal with the Mets in 2003, but was released during spring training. He is out of baseball.
IF: Jason Alfaro Jason saw a lot of action in 2001 as a utility IF/OF. He returned in 2002 as the regular 3B, then spent most of 2003 and all of 2004 in New Orleans. A six-year free agent, he bounced around AAA for the next three years -- Syracuse, in 2005; Indianapolis & Buffalo in 2006; New Orleans (Mets) in 2007. He is apparently out of baseball this year.
IF: Cristian Berroa Received from San Diego for Aaron McNeal, Berroa spent time in Michigan & New Orleans as well as Round Rock in 2001. Selected by Colorado in the AAA portion of the Rule 5 draft, he spent the 2002 season in Salem, where he played a utility role. Released after 2002, he started 2003 with Brevard County (Expos) before being demoted to Savannah and then traded to the Pirates who assigned him to Lynchburg. He was out of baseball from 2004-2006, before attempting a comeback with the independent Camden Riversharks. Cut in May, he is now (again) out of baseball.
IF: Tommy Whiteman The ‘Great Red Hope’, Whiteman got a taste of Round Rock at the end of 2001, then started there in 2002 before being sent back to Lexington for more seasoning. He spent all of 2003 and most of 2004 in RR as a regular (either SS or 3B). When Round Rock joined the PCL, Tommy came along for most of 2005 (spending some time in Corpus Christi). He signed with Colorado for 2006 and spent the season in Colorado Springs before leaving baseball.
IF/OF: Cesar Morillo Coming to the Express early in 2000 for Brian Dallimore, Cesar became a crowd favorite and near-regular fill-in at a number of positions. Returning in 2001, he was injured early in the year and has not played since.
OF: Mike Rosamond Promoted from Lexington late in the year, Mike spent the next two years in the RR OF (CF in 2002, RF in 2003) while setting records for K’s that only Charleton Jimerson would threaten. He started 2004 at AA Tulsa (Colorado) before being cut mid-year and signed by Pittsburgh (High-A Lynchburg). He then spent 2005 and 2006 with the Mississippi Braves (except for a brief stint the first year in Richmond) before leaving baseball.
OF: Kerry Hodges Drafted out of Texas Tech, Kerry spent a whole game in RR (2 K in 3 AB) before being assigned to Martinsville. He spent an unimpressive year with Michigan in 2002 before retiring before ST the following year.
Pitchers
SP: Carlos Hernandez Carlos tore up the Texas League and earned a late season call-up to Houston. He started 2002 in the Astros rotation, but injured his shoulder in a baserunning mis-hap. After missing 2003 for surgery, he spent most of the next two years at AAA attempting a comeback, but he just didn’t have it. After opening the 2006 season on the DL, he eventually pitched sparingly for Corpus Christi before retiring.
SP: Travis Smith A veteran “AAAA” pitcher whose career began with the Brewers in 1995, Travis joined RR in 2001 and set a record for wins in a season (15) that still stands. He also got into one game for AAA New Orleans. He split 2002 between St. Louis and Memphis, then after a year in Korea, followed a similar pattern in 2004 (Atlanta/Richmond), 2005 (Florida/Abuquerque) and 2006 (Atlanta/Richmond). After spending most of 2007 with AAA Las Vegas, he appears to be out of baseball.
SP: Tim Redding Timmy dominated the Texas League for half a season before being promoted to AAA New Orleans and eventually to Houston. He spent most of 2002 with New Orleans again, before getting the call to Houston where he spent all of 2003 and most of 2004 (having beaten out 15GWJ-Rob for the last spot in the starting rotation). It did not last, though, and he was traded to San Diego before the 2005 season for Humberto Quintero and from there to the Yankees in July for Paul Quantrill, where he was eventually demoted to AAA Columbus. He spent all of 2006 with the White Sox organization at AAA Charlotte. After a solid half-season at AAA Columbus, he joined the Washington Nationals rotation in mid-2007 where he remains this season.
SP: Greg Miller Greg lost the end of 2001 and the beginning of 2002 to injury, then spent most of 2003 with Round Rock before being promoted to New Orleans. He signed with the White Sox for 2004, but was cut during ST and is out of baseball.
SP: Kyle Kessel A return from 2000, Kylesplit time in 2001 between the Express and AAA New Orleans before being released in August. He finished the season with the Mets organization at AA Binghamton and then signed with the Tigers after the season. Cut during spring training 2002, he pitched that season in the independent leagues for the Long Island Ducks and Pensylvania Road Warriors before leaving baseball for good.
SP: Ryan Jamison Finished 2001 with RR after starting at Lexington. Ryan was released mid-way through 2002 and finished the season with AA Binghamton (Mets). He spent most of the next four years in the independent leagues with the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks (2003), Kalamazoo Kings (2004) and Calgary Vipers (2006). He is currently out of baseball.
SP: Nick Roberts Finished 2001 with RR after starting at Lexington. Nick spent all of 2002 with RR, and after opening the season on the DL and a brief rehab assignment at Salem, came back again in 2003. Unsigned as a FA, he started 2004 with independent Fargo-Moorhead, before being signed by Anaheim and assigned to Arkansas (AA). Released again in August, he is now out of baseball.
SP: Brad Lidge Lights out as a starter, Brad was 2-0 with 42 K’s in 26 IP’s and 5 starts before blowing his arm out. He arrived in Houston as a reliever in 2002 (after spending time at both AA and AAA) and the rest (including his trade to Philly this off-season) is well-known history.
SP/RP: Tom Shearn A rotation fixture in 2000, Shearn returned to the Express to be the mainstay of the bullpen in 2001 (although he did get 8 starts as well). Promoted to AAA in 2002 he again worked out of the pen before injuring his arm. He was released after the season and missed all of 2003 with elbow surgery. He has been on the comeback trail with Cincinnati, spending 2004 at AA Chattanooga and most of the past three years at AAA Louisville, where he has returned to a starting role. He did get 6 starts in Cincinnati last year, but is back in Louisville to start 2008. His first two starts this year looked pretty good.
SP/RP: Wilfredo Rodriguez Wilfredo rejoined Round Rock in 2001 and got a September call-up to Houston. After elbow surgery in the off-season, he missed all of 2002 and 2003 where he languished on the Cubs AAA DL. Signed by Montreal in 2004, he started at AAA Edmonton, falling first to AA Harrisburg and then High-A Brevard County before being released and finishing the season with the independent Winnepeg Goldeyes. He did pitch well in the Venezuela winter leagues, and was signed by the Rangers prior to the 2005 season. He split time in 2005 between AA Frisco and AAA Oklahoma, but could not reclaim the magic. Signed by Milwaukee in the off-season, he was cut at the end of spring training and pitched briefly with the independent San Angelo Colts before leaving baseball for good.
SP/RP: Doug Sessions After spending most of 2000 to 2002 in the Express bullpen with a few spot starts, Doug got the call to AAA New Orleans where he spent all of 2003 and part of 2004. Released in June, he was signed by Montreal where he split time between AAA Edmonton and AA Harrisburg. A free agent again after the season, he signed with the Angels and pitched for AAA Salt Lake City before being released in June and leaving baseball for good.
SP/RP: Mark Guerra Started the season in Round Rock, but spent most of 2001 and all of 2002 in the rotation at New Orleans. He started 2003 with AAA Indianapolis, but has been out of baseball since being released in May of that year.
RP: Travis Wade The closer in 2001, Travis spent most of 2000 to 2003 in the Express bullpen (with a brief 2002 stint with AAA New Orleans). He was released in June 2003 and signed by the Giants, finishing the year at AA Norwich. He has spent the past three years with the independent Newark Bears, moving to the Long Island Ducks for the 2007 season. No word on whether he is still playing in 2008.
RP: Brandon Puffer Reclaimed from the independent leagues in 2000, Brandon saw heavy action out of the RR pen in 2001. He split time in 2002-03 between New Orleans and Houston, then continued to bounce back and forth in 2004-05 with San Diego, Boston and San Francisco. He returned to AAA Round Rock to start 2006, but was released and finished the year with Sacramento. He returns this year to AA Frisco (Rangers) where he spent all of 2007.
RP: Jeriome Robertson Jeriome excelled out of the bullpen for the Express in 2001. He moved back to a starting role in 2002 at New Orleans and earned a late season call up to the Astros where he became infamous as “15 game winner J-Rob” in 2003 despite a 5.10 ERA and an average of 5 IP per start. Traded to Cleveland for Willy T and Luke before the 2004 season, he split time between the Indians and AAA Buffalo before being dealt to Montreal and finishing the season at AAA Edmonton. He spent all of 2005 at AAA Louisville in the Reds organization, then started 2006 with the independent Newark Bears before being signed by the Mets and assigned to AAA Norfolk. Returning to the Newark Bears at the beginning of 2007, he finished the season with Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League. He appears to be out of baseball now.
RP: Mark Persails Released by the Express in May, 2001 after an inauspicious start to his AA repeat year, Mark finished the season in the Tigers organization, moving from High-A Lakeland to AA Erie and eventually AAA Toledo. Released by the Tigers in spring training, 2002, he appears to have sat out the year before joining the independent Jackson Senators for the 2003 season. He split time in the independent leagues in 2004 between the Senators, the San Angelo Colts, the Coastal Bend Aviators and the Atlantic City Surf. He returned to Atlantic City for 2005 and 2006, but appears to have left baseball for good after last season.
RP: James Lira Splitting time in both 2001 and 2002 between the Express and one of their two low-A affiliates those years, Lira was released mid-season 2003. Most of the rest of 2003 and all of 2004-06 were spent with the independent Coastal Bend Aviators, though he did get a brief trial in 2003 with AA Norwich in the Giants organization. He spent 2007 with the independent Lancaster Barnstormers who still own his contract.
