Marlins CF Cameron Maybin (courtesy mlb.com) Braves CF Jordan Schafer (courtesy mlb.com) West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. Nick Johnson Marvin Gentry Jay Metz

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2 Maybin, Schafer on fast track to stardom Florida Marlins outfielder Cameron Maybin already has a taste of the big leagues, enjoying cups of coffee with the Tigers in 007 and the Marlins last season. Maybin s array of talents was on full display in eight games with Florida last season, as the speedy center fielder hit 6-for- and stole four bases in nine games, a huge improvement from his 4-game stint with Detroit. The then 0-year-old Maybin struck out times in 49 at bats, hardly the ideal debut. But after a year with the Carolina Mudcats, Maybin shined in his nine-game audition for a 009 opening day roster spot and will open the season as Florida s starting center fielder. Atlanta Braves center fielder Jordan Schafer took note of Maybin s rough start and broke in with style, hitting a home run in his first major league at bat against the defending world champion Philadelphia Phillies on Marlins CF Cameron Maybin (courtesy mlb.com) April 5. Whereas Maybin had a shaky start to his major league career, Schafer experienced his greatest struggle in the minors: a 50-game suspension in 008. He returned late in the season to help Mississippi to its first Southern League championship, and impressed the Braves so much in spring training that Atlanta shipped projected center field starter Josh Anderson who hit.94 in 40 games with Atlanta in 08 to Detroit in order to make room for Schafer. Seemingly, both players have put their rocky patches behind them, and you d be hard-pressed to find someone who projects anything but smooth sailing ahead. Braves CF Jordan Schafer (courtesy mlb.com) Maybin and Schafer aren t the only two players on Southern League rosters a year ago to earn an opening day roster spot in the big leagues. A look at some of the others: West Tenn Diamond Jaxx West Tenn Diamond Jaxx Jay Metz Chris Jakubauskas RHP, Mariners 008: Put up 0.8 ERA in six starts with West Tenn, then was 5- with a.59 ERA at Triple-A Tacoma. 009: Just two years removed from independent leagues, will pitch out of the bullpen for Seattle. Shawn Kelley RHP, Mariners 008: Two promotions landed him in West Tenn, where he was - with a. ERA and nine saves. 009: Will follow Jakubauskas from West Tenn to the Mariners pen. Clayton Kershaw LHP, Dodgers 008: After phenomenal starts for Jacksonville, made starts for the Dodgers, winning five games. 009: Only and already one of the game s best young pitchers, Kershaw will be LA s fourth starter. Nick Johnson Marvin Gentry Jay Metz James McDonald RHP, Dodgers 008: Allowed just 98 hits in 9 AA innings, impressed at AAA Las Vegas and earned a September call-up. 009: Originally projected for the bullpen, McDonald s strong spring earned him LA s fifth starter job. Clayton Richard LHP, White Sox 008: Posted a.47 ERA in starts at Birmingham and was 6-0 at AAA. Called up by White Sox in July. 009: Will pitch out of the pen and be Chicago s spot starter. Chris Volstad RHP, Marlins 008: Was 4-4 with a.6 ERA in 5 starts at Carolina before the Marlins called him up in July. 009: Hopes to follow up on 6-4 rookie season as Marlins third starter.

3 0 Southern League prospects to watch for in 009 BIRMINGHAM BARONS Gordon Beckham, SS Age: No. 8 overall pick in 008 draft, has great power for a shortstop and enough bat to move to third base. Dayan Viciedo, B/OF Age: 0 The Cuban defector has the power to reach 40 HR and enough arm strength to play any position. Aaron Poreda, LHP Age: White Sox GM Kenny Williams refused to deal him to Rockies in a proposed deal for closer Brian Fuentes. CAROLINA MUDCATS Todd Frazier, INF/OF Age: Former supplemental first round pick led Hawaii Winter Baseball in slugging (.547) in 007. Juan Francisco, B Age: Led Midwest League with 5 HR in 07 and all Reds farmhands with in 08. Played in 08 Futures Game. Jordan Smith, RHP Age: Groundball pitcher with good control hopes to rebound from knee injury that hampered 08 season. CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS Andrew Lambo, OF Age: 0 Hit. as youngest player in the Arizona Fall League and projects to hit with 5 or more HR. Josh Lindblom, RHP Age: Big righty with heavy life on his mph fastball could reach the majors as early as this year. Scott Elbert, LHP Age: Shoulder issues have forced the 004 first rounder to spend most of the last three seasons in Double-A. HUNTSVILLE STARS Jeremy Jeffress, RHP Age: 006 first-rounder has fastball that often approaches 00 mph and projects as both a closer and starter. Lorenzo Cain, OF Age: An impressive athlete with 0-HR potential and a strong arm, Cain is the most advanced CF in the system. Cole Gillespie, OF Age: 4 In 008, Gillespie ranked nd in the Southern League with 8 doubles and was named to the all-star team. JACKSONVILLE SUNS Logan Morrison, B Age: 008 MVP of the high Class A Florida State League, he projects as a.00 hitter with 0-HR potential. Sean West, LHP Age: 6-8 lefty has earned comparisons to a young Randy Johnson and is viewed as a future rotation topper. Aaron Thompson, LHP Age: Drafted one pick ahead of Jacoby Ellsbury and three before Matt Garza, he made 6 AA starts in 008. MISSISSIPPI BRAVES Gorkys Hernandez, OF Age: Has all the tools to be a quintessential leadoff hitter and center fielder. Has good speed and strong arm. Brandon Hicks, SS Age: Carolina League managers rated him as the league s best defensive SS in 08 to go with all-star honors. Eric Campbell, B Age: Co-MVP of the Appalachian League in 05 and paced the South Atlantic League with homers in 06. MOBILE BAYBEARS Gerardo Parra, OF Age: 07 Midwest League batting champ played for Venezuela in WBC. Expected to earn Sept. call-up. Daniel Schlereth, LHP Age: Owns two plus-pitches: a mid-90s fastball and a power curve. Has the arm and makeup of a closer. Mark Hallberg, B/SS Age: MVP of Hawaii Winter League. Very solid second base prospect that draws Mark Loretta comparisons. MONTGOMERY BISCUITS Desmond Jennings, OF Age: Top prospect in South Atlantic League in 07, Jennings stole 45 bases in 99 games that same year. Jeremy Hellickson, RHP Age: A future candidate for the Rays rotation, he led Tampa Bay s system in ERA and strikeouts last season. Heath Rollins, RHP Age: Tied for minor league lead with 7 wins in 07 and pitched much better than his 6-08 record indicates. TENNESSEE SMOKIES Welington Castillo, C Age: The youngest backstop in Southern League last year, he also played in the 008 Futures Game. Jay Jackson, RHP Age: A ninth-round pick, has already exceeded expectations and is a legitimate starting pitching prospect. Brandon Guyer, OF Age: With plus-plus speed and raw power, he is the best athlete in the system and is likened to Aaron Rowand. WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX Greg Halman, OF Age: Hit.77 in 6 games as SL s youngest position player in 08 and narrowly missed a 0-0 season (9 HR, SB). Carlos Triunfel, SS/B Age: 9 Reached Hi-A ball in 007 at 7, and was California League s youngest regular by 5 months in 08. Adam Moore, C Age: 4 A career.06 hitter with plus power, he has all the makings of a big league starting catcher.

4 Carolina Mudcats Chattanooga Lookouts Huntsville Stars Carolina, in its first year as a Cincinnati Reds affiliate, welcomed its parent club to Zebulon, N.C. for an exhibition game between the Reds and a collection of Mudcats and Reds prospects on Friday, April. In front of an impressive crowd of 8,, Carolina scored the game s first 0 runs en route to a -4 victory. Top Reds prospect B Yonder Alsonso blasted a three-run HR in the first and Mudcats INF Juan Francisco legged out an inside-the-park HR in the third. Francisco added a garden variety tworun shot an inning later and finished with five RBI. Mudcats RHP Dallas Buck, who started the game with four scoreless innings before surrendering two earned runs in the fifth, earned the victory... the Mudcats open the season Thursday, April 9 in Pearl, Miss., with a five-game set against the defending Southern League champion Mississippi Braves then head to Mobile for five games. 009 will be a season of firsts in Chattanooga. The Lookouts, who had a player development contract with the Cincinnati Reds from , are in their first year as a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate... Former Red Sox infielder and 995 Silver Slugger winner John Valentin will begin his first year as Lookouts manager... An exhibition against the Chattanooga State Tigers at the Lookouts AT&T Field scheduled for Tuesday, April 6 was cancelled due to inclement weather... The Lookouts begin the 009 season with a five-game series at Birmingham beginning Thursday, April 9... Chattanooga s home opener against the Montgomery Biscuits is April 4... On April 6, AT&T Field served as the backdrop for Antiques Roadshow s look at collecting minor league baseball memorabilia. The hour-long episode, one of three installments in Chattanooga, aired on PBS. The Stars begin the 009 campaign with a 0-game homestand, welcoming Mobile for a season-opening five-game set followed by five games against defending Southern League champion Mississippi... On Friday, April 0, the Stars and Buffalo Rock will present a fireworks show following the game against the BayBears. Fans who present a bottle cap from any Pepsi product will receive half-priced admission... Monday - Thursday all season, Stars fans can enjoy the following promotions: NetwoRx Military Mondays, $ admission with a military ID; Tunica Two for Tuesdays (receive two tickets for regular price of $8); Sabrett Wienie Wednesdays ( Sabrett hot dogs for $); Bud Light Thirst-Aid Thursdays (all 0-oz Bud and Bud Light drafts for $ and -oz Pepsi fountain drinks for $)... Don Money, the winningest manager in Stars history, was promoted to Triple- A and was replaced by Bob Miscik. Tennessee Smokies West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 009 will be the Smokies 0th season at Smokies Park... Tennessee made headlines in the offseason by hiring Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg to manage the Smokies. Ryno spent the previous two seasons managing the Peoria Chiefs, the Low-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Sandberg carries a career managerial record into the 009 season... Smokies fans have the opportunity to take advantage of a Suite Opening Night offer. With the purchase of a luxury suite for the April 5 home opener or April 6, you will receive a second luxury suite rental for any other game of the 009 season for half-price (based on availability)... Tennessee s April 7 exhibition against Walters State was cancelled due to projected inclement weather... The Smokies kick off the 09 campaign with a five-game series at Jacksonville and host Birmingham for its home opener on Wednesday, April 5. West Tenn begins the 09 season on the road, starting with a five-game set at Montgomery, followed by five games at Jacksonville... West Tenn s home opener will be April 0 against Tennessee and the first fireworks display of the season will follow the April 5 contest against Mississippi... Fridays are giveaway nights at Pringles Park - check for more details... During the offseason, it was announced that West Tenn will host the 0 Southern League All-Star Game... Mariners prospect OF Greg Halman, a member of the 008 Diamond Jaxx, batted cleanup for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. Halman managed just one hit in four games, but is on the Mariners 40-man roster. After finishing 008 one home run shy of becoming the only player in the Minors to hit 0 homers and steal 0 bases, Halman is the Mariners # rated prospect.

5 Birmingham Barons Jacksonville Suns Mississippi Braves 008 was a good year for the Barons, as the club recorded its highest single season attendance since 00 (0,979) and was awarded the AA Bob Frietas Award, which recognizes a sustained display of excellence and contribution to the surrounding community... The Barons will host the 09 Southern League All-Star Game on July... Birmingham opens the season at home against Chattanooga, then travels to Tennessee for five games... The Barons unveiled a Healthy Hits Menu for the 009 season, which includes food options for the health-conscious, including salads, yogurt, chicken sandwiches, wraps and fruit juice... Thursday s home opener as will all 009 Thursday home games will be a Thirsty Thursday promotion, which offers dollar drinks and 5-cent boneless wings... Check for Birmingham s complete promotional events schedule. The Jacksonville Suns will kick off the 009 season with a new Major League affiliation and a special silver anniversary celebration. The Suns, now the AA affiliate of the Florida Marlins, will recognize the Bragan family for 5 years of ownership in Jacksonville. To commemorate the event, the first,000 fans will receive a special silver coin featuring the fatherand-son owners, Peter Bragan Sr. and Jr. In addition to being a collectible item, this coin can also be redeemed for one free general admission ticket for another regular-season game... The Suns will also hold a special birthday blowout for Bragan Sr.'s 86th Birthday on Friday, July rd... All of the Suns' traditional weekly promotions return in 009, including Fifty Cent Family Feast Tuesdays, Businessperson's Specials on most Wednesdays, the everpopular Thursday Night Throwdown, Friday Family Fireworks, and a kids' giveaway with postgame Kids Run the Bases every Sunday. The Braves will celebrate the 008 Southern League Championship during the opening homestand with giveaways every night. On Thursday, April 9th, the Braves will give out replicas of the M- Braves SL Championship rings and foam tomahawks to the first,000 fans and magnetic schedules to the first 5,000 fans through the gates. The night will be capped by an opening day Fireworks Extravaganza... Friday April 0th will feature the famous Friday Night Fireworks Extravaganza and the first,000 fans will receive a replica championship ring trophy... On Saturday night, the first,000 fans will receive a bronze championship mini plaque and everyone will get to see the Zooperstars perform throughout the game... Sunday will be the first day game and will be the Braves Family Fest... Monday s day game caps the homestand with several special promotions, all of which can be viewed at Mobile BayBears Montgomery Biscuits The BayBears hosted Hank Aaron s 75th Birthday Gala on Tuesday, April 7 at the Arthur Outlaw Convention Center in Mobile. More than 500 people turned out to honor the Hall of Famer... Prior to the 009 season, the BayBears moved the legendary slugger s childhood home to Hank Aaron Stadium, restored it and transformed it into the Hank Aaron Museum & Learning Center. The BayBears are also constructing a Walk of Fame to Hank s childhood home in Gaslight Park. Fans can purchase a brick to be included in the walkway for $50. For your contribution, you will also receive a replica brick to proudly display in your office or home. More details can be found at Mobile opens the 009 campaign with a fivegame series at Huntsville, then returns home to host Carolina for five games... The BayBears 009 home opener is Tuesday, April 4. The Biscuits open the 009 season at home on Thursday, April 9, hosting West Tenn for five games... Thursday s opener will be followed by a fireworks spectacular and special promotions continue throughout the opening homestand, with more fireworks following Saturday s game, while Sunday s contest will be Kids Day... Throughout the season, Biscuits fans between the ages of 8- will have the chance to be the Alfa Insurance Honorary Bat Kid of the Game. This exciting promotion offers kids an opportunity to throw out the first pitch and more! Details can be found at After the season-opening five-game homestand, the Biscuits travel to Chattanooga for a five-game set... Biscuits manager Billy Gardner returns for his third season in Montgomery, joining Mobile s Hector De La Cruz and Mississippi s Philip Wellman as the only returning Southern League skippers. 4

6 Southern League has big impact at WBC Whether they knew it or not, thousands of baseball fans across the world most likely rooted for a former Southern Leaguer in the past month. The 009 World Baseball Classic was full of Southern League flavor, as more than 40 Southern League alumni were given the opportunity to represent their country. Eight countries Canada, Dominican Republic, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela all carried at least two former Southern Leaguers on its WBC roster. The Americans featured Southern League alumni, while the Dominican Republic had eight. Some of the top performances are highlighted below: 5 Canada > Joey Votto (Chattanooga, 006) The former Southern League MVP and current Reds first baseman nearly led the Canadians to an upset over the U.S. and hit.556 in two games with one homer and two RBI. > Jason Bay (Mobile, 00) The Red Sox slugger reached base seven times in two games five walks and two hits and added two RBI. Dominican Republic > Miguel Olivo (Birmingham, 00-0) While the Dominicans flailed to a disappointing third-place finish in pool play, Royals backstop Olivo ( HR, 5 RBI in three games) was a bright spot. > Johnny Cueto (Chattanooga, 007) The promising young Reds righty was dominant in 4. innings and collected the DR s lone win, a 9-0 victory over Panama. Mexico > Jorge Cantu (Orlando Rays, 00-0) The Marlins brass has to be pleased with the way Cantu swung the bat - in six games, the third baseman hit.60 with five doubles, two homers and six RBI. > Adrian Gonzalez (Carolina, 00) Padres B Gonzalez displayed the form that made him a 008 all star, collecting two homers and seven RBI. Puerto Rico > Carlos Delgado (Knoxville Smokies, 99) Delgado s two-rbi performance helped Puerto Rico rout the U.S. - in second round play, but it was ultimately the Americans who ended Puerto Rico s WBC run. In all, the veteran Mets B contributed seven walks, seven hits and five RBI in six games. United States > Mark DeRosa (Greenville Braves, 998) Only Korea s Tae Kyun Kim () and Cuba s Frederich Cepeda (0) drove in more runs in WBC play than Indians B DeRosa, who plated nine runs to lead the Americans. > Adam Dunn (Chattanooga, 00) Nationals OF Dunn did what he does best draw walks (9) and hit home runs (). He also scored a WBC-best nine runs. Venezuela > Miguel Cabrera (Carolina, 00) Nobody should be surprised to see Cabrera on this list. The Tigers B led Venezuela in hits (9), total bases (8), doubles (4) and added two homers and four RBI. > Ramon Hernandez (Huntsville, ) The Reds backstop was very productive in limited time, with seven hits, two homers and five RBI in just 9 at bats.

7 Check out the Southern League s official souvenir store online to purchase the 009 Southern League Media Guide, which features budding MLB stars Clayton Kershaw, Evan Longoria, Cameron Maybin and David Price on the cover. Also available are Southern League New Era caps, Southern League polo shirts and official Southern League baseballs. Southern League Souvenir Stand Writer, Managing Editor and Graphic Designer...Nate Beardsley Editor...Lori Webb Copyright 009, The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of Southern Bases, in whole or part without the expressed written consent of the Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs, Inc., is strictly prohibited. 6