Where are They Now - From the Archives 2005 Article By: Ben Fischer 2005 CCBL PLAYERS AND PITCHERS OF THE WEEK: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Player of the Week, Week 1: J.P Lowen, Harwich
Lowen, a catcher from the University of Kentucky, took home 2005’s first Player of the Week, setting the tone for his summer where he hit four home runs in 18 games. He signed with the Royals on July 19 of 2005, and played in the Royals system in 2005 and 2006 before spending 2007 with the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League. After leaving baseball, Loen has worked in various jobs, including spending time as a film extra and stand-in. In that job, Lowen worked on Fast and Furious 8, standing in for Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson in a number of scenes.
Pitcher of the Week, Week 1: Tim Norton, Falmouth
Norton took home this award in week one and did not slow down for the rest of the summer, taking home the award for top New England prospect and sharing the top pitching prospect award with Andrew Miller. The UConn product went to the Yankees in the seventh round of the 2006 draft, reaching AAA in 2011 before being forced to retire in 2012. Norton stayed in the game, coaching in the Yankees system from 2013 to 2019 before departing to work for the Angels AA affiliate, the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
Player of the Week, Week 2, 5: Evan Longoria, Chatham
The Long Beach State product flashed his huge potential in his two summers with the A’s before taking his talents to the professional game. Picked third overall in 2006 by the Tampa Bay Rays, Longoria raced through the minors before helping the Rays to the AL pennant with a Rookie of the Year campaign in 2008. Now with the San Francisco Giants, the three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glover has hit 20 home runs in all but two of his Major League seasons and remains the Rays’ franchise leader in games played, home runs, and offensive WAR.
Pitcher of the Week, Week 2: Jared Hughes, Chatham
Longoria’s teammate both in Chatham and at Long Beach State, Hughes took home pitcher of the week honors in the second week of the 2005 season. After leaving school, Hughes was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fourth round of the 2006 draft, eventually working his way to the bigs in 2011. Hughes has appeared in the Majors as a reliever for Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia. The 6-foot-7 righty has had several solid seasons, including 2014 where he notched a 1.96 ERA and 2018 where his mark was 1.94. Prior to the 2020 season, Hughes inked a minor-league deal with the Houston Astros.
Player of the Week, Week 3: Chris Errecart, Y-D
Errecart, a first baseman and outfielder from the University of California, rode his solid college and Cape League career to a fifth round draft spot by the Milwaukee Brewers. Errecart stayed in the Milwaukee system until 2010, reaching as high as AA. After his playing career ended, Errecart returned to his native California, where he is currently working in real estate.
Pitcher of the Week, Week 3: Robert Woodard, Chatham
The North Carolina hurler was the Cape League’s top pitcher in the third week of the 2005 season. After spending four years in Chapel Hill, Woodard was drafted in the twentieth round by the San Diego Padres and advanced to AAA before retiring and returning to UNC as an assistant coach. After stints as an assistant coach at UNC-Wilmington, Virginia Tech, and a second tour of duty at UNC, Woodard was named the head coach at Charlotte prior to the 2020 season
Player of the Week, Week 4: Chris Pettit, Orleans
The Loyola Marymount product roamed the Cardinals outfield in 2005, and rode a solid summer to the pros, getting drafted in the nineteenth round by the Los Angeles Angels. Pettit reached the Big Leagues with the Angels in 2009. After missing 2010 with an injury, Pettit spent 2011 with affiliates of the Dodgers, Rockies, and Mariners as well as the independent Bridgeport Bluefish. In his final pro season of 2013, Pettit spent time with the Orioles and the Tigres De Quintana Roo of the Mexican League.
Pitcher of the Week, Week 4, 7: Derrik Lutz, Chatham
Lutz, the right-handed ace from George Washington, was part of the loaded Chatham staff of 2005. After returning to GW for his senior season, Lutz was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the nineteenth round of the 2006 draft. Lutz remained in the Reds’ system until 2011 compiling a career ERA of 3.49 and striking out 166 in 198.1 innings across four different minor league levels.
Pitcher of the Week, Week 5: Wade LeBlanc, Wareham
The Alabama southpaw was a 36th round draft pick out of high school. After a stellar career in Tuscaloosa and a solid summer in Wareham, LeBlanc was picked in the second round by the San Diego Padres in 2006. LeBlanc reached the Majors in 2008, and stayed in San Diego until 2011. Since then, LeBlanc has played for the Miami Marlins, the Houston Astros, the Los Angeles Angels, the New York Yankees, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Seattle Mariners. Prior to the 2020 season, LeBlanc signed with the Baltimore Orioles.
Player of the Week, Week 6: Alex Presley, Chatham
Presley, an Ole Miss outfielder, continued the trend of Chatham players taking home awards when he took player of the week honors in week 6. The Rebels' star became the Pirates eighth round draft pick in 2006, and made his way to the Big Leagues in 2010. After spending 2010-2013 with Pittsburgh, Presley was sent to Minnesota before spending time with Minnesota, Houston, Detroit, and the Chicago White Sox.
Pitcher of the Week, Week 6: Gib Hobson, Bourne
A right-handed pitcher from North Carolina State, Hobson spent a successful 2005 summer with the Braves. Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2006, Hobson remained in the Giants’ system until 2008. After leaving baseball. Hobson received a law degree in 2013 and currently works in his native state of North Carolina.
Player of the Week, Week 7: Todd Frazier, Chatham
The trophy case of the 2005 Chatham A’s was already quite full before Frazier took home player of the week honors in week seven. The Rutgers infielder was a standout in Chatham in 2005 and 2006, riding his success to a first round draft spot with the Cincinnati Reds in 2006. Frazier reached the Bigs in 2011. He finished third in voting for NL Rookie of the Year in 2012, and was an All Star in 2014 and 2015, winning the Home Run Derby in 2015. Prior to the 2016 season, Frazier was dealt to the White Sox, where he spent a season and a half before joining the New York Yankees and subsequently, the New York Mets. For the 2020 season, Frazier is under contract with the Texas Rangers.
Player of the Week, Week 8: Shelby Ford, Falmouth
A utilityman from Oklahoma State, Ford was the second Commodore to take home a weekly award in the summer of 2005. Ford was a third-round pick of the Pirates in the 2006 draft, and spent five years in the organization before leaving to play independent ball until 2017. In 2018, Ford was named the manager of the Cleburne Railroaders of the American Association.
Pitcher of the Week, Week 8: David Huff, Chatham
The UCLA righty was the last of a parade of weekly award winners that played for the 2005 Chatham A’s. Huff, who also played for Chatham in 2004, translated his NCAA and Cape League success into a solid draft spot, going 39th overall in 2006 to the Cleveland Indians. Huff reached the majors in 2009 with Cleveland, and has made appearances for the Indians as well as the Yankees, the Giants, the Dodgers, and the Angels. Huff also spent time playing in Korea and Japan before signing with the Diamondbacks for the 2020 season. |