11/13/06 - Steve Bray and Jamie D'Antona have traveled two different paths that have ended up in the same city this fall. Bray and D'Antona are currently in the middle of the fall season for the Scottsdale (AZ) Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League.

 

The Arizona Fall League was created by Major League Baseball to create an easily accessed off-season league so that players didn't have to leave the country. Each Major League team sends six top prospects to the league, 180 players on 6 teams.

 

Bray played on TCB's first National Championship team in 1994. He played 6 years with TCB, culminating in the 1999 National Championship in his final season. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals after his senior season at the University of New Haven.

 

Steve was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in last year's Rule 5 draft. He started the season in Double A, and was promoted to Nashville of the Triple A Pacific Coast League part way through the season. He posted a 2-0 record in Nashville with a 1.25 ERA.

"Steve Bray has been close to automatic of late. Over his last five relief appearances in the Arizona Fall League, the 25-year-old right-hander has given up just one hit. Unfortunately for Bray, it was a solo homer, the only run he's surrendered since Oct. 21.

In fact, Bray has allowed just three batters to reach base over his last six innings. The New Haven, CT, native has retired 12 of the last 13 hitters he's faced and lowered his ERA to 4.82." (excerpt taken from article by Tim Leonard, special on MLB.com)

Bray has a record of 1-1 this fall with a 5.23 earned run average. In 10.1 innings, he's allowed 12 hits and 6 runs while striking out 7.

D'Antona played his college ball at Wake Forest where he racked up the awards. In his three years in the ACC, he was named ACC Freshman of the Year, Freshman All American, National Freshman of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, and First Team All American, among other things. Jamie is also the career leader in home runs and runs batted in for the Demon Deacons.

Following his junior season, D'Antona was drafted in the second round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He spent this season in Double A with the Tennessee Smokies. Jamie posted impressive numbers, hitting .310 with 143 hits in 126 games. He had 17 home runs, 29 doubles, and 67 runs batted in.

"Jamie D'Antona had a strong 2006 campaign for the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. He played mostly at first and third base while cracking 17 home runs with 67 RBIs and a .310 batting average.

The 24-year-old was one of three Diamondbacks farmhands to be selected to play in the "Rising Stars Showcase," the AFL All-Star Game.

What may be the turning point in his fall campaign came on Oct. 24, when he went 2-for-5 with an RBI, a double and a run scored against the Peoria Javelinas -- a game which broke his slump." (excerpt taken from article by Tim Leonard, special on MLB.com)

D'Antona is currently hitting .232 in 18 games. He's got 6 doubles, 2 home runs, and 9 runs batted in.