Results tagged ‘ Shawon Dunston Jr. ’
6/18 Minor League report
Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer in the seventh to lift Iowa to a 3-2 win over Albuquerque on Sunday. Rizzo is batting .364. Chris Volstad started and gave up two runs on seven hits over six innings, while striking out six. He’s now 2-1 with a 4.78 ERA.
Trey McNutt gave up five runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings in Tennessee’s 5-3 loss to Birmingham. Junior Lake and Elliot Soto each had three hits.
Daytona returns to action Monday, facing Tampa. Robert Whitenack was scheduled to start.
Michael Jensen gave up two runs on six hits over six innings in Peoria’s 10-5 win over Clinton. Paul Hoilman hit his sixth home run and had four RBIs.
South African pitcher Tayler Scott threw five shutout innings in his first pro start but it wasn’t enough as Boise lost 4-3 to Salem-Keizer. Scott struck out four and gave up three hits. Shawon Dunston Jr. had two hits, the first two of his pro career.
– Carrie Muskat
1/15 Fathers & sons
Shawon Dunston and son, Shawon Dunston Jr., Bob Brenly and son Michael, and Keith Lockhart and son Daniel took part in an entertaining session on Sunday to close the 27th Cubs Convention at the Chicago Hilton. Dunston Jr. and Daniel Lockhart were selected in last June’s First-Year Player Draft in the 11th and 10th rounds, respectively, while Brenly was a 36th round pick in 2008 and helped Daytona win the Florida State League championship last season.
Both Lockhart and Dunston Jr. are going from high school to pro ball. Lockhart’s Hebron Christian Academy in Georgia is coming off a state championship. Shawon Jr. said it was a tough decision to choose between school and baseball; he wanted to go to Vanderbilt University. The Cubs’ signing bonus included money for school, which helped convince the outfielder.
“I want him to be a better player than me, to have a better career than me,” said Dunston Sr., who was the Cubs’ first-round pick in 1982.
Keith Lockhart, a former Major League infielder who is now a scout with the Cubs, said Daniel developed an early love for the game. When he was 3 years old, Daniel would stand on a seat at ballgames to watch, rather than go play with the other kids. Bob Brenly said Michael was determined to be a catcher and would dig out dad’s old gear to wear. What will happen if Michael does make it to the big leagues and dad is broadcasting the game?
“That sound you hear in the background will be me throwing up [out of nervousness],” said Bob Brenly, the analyst for Cubs TV broadcasts.
All of the fathers and sons did give credit to the moms for taking them to games and supporting them. Michael said his mother often sounded just like his dad in giving advice.
Shawon Sr., who works in the Giants organization with Minor Leaguers, made sure his son put school first. Shawon Jr. had to maintain a 3.55 GPA. If it was lower, he couldn’t play baseball.
“My job is to hate me now but you’ll love me later,” Shawon Sr. said.
Someone suggested Cubs fans would be eager to dust off the “Shawon-O-Meter” sign popular during Dunston’s days with the Cubs from 1985-95.
“I have a t-shirt at home with that on it,” Shawon Jr. said.
Shawon Sr. is doing his best to keep his son on track. The latest argument in the Dunston house is about what car young Shawon will get. Dad will probably win this one.
“Best advice, always listen to your father,” Shawon Sr. said.
Dunston wears a 20-year-old gold chain with charms for each of his children on it.
“I always keep my kids with me,” he said.
– Carrie Muskat
9/14 Future Cubs
The Cubs’ Instructional League gets underway Thursday in Mesa, Ariz., which means several of the team’s Draft picks as well as some other Minor League prospects will get some extra work and playing time. They start playing games Sept. 23 in the Phoenix area, with the Cubs playing at their Fitch Park complex. Among the players scheduled to participate include No. 1 pick Javier Baez and Shawon Dunston Jr., son of the former Cubs shortstop.
Twelve of the Cubs’ first 16 Draft picks are expected to get a head start on their pro careers, including second-round pick Dan Vogelbach, a first baseman from Bishop Verot (Fla.) High School. Also expected to participate are infielder/outfielder Zeke DeVoss from Miami; right-hander pitcher Tony Zych of Louisville; right-handed pitcher Tayler Scott of Notre Dame (Ariz.) High School; catcher Neftali Rosario of Puerto Rico Academy High School; and outfielder Garrett Schlecht of Waterloo (Ill.) High School. Others on the list include infielder Daniel Lockhart of Hebron Christian Academy (Ga.); right-handed pitcher Dillon Maples of Pinecrest (N.C.) High School; catcher Justin Marra of Michael Power St. Joseph High School; catcher Rafael Lopez of Florida State University; and left-handed pitcher Andrew McKirahan of Texas.
– Carrie Muskat
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