Mateo Gets Rehab Start at Fitch

The EXST Giants defeated the EXST Cubs (Boise/Mesa) 6-1 this morning at Fitch Park Field #2 in Mesa, a game that featured the first game appearance for RHP Juan Mateo. After a couple of lackluster "live" BP sessions over the past week, Mateo (on the Cubs 15-day DL since ST with a sore shoulder) finally got some game action today, tossing two shutout innings (31 pitches, 20 strikes). Throwing at "cruising speed," Mateo topped out at 90, and his breaking ball was sharp. He gave up no runs on two singles, with no walks and three strikeouts, and one wild pitch. I would think Mateo will likely be leaving Fitch in the next few days to continue his rehab at Daytona or Tennessee, and if all goes well, he should be back in the Iowa starting rotation (and off the Cubs DL) within a couple of weeks. As I mentioned a couple of days ago, Kerry Wood threw a 15-20 pitch bullpen session on Tuesday morning before the Cubs EXST intrasquad game at Fitch, but he did not throw in the game itself. A "live" BP session (probably tomorrow) would seem the likely next step for Woody. Minor leaguers currently rehabbling at EXST include outfielders Jeff Culpepper (off-season shoulder surgery rehab), Ryan Harvey (hamstring), and Andy Lopez (quad), and pitchers Jose Ceda (shoulder), Michael Cooper (shoulder), Rafael Dolis (elbow), Adam Harben (TJ elbow surgery), Junniol Lami, Billy Muldowney (elbow), and Taylor Parker (elbow). Of the rehabbers, Culpepper and Cooper are playing in EXST games and (barring setbacks) should be ready to join a full-season club (probably Daytona) soon. The other rehabbing pitchers are participating in PFP and conditioning drills only at this time. Also, RHP Mark Prior (shoulder surgery), RHP Roberto Novoa (fractured shoulder sustained in off-season car crash), 2006 12th round pick RHP Kitt Kopach (shoulder surgery), and Daytona RHP Todd Blackford (awaiting surgery for a torn elbow ligament) are out indefinitely. In other EXST roster news, Cubs 2006 16th round pick C-1B Blake Parker is now a pitcher, 3B Elvin Puello and OF Valerio Heredia have been released (both 22, Puello was once considered one of the Cubs better prospects, and Heredia was one of the fastest players in the organization), recent 2006 Draft + Follow signees 3B Jovan Rosa (Lake City CC) and RHP Jordan Latham (College of Southern Idaho) have arrived (Rosa played in the EXST intrasquad game on Tuesday, but only took BP today), and 2006 NDFA 5th year college senior RHP John Muller (recently signed by the Cubs out of St. Thomas Aquinas College in New York) threw a "live" BP session today. Here is the abridged box score (that means Cubs players only) from today's EXST Cubs game: LINEUP: 1. Sammy Baez, DH#1 (1-4, K) 2. Jeff Culpepper, DH#2 (1-4, 2B, CS) 3. Marwin Gonzalez, 3B (1-4) 4. Steve Clevenger, 1B (1-3) 5-A. Carlos Perez, C (1-2) 5-B. Mario Mercedes, C (1-2, K) 6. Nelson Perez, RF (0-3, K) 7. Drew Rundle, LF (0-3, K) 8. Andres Quezada, CF (0-3, 2 K) 9. Gian Guzman, SS (1-2, R, BB, SB) 10. Cesar Valentin, 2B (0-3, 2 K) NOTE: Mercedes hit between Culpepper and Gonzalez in the 9th, so that he would be sure of getting two ABs in the game. PITCHERS: 1. Juan Mateo - 2.0 IP, 2 H. 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP 2. Larry Suarez - 2.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 1 K 3. Kevin Kreier - 2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K 4. Brad Clipp - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP ATTENDANCE - 1 Best I can tell, here is the current up-to-date Cubs EXST roster: 2007 CUBS EXST ROSTER (5/24/07): * bats or throws left # bats both PITCHERS (ACTIVE): Francisco Acosta Alberto Cabrera Julio Castillo Brad Clipp Miguel Cuevas Wily Garcia Chris Huseby Kevin Kreier Jordan Latham Simon Lee Matt Maradeo Oswaldo Martinez John Muller Andrew McCormick Blake Parker (ex-C) * Mark Pawelek Leonel Perez (ex-3B) Audy Santana Ryan Searle Larry Suarez Brandon Taylor (ex-3B) Harol Tolentino Donny Walters PITCHERS (REHAB) Jose Ceda Michael Cooper Rafael Dolis Adam Harben Junniol Lami Juan Mateo Billy Muldowney * Taylor Parker PITCHERS (INACTIVE) Todd Blackford (torn elbow ligament - awaiting surgery) Brett Jackson (unknown) Kitt Kopach (shoulder surgery) Roberto Novoa (fractured shoulder) Mark Prior (shoulder surgery) Kerry Wood (shoulder/triceps) CATCHERS: * Steve Clevenger (ex-INF) Mario Mercedes Carlos Perez INFIELDERS: # Marwin Gonzalez (3B-1B) Gian Guzman (3B-SS) Elvis Lara (2B) Jesus Reyes (1B-OF) Jovan Rosa (3B) Nathan Samson (SS) Cesar Valentin (SS-2B) OUTFIELDERS: * Cliff Andersen Sammy Baez (ex-SS) Cody Gilbert (OF-1B) * Nelson Perez (was signed as RHP, then converted to OF) # Andres Quezada * Drew Rundle POSITION PLAYERS (REHAB) * Jeff Culpepper, OF (shoulder surgery rehab) Ryan Harvey, OF (hamstring) Andy Lopez, OF (quad) # Francisco Tirado, 2B (quad) MANAGER: Tom Beyers (Boise manager) COACHES: Franklin Font (Boise hitting coach) Carmelo Martinez (AZL Mesa hitting coach) Ricardo Medina (AZL Mesa manager) Tom Pratt (Boise pitching coach) Rick Tronerud (AZL Mesa pitching coach)