USA Baseball Alumni Report: Oct. 23

Shelley Duncan (1999 Collegiate National), who hit 30 home runs this season, has been named the most valuable player in the International League. Duncan, an outfielder for the Scranton/Wilkes- Barre Yankees, batted just .277, but he added 30 doubles, 94 RBIs and 85 runs to help his team win the league's Eastern Division title. Duncan also went 3-for-15 with an RBI in a short stay with the New York Yankees.

Pitcher Stephen Strasburg (2008 Olympic, Collegiate National), the first collegian in 12 years to play for the U.S. Olympic team, won his Arizona Fall League debut on Oct. 16. He pitched 3.1 innings against Scottsdale, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out two. The No. 1 pick in the June Major League Baseball draft, Strasburg had pitched one game in early October in an instructional league in Florida. He signed a $15.1 contract with Washington just minutes before the Aug. 17 deadline for draftees to sign with MLB clubs. Strasburg is playing for the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the AFL.

Trevor Reckling (2009 World Cup) has been named the best pitcher in the Los Angeles Angels farm system by Baseball America. The 20-year-old Reckling, whose World Cup stay was cut short by an injury, was 8-7 with a 2.93 ERA at Double-A Arkansas. He led the Texas League in walks (75), but he was also sixth in the league with 106 strikeouts. Reckling also played in the Futures Game in July. He went 2-0 with an 0.69 ERA in three World Cup starts.

Jared Clark (2008 Collegiate National) wound up fourth in the Pioneer League batting race. An outfielder with Casper, Clark hit .348 in 58 games with 11 homers and 44 RBIs. He was named to the league's post-season all-star team as a designated hitter. Dillon Baird of Oren won the batting title with a .372 mark.

The New York Yankees have an up-and-comer in speedy Austin Jackson (2002 16U National), who could force himself into the Yankees' outfield picture next spring. Jackson batted .300 with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with 23 doubles, nine triples and 24 steals. He was named the International League's Rookie of the Year.

Outfielder Sam Fuld (2001-02 Collegiate National) has caused the Chicago Cubs to consider him as part of their 2010 outfield after a big year between Triple-A Iowa and the Cubs. Fuld hit .284 with 17 doubles, 10 triples ans 23 steals with Iowa while also doing well in 97 at-bats with the Cubs. Fuld hit .299 in the majors with 17 walks, 17 runs and six doubles.

Another former USA Baseball alumni who should command attention at next year's spring training camp is St. Louis Cardinals infielder Tyler Greene (2003 Collegiate National), who hit .291 in Triple-A with Memphis. Greene hit 15 homers and 10 doubles to go along with 42 RBis in 340 at-bats. Greene also had two stints with the Cardinals, where he hit .222 with seven extra base hits in 108 at-bats.

Shortstop Grant Green (2005 18U National) opened his pro career by hitting .316 in 19 at-bats with high-A Stockton in the Oakland A's system. The 13th overall pick in the June draft, Green hit .359 in three seasons at USC, starting all 160 games in which he played. He hit .374 as a junior with 19 doubles and 16 stolen bases.

Considering the anticipated free agent losses this winter in the Detroit Tiger bullpen. Cody Satterwhite (2007 Collegiate National) could find himself with a chance to win a spot a job next March. Satterwhite went 4-6 with a 3.47 ERA with Double-A Erie this season. Satterwhite saved 12 games while striking out 52 in 49 innings. Both Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon are free agents who are not expected to re-sign with the Tigers.

Lance Lynn (2007 Collegiate National) wound up third in the Double-A Texas League in ERA with a 2.92 mark. Lynn was 11-4 with 98 strikeouts in 126 innings. He was named as one of seven pitchers named to the league's post-season all-star team.

Infielder Logan Forsythe (2007 Collegiate National) stamped himself as one of the bright spots in the San Diego Padre system as he excelled at both high-A Lake Elsinore and Double-A San Antonio. Forsythe, a former Arkansas star, batted .322 with 24 extra base hits in Class A before earning a promotion to San Antonio, where he batted .279 with nine doubles and 31 RBIs in less than half a season. He should start next season at Triple-A Portland. Forsythe's brother, Blake, hit .293 with last summer's national team.