2032 North Carolina Aviators News & Notes

[Chappy]

Grasshoppers Stadium Gets a Facelift
More offense on the horizon for North Carolina's Rookie League affiliate

The Delray Beach Grasshoppers are moving the walls in and raising one of them this season.

The once ginourmous stadium will now be more average in size, but feature a 32-foot high wall in Left Field.

LL - 305 - 32
LF - 340 - 32
LC - 375 - 32
CF - 400 - 10
RC - 375 - 10
RF - 350 - 10
RL - 325 - 10

AVG LHB - 1.000
AVG RHB - 1.115 (max increase per rules)
Doubles - 1.200
Triples - 1.300
HR LHB - 1.00
HR RHB - .950

[Chappy]

Aviators take Sean Casey in 6th Round
'Crocodile' Casey known as smart, patient player

Markesan High third baseman Sean 'Crocodile' Casey was the North Carolina Aviators' 6th round selection in the annual amateur draft. 

The youngster hit .329-28-123 in his high school career, which consisted of 137 games.  Scouts call him an extremely smart player, tough to strike out and heady on the basepaths.  He has a cannon arm, but lacks a lot of range and is below average with the glove.

Casey will report to Delray Beach of the Liberty League (R).

[Chappy]

Aviators Reach for 7th Round Pick
Team baffles fans, takes high school backup

Once the draft reaches it's final couple of rounds, you start seeing strange choices.  Case in point; the North Carolina Aviators and their 7th round selection, Greg Hall. 

Hall, a senior at Mesa High, isn't even his team's starting catcher.  He backs up Junior Darren Kirby.

Hall's numbers trend downward; .417 as a sophomore, .138 as a junior, .234 as a senior.  Career line: .236-5-32 in 148 AB.

There is very little to like about Greg Hall's resume.  That is, until you talk to his coaches.

"Greg's a workhorse.  Greg is insanely smart.  Greg is an inspiration to his teammates.  Everyone follows his lead, and it makes the whole team better", his high school coach says.  "He may not have big league talent, at least that I can see.  But he's going to be an asset to whatever organization drafts him".

And now we know, that organization is the North Carolina Aviators.

Hall will report to Delray Beach (R) and compete for time in a deep but young pool of potential catchers.

[Chappy]

Aviators Conclude 2032 Draft with Ybarra
Gatineau College star won 2031 ACOL NC Outstanding Pitcher Award

With their last pick in the draft, North Carolina selected Gatineau College sophomore Jesus Ybarra.

Ybarra pitched for Calgary High in 2030 before going undrafted and signing with Gatineau College.  As a freshman at Gatineau, he was an all-star and won the Outstanding Pitcher Award.  This past season, he set a career high with 31 saves.  For his college career, he has a line of 3-7 with 57 saves and a 2.40 ERA in 86 appearances.