ON THE VERGE OF STARDOM: JACKALS ALUMNI UPDATE
by Katie Corrado

Little Falls, NJ – Several Jackals alumni are making names for themselves in affiliated minor league teams this season. Since the beginning of the 2006 season, 17 former Jackals players have signed with major league organizations.

Left-hander Craig Breslow is currently a relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics after beginning the 2009 season with the Minnesota Twins. Breslow, who appeared in 19 games with the Jackals in 2003, is currently 1-4 with a 4.46 ERA. In his major league career, the Yale University product has a 3.08 ERA over 132 games. Since 2005, Breslow has also played with the Padres, Red Sox, and Indians.

First baseman John Lindsey, who spent parts of two seasons with the Jackals in 2005 and 2006, signed with the Florida Marlins this offseason. Lindsey is batting .269 with 18 home runs and 74 RBI in 109 games for the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs. The slugger spent the past two seasons at the Triple-A level with the Los Angeles Dodgers, belting 45 homers in 210 games over that span.

Infielder Guillermo Reyes jumped from Double-A ball last season to Triple-A in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization after beginning 2009 with the inaugural Reno Aces. Reyes, who spent two seasons with New Jersey, batted .251 last season for the Mobile Bay Bears. The former Chicago White Sox farmhand had previously spent three seasons at the Triple-A level before joining the Jackals for the 2006 campaign. He is currently batting .239 with eight runs and three doubles for the Aces.

The Dodgers organization signed former Jackals infielder Ramon Nivar on June 25. Nivar, who began the 2008 season with New Jersey, was assigned to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. While playing for New Jersey, he batted .221 with three home runs and 21 RBI over 23 games. This season for the Lookouts, Nivar is hitting an impressive .333 with 25 runs scored and 10 stolen bases.

Jackals alum Sandy Madera began the 2009 season playing for the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Since being picked up by Pawtucket from the Jackals in 2008, Madera played in 40 games as the DH until being signed by the Newark Bears this June. Madera, now an infielder for the Bears, is batting an incredible .414 with nine home runs and 35 RBI over 36 games.

Pitcher Jon Hunton was signed by the Oakland Athletics organization in 2008 after spending part of the 2007 season with the Jackals. Hunton, who also spent time in the Chicago White Sox organization, began 2009 with the Single-A Stockton Ports. Hunton recorded six saves with a 1.80 ERA before being promoted to the Double-A Midland RockHounds. With the RockHounds, Hunton is currently 3-3 with two saves and a 3.82 ERA over 30 games.

The New Jersey Jackals, proud members of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, play their home games at Yogi Berra Stadium located on the campus of Montclair State University in Little Falls, NJ. The Jackals have clinched the 2009 Can-Am League first-half title and an automatic berth in the playoffs, which begin on September 9. Playoff and regular season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling (973) 746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.Jackals.com.