Thanks to Dan Loney at the Trenton Thunder, I was able to speak with New York Yankees prospect Brett Smith this past week. Brett is currently 6-3 with a 2.30 ERA in 13 starts. He has a WHIP of 1.01 and opposing hitters are batting a mere .185 against him.

Check out the interview right here...Q & A with New York Yankees Prospect Brett Smith

Then again, I'm not really sure that's a loss. Anyway, here are the detailed updates on Cristian Guzman and Shawn Hill...

Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman today had season-ending surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.  Dr. Richard Barth performed the operation at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Nationals right-handed pitcher Shawn Hill was seen today by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama.  Hill received a cortisone injection in his right elbow.  He is diagnosed as having right elbow tendinitis.  Hill will resume throwing within a week.

The Milwaukee Brewers have signed 2007 First-Round Draft Pick Matt LaPorta to a contract, it was announced today by Special Assistant to the General Manager/Director of Scouting Jack Zduriencik.  The signing marked the 29th of the Brewers 46 draft picks during the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

LaPorta, a senior at the University of Florida, is a two-time SEC Player of the Year (2007 and 2005).  This past season, he hit .402 with 20 home runs, 52 RBI and 55 walks.  He was a member of the 2005 USA Baseball National Team and was recently named a finalist for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award given to the nation’s premier amateur baseball player.   

LaPorta was a four-year letterwinner at Charlotte HS (Fla.) and earned second-team All-State honors as a senior in 2003.  LaPorta was selected in the 14th round of the 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft and in the 14th round of the 2003 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Chicago Cubs, but did not sign. 

Info courtesy of the Milwaukee Brewers media relations department

As a member of the media, I got a chance to vote for the 11-man All-Tournament Team and Series Most Outstanding Player. We vote on one player for each position, a DH (that can really come from any position) and 2 pitchers to make up the 11 player team. The Most Outstanding Player choice must come from the 11-man team.

Below are my votes and the eventual winners at each position...

Catcher: BDD - Petey Paramore (ASU), Winner - Mitch Canham (OSU)

First Base: BDD - Dustin Ackley (UNC), Winner - Dustin Ackley (UNC)

Second Base: BDD - Joey Wong (OSU), Winner - Joey Wong (OSU)

Third Base: BDD - Chris Dominguez (UL), Winner - Diego Seastrunk (Rice)

Shortstop: BDD - Josh Horton (UNC), Winner - Darwin Barney (OSU)

Outfield: BDD - Bryan Petersen (UCI), Winner - Bryan Petersen (UCI)

Outfield: BDD - Tyler Henley (Rice), Winner - Tim Fedroff (UNC)

Outfield: BDD - Scott Santschi (OSU), Winner - Scott Santschi (OSU)

Designated Hitter: BDD - Cody Cipriano (UCI), Winner - Mike Lissman (OSU)

Pitcher: BDD - Jorge Reyes (OSU), Winner - Jorge Reyes (OSU)

Pitcher: BDD - Andrew Carignan (UNC), Winner - Andrew Carignan (UNC)

Most Outstanding Player: BDD - Jorge Reyes (OSU), Winner - Jorge Reyes (OSU)

Comments...I believe Barney and Lissman won the SS and DH awards because OSU won the championship. I also think people forgot to read the rules...you can pick someone other than a DH to fill your DH spot. Sorry, Lissman just doesn't belong here. I can live with Barney, but I thought Horton was more deserving. As for Paramore, I'm probably a little too biased toward ASU, but the guy carried his team even though they were eliminated early.

It's Back-to-Back for the Oregon State University Beavers! Check out some of the celebration pictures below and don't forget to visit the gallery for the full compilation. Story and remarks will follow shortly.