Balcom-Miller traded to Boston

On Tuesday, just prior to the September 1 roster deadline, the Colorado Rockies acquired RHP Manny Delcarmen from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for former Ghost, and last season’s Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year Chris Balcom-Miller.

Balcom-Miller will stay in the South Atlantic League with the Red Sox affiliate in Greenville, South Carolina. He had been with the Asheville Tourists, who he started 19 games for this season, and compiled a record of 6-7 with a 3.31 ERA. He walked just 19 batters in 108.2 innings, and held opponents to a .214 batting average. The right-hander was the South Atlantic League’s Pitcher of the Week for the period from June 28- July 6.

“We pick up a nice future asset, a guy we liked in the draft a lot last year and probably should have taken,’’ Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein told the Boston Globe. “We let him sit on the board a little too long. He’s gone out and really performed. We had some recent looks from some scouts. We like his stuff and we like his projectability.”

The 22-year old was selected by the Rockies in the sixth round of the 2009 draft out of West Valley College in California. He went 4-0 with a 1.58 ERA in 11 starts with the Ghosts. He allowed just 37 hits in 57 innings, while walking only 10 and striking out 60.

Before this season, Baseball America had Balcom-Miller ranked as the 16^th best prospect in the Rockies minor league system.

Casteel named Player of the Week

Ghosts catcher Ryan Casteel finished the month of August on a tear, and it resulted with him being recognized as the Pioneer LeagueÕs Player of the Week for the week of August 23-29. Casteel had 22 at bats in that span, and hit .545 with a homer and 8 RBI. Five of Casteel's 12 hits were for extra bases, and he only struck out twice.

Casteel's week capped off a month of August when the 19-year old hit .394 (26x66) with two home runs and 10 runs batted in. He had two extra base hits combined in June and July, in August, he had nine, including his first two professional home runs.

The 19-year old from Cleveland, Tennessee was drafted by the Rockies in the 17th round out of Cleveland State College. Entering Wednesday's doubleheader in Orem, he has appeared in 35 games, and is hitting .345 (49x142) with two homers and 16 RBI. He has been clutch this season with a .341 batting average with runners in scoring position.

He becomes the second Ghosts recognized by the Pioneer League this season. Albert Campos was named the league's Pitcher of the week during the period from August 9-15.