Kevin Price: Bi-City baseball players ready for major league season

The Major League Baseball season officially got underway Sunday with three games. Most everyone else will play today, with the Miami Marlins and Detroit Tigers having to wait until Tuesday to begin.

At this time last year, there were five players with local ties starting the season in the majors. That number is down to three this season. They are Colby Rasmus, Cory Rasmus and Edwin Jackson.

Tim Hudson retired after a brilliant 18-year career with the Oakland A’s, Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants.

And Brooks Brown was cut by the Los Angeles Dodgers during spring training. Brown pitched the past two seasons with Colorado, but the Dodgers picked him up off waivers in October.

Colby Rasmus (Russell County High alum) helped lead the Houston Astros to the American League playoffs last season with a career-high 25 homers. Then the left-hander really took off in the postseason.

In six games, Rasmus batted .412 (7-for-17) with four homers, a double and six RBIs.

By all accounts Rasmus has found a place he can be comfortable. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Rasmus hit 25-30 homers again this season for the Astros, who open the season today at the New York Yankees.

His brother, Cory, is set as a reliever for the Los Angeles Angels.

Cory Rasmus had a solid spring with a 2.25 ERA in 10 games and 12 innings, including one start. He had 15 strikeouts and allowed just three runs and nine hits.

Health has always been the major issue with Cory, who had arm trouble early in his career in the Braves organization, then had a core injury that needed surgery last season.

He was limited to just 16 games last season and finished with a 5.23 ERA.

Meanwhile, Edwin Jackson (Shaw High), who signed with the Miami Marlins as a free agent, will start the season in the bullpen, mostly as a long reliever.

Jackson was hoping to earn a spot in the Marlins rotation, but a couple of bad games doomed those chances. He went 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA in five games.

He pitched in relief for the Cubs and the Braves last season, going 4-3 with a 3.07 ERA.

Here is a look at some of the minor leaguers from the Bi-City:

▪ Ty Kelley (Columbus High) was released on April 1 by Fargo-Morehead of the American Association, an independent minor league.

▪ Reggie Abercrombie (Columbus High) changed his mind about playing another season and signed with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the American Association.

▪ Bryan Woodall (Phenix City) re-signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League.

▪ Cameron Griffin (Columbus State) is expected to start the season with the Mets’ Low-A affiliate in Columbia (S.C.).

▪ Jordan Weems (Columbus High) is expected to start the season with the Red Sox’s Double-A team in Portland, Maine.

▪ Matt Taylor (Columbus High) was expected to start the season with the Orioles’ Advanced-A affiliate in Frederick, Md. But he is having back surgery today and will likely miss the entire season. He was limited last season after getting hit in the head with a line drive in late April.

▪ Nick Sarianides (Northside High and CVCC) is expected to start the season with the Mobile Baybears, the Double-A affiliate of the Diamondbacks. Sarianides pitched in a pair of spring training games for the Diamdonbacks.

▪ Josh Lester (Columbus High) is expected to start the season with the West Michigan Whitecaps, the Tigers’ Low-A affiliate in the Midwest League.

▪ Justin Ellison (Hardaway High) is expected to start the season with the Rome Braves, the Braves’ Low-A affiliate in the South Atlantic League.

▪ Rock Rucker (Russell County) was likely headed to the Dayton Dragons, the Reds’ Low-A affiliate in the Midwest League, but he suffered an injury and is going through rehab for the next couple of months. The Reds have converted him into a starting pitcher as well.

▪ Jason Rogers (Columbus State) was optioned by the Pirates to the Indianapolis Indians, their Triple-A affiliate in the International League.

If I missed anyone, please send me an email.

This story was originally published April 3, 2016 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Kevin Price: Bi-City baseball players ready for major league season."