Three former Longhorns headed to Arizona Fall Baseball League
Three former University of Texas baseball players will suit up in the prestigious Arizona Fall League (AFL) starting in October. The trio includes Ryan Hubele of the Grand Canyon Rafters, Danny Muegge of the Mesa Solar Sox and Curtis Thigpen of the Phoenix Desert Dogs. In 2006, Hubele, a letterman from 2000-02, played 97 games for the Class AA Bowie BaySox. The catcher hit .247 with nine home runs and 34 RBI. Muegge, a UT letterman in 2002-03, started 25 games for the Class AA Jacksonville Suns in 2006. He logged a 9-9 record and 3.88 ERA, striking out 84 batters in 141.2 innings. An emerging catcher in the Toronto Blue Jays' organization, Thigpen played 87 games at Class AA New Hampshire and 13 games for the Class AAA Syracuse SkyChiefs this past summer. Thigpen, a three-year letterman and All-Big 12 first-team selection in 2004, combined to hit .260 with six home runs and 45 RBI in 100 games in 2006. The AFL, owned and operated by Major League Baseball, recently released its rosters and schedules. The schedule consists of 97 total games. League action begins on October 27. The Arizona Fall League includes six teams. The players are considered to be on the fast track to major league success. The 2006 All-Star game boasted 25 AFL alums. Each August, the MLB teams hold a position draft to determine the players who will go to Arizona. Most players are Class AAA and Class A, but each team may send one player considered Class A.
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