Schaeffer Is on a Rocky Road

Not only is Jon Schaeffer a rock behind the plate, the former Harvard-Westlake High catcher seems to be a rock wherever he goes.

Schaeffer was traded this week from the Minnesota Twins organization to the Oakland Athletics.

The double-A player moved from the New Britain Rock Cats to the Midland Rockhounds.

Notice a trend?

“As long as that doesn’t mean I’ve got rocks in my head, I’ll be OK,” the former Stanford All-American said.

A ninth-round selection by the Twins in 1997, Schaeffer was pleased to leave the Twins, an organization that has seen several farmhands ask for their releases this season, including infielder Dan Cey, formerly of El Camino Real High.

Schaeffer was dealt for slugger T.R. Marcinczyk, once considered one of Oakland’s top prospects.

“This was a very good deal for me,” said Schaeffer, who had seen limited time at New Britain. “I came to a point with Minnesota that I didn’t think I had a shot at going to the big leagues.”

It might not be so easy with Oakland, either.

Also on the Midland roster is catcher Cody McKay, one of the Athletics’ top prospects and the Texas League’s all-star catcher.

Schaeffer is philosophical.

“I was taught that you’re not playing for just one organization, but all 30,” he said. “You never know who is going to see you and want you.”

He learned that first-hand this week.

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Fernando Rios, former Glendale High outfielder, was hitless in a Class-A Midwest League game Tuesday, snapping a 21-game hitting streak, one of the longest in the minors this season.

Rios is batting .333 for the Clinton Lumberkings, a farm club of the Cincinnati Reds.

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Outfielder Eric Cole, formerly of Antelope Valley High and Antelope Valley College, and shortstop Jack Wilson, formerly of Thousand Oaks High, have been selected as starters for the double-A Texas League all-star team that will play a two-game series against the Mexican League all-stars.

They will play next Sunday at El Paso and on June 20 in Monterrey, Mexico.

Cole is batting .320 with 10 home runs and 51 RBIs for Houston Astros’ affiliate Round Rock. He is third in the league with 24 doubles.

Wilson is batting .326 for Arkansas of a St. Louis Cardinals’ organization.

First baseman Pete Paciorek, formerly of Glendale College, has been selected to the California League all-star team, which will meet the Carolina League’s all-stars next Sunday at Kinston, N.C.

Paciorek is batting .290 with eight home runs and 49 RBIs for the San Bernardino Stampede in the Dodger organization.

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Joe Borchard, former Camarillo High standout selected by the Chicago White Sox with the 12th overall pick this week, has a familiar name as an advisor.

Jim McDowell, former Notre Dame High coach, knows all about the White Sox organization.

His brother, Jack, won the Cy Young Award in 1993 while wearing a Chicago uniform.

McDowell and the White Sox cannot begin negotiations until Borchard and Stanford are done with the College World Series.

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Jon Garland, former Kennedy High pitcher, was selected the triple-A International League’s player of the month for May after going 5-0 for the Charlotte Knights. Garland is 7-1 with a 2.35 ERA. . . . Gabe Kapler, former Taft High and Moorpark College outfielder, is back with the Texas Rangers after his torn quadriceps muscle healed. . . . Josh Towers was placed on the seven-day disabled list last week by triple-A Rochester, the Baltimore Orioles’ top affiliate. . . . Andy Wilson, former Cal State Northridge outfielder, has been released by San Diego Padres affiliate Rancho Cucamonga. . . . Catcher Josh Goldfield, formerly of Calabasas High, was promoted this week from extended spring training to the Class-A High Desert in the California League.