On top of pile . . . on top of world

Here's another in a series of memories from the 2008 championship season.  Utility infielder Mike Cervenak (98) had his first big-league hit during the Phillies' championship season of 2008, but that wasn't his favorite memory. "My favorite memory was jumping on the pile after Game 5 of the World Series," said Cervenak, 32, whose first pro contract was in the Frontier League in 1999. "To come from independent-league ball to be part of a world-championship team was even more memorable than my first hit."  Cervenak was on top of the celebratory pile, and he has a souvenir picture of it.  "I was one of the later guys to get out there," he said. "Me and Greg Golson slapped five, hugged, and ran out there."

Mike Cervenak, l with Mike Besco

PRESSBOX

• Mike Cervenak (98) Sent to Phillies minor league camp. ... "Mike Cervenak told us this winter how much he had gotten out of his baseball career, which includes starring at the University of Michigan and playing in Holland, Alaska, Korea and Venezuela in addition to nine minor league seasons.  I can only imagine how the 31-year-old infielder, who started as a pro in 1999 and part of 2000 at Chillicothe, OH in the Frontier League, must be struggling to keep that positive outlook today after he was sent to Philadelphia's minor league camp, especially with three weeks remaining in spring training. The Phillies aggressively pursued Cervenak when he was a free agent this winter, but from watching the box scores he got only limited at-bats this spring before getting the minor league assignment. Cervenak had lifted his career average to .295 with a solid '07 season at Triple-A Norfolk, VA when he led the International League with hits (157), games (140) and at-bats (554). Even his 15 home runs--138 for his career--and 78 runs batted in did not seem to carry much weight. So Cervenak continues looking for his first regular season major league game, as does southpaw Brian Mazone, who was in the same round of cuts made by Philadelphia. Righthander Brad Ziegler was an early cut from Oakland. Mazone is a graduate of Joliet, IL (Northern League) and Zion, UT (Western League) while Ziegler played Indy baseball for Schaumburg, IL (Northern).

2006: Began the season with the Kia Tigers in the Korean Baseball Organization, hitting .224... Returned to the U.S. and signed a minor league contract with the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies in the San Francisco Giants organization...Played 68 games with Fresno, appearing primarily at third base and first base... 245 of his 269 at-bats came while batting third or fourth in the lineup...Finished fourth on the club with 53 RBI despite not appearing in a game until June 26...Hit .316 (18-for-57) against left-handed pitching...Hit safely in 12 of his first 13 games, hitting .413 (19-for-46) with two home runs and nine RBI...Had a season-high four hits on July 17 vs. Salt Lake City, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored...Had 20 RBI in 28 July games, and 29 RBI in 31 games in August...His 29 RBI in August tied with Round Rock’s J.R. House and Portland’s Terrmel Sledge for the Pacific Coast League lead...Played eight games for Cardinales de Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League, hitting .259 (7-for-27) with six RBI. BACKGROUND: Michael Christopher Cervenak was signed by the Orioles as a minor league free agent on November 3, 2006...Originally signed with Chillicothe in the Independent Northern League, and had his contract purchased by the Yankees on July 17, 2000...The Oakland Athletics took him with their final pick of the 1998 amateur draft, in the 43rd round, but he did not sign...Graduated from Divine Child (Dearborn, MI) High School...Graduated from University of Michigan in 1999 with a degree in Movement Science...3-time All-Big Ten selection...Led Wolverines to 1997 Big Ten title, then garnered All-Regional accolades as the team advanced to the College World Series.

1998 Alaska Goldpanners
Roster • Statistics • Results • Schedule

 

PLAYER	G	AB	R	H	RBI	2B	3B	HR	BB	SO	SB	SH	HP	AVG
Cervenak	44	174	38	49	30	12	4	5	16	21	4	5	3	.282