Let’s keep the player profile rotation going and put the spotlight on one of the most electrifying players of the Mat-Su Miners, and the entire ABL, this season: VCU sophomore outfielder Bill Cullen.

Finally out from under the pile of game notes I’d buried myself in, I reckon its time to crank out some more player profiles while we have some season left and people are still in the baseball mood. Having given Bucs, Pilots and Chinooks players the spotlight this season I’ll keep things rolling with a Goldpanner next: shortstop Blake Miller.

The Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks have a new name, a new logo, new uniforms and a new ballpark to call home, but they haven’t severed all ties with their past as the AIA Fire. One link to that past is outfielder JJ Turbin, a second-year ABL player who has played for both clubs. He’s playing an instrumental role in the team’s new-found success during the first half of 2012.

Hailing from Derry, New Hampshire, a short drive north of Boston across the state line, Mathieu attended Pinkerton Academy where his height made him a natural fit for the school’s hoops squad. But after choosing to attend Franklin Pierce in his home state, his focus in sports became baseball — and for good reason.

The start of the 2012 season means it’s time to begin highlighting a new class of Alaska Baseball League players. We’ll begin this season’s coverage with an upperclassman catcher and 2013 draft prospect, Duke’s Jeff Kremer.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a look at one of the talented members of the 2011 AIA Fire, so why not keep the rotation going for another round and have a look at sophomore southpaw hurler Andrew Work? Work had hard luck this season, being the pitcher of record in a lot of losing games for the road-based Fire this year. But according to the rest of his stats and my scouting notes, he has more talent than a cursory glance may reveal.

It’s always good to see a familiar face in Alaska and Clay Cederquist certainly is one of them. Clay was a member of the 2010 Glacier Pilots club and must have loved the experience, because he’s signed on for a second go-around and spent the summer of 2011 with the Anchorage team.

Michael Suiter has been touted as Hawaii’s best baseball talent, and has been honored as the only high school player to be invited to the Alaska Baseball League this year. Drafted by Cincinnati in 2011, Suiter had the opportunity enter pro ball as a 37th around pick, but opted instead to continue his education.

Making the trip to Alaska all the way from Alpharetta, GA is talented Junior right-hander Colin Snow. Snow has been pitching for the past three seasons at Georgia Southern University, a Division I school located in Statesboro. This isn’t his first summer-ball rodeo; snow pitched for Sanford Mariners in the NECBL last summer, going 4-1 in 6 starts, posting a 2.46 ERA and striking out 35 batters in 33 IP, walking a mere 8.

One of the more prospectish guys in the ABL this season has to be right-handed reliever Cameron McVey, who’s signed on with the Oilers this season after being drafted by the Giants in the 22nd round this spring. He hails from suburban Los Angeles, Glendora to be exact — which is not far from San Dimas, whose high school football rules…

With the ABL season headed into its (very brief) All-Star Break, let’s take a minute to zero in on a Mat-Su Miners player who will be performing in today’s contest: Dominick Francia, the best base stealer in the league in 2011.

#6 Ryan Miller SS – 2011 AIA Fire Height: 6’0″ – Weight: 180lb Bats: R – Throws: R 2011 School: Wheaton College 2011 Year: Junior Draft eligibility: 2012 (DIII Senior) Hometown: Poway, California All posts regarding Ryan Miller  The AIA Fire have proven to be a fun team to watch this year, because they’ve done [...]

#39 Cael Brockmeyer C/IF – 2011 Anchorage Glacier Pilots Height: 6’5″ – Weight: 220lb Bats: Right – Throws: Right 2011 School: Cal State Bakersfield 2011 Year: Freshman Draft Eligibility: 2013 (DI Junior) Hometown: Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts All posts regarding Cael Brockmeyer  It seems like the freshmen are ruling in Alaska this season, and continuing that [...]

#17 Kyle Finnegan RPH – 2011 Anchorage Bucs Height: 6’1″ – Weight: 165lb Bats: R – Throws: R 2011 School: Texas State 2011 Year: Freshman Draft Eligibility: 2013 (DI Junior) Hometown: Kingwood, Texas All posts regarding Kyle Finnegan I’ve been asked time and time again…why don’t you write more about Kyle Finnegan?  With Finnegan fans [...]

#34 Jeff Gonzales RHP – 2011 Mat-Su Miners Height: 5’10″ – Weight: 170 lb Bats: Right – Throws: Right 2011 School: Washington 2011 Year: Freshman Draft Eligibility: 2013 (DI Junior) Hometown: Bellevue, Washington All posts regarding Jeff Gonzales  The Alaska Baseball League draws players from all over the country and, indeed, the world: southern California, [...]