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Pearly Gates: An Angels Blog
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Saturday, January 15, 2005

Where are they now?

Leone for Third passes on this note that former Angels (f)utility infielder Benji Gil has signed a minor league deal with the M's. Benji is one of several guys who we haven't heard much of since the Angels' championship season in 2002. It got me thinking - what happened to all those lesser-known pieces who played a role (no matter how small) on the greatest Angels team ever?

Benji Gil:
After being released by the Angels in the middle of the 2003 season, Benji has had short stints in the Indians, Tigers, and Cubs organizations (all at AAA) and the Mexican Winter League before catching-on with Seattle. He also starred for Culiacan in the Caribbean World Series.
Shawn Wooten:
The Phillies tabbed Wooten to back-up Jim Thome after the 2003 season, but he struggled out of the gate and spent most of the season in AAA. He is currently a free agent.
Jose Nieves:
Nieves hasn't seen any Major League action since the 2002 season. He's spent time in the Yankees, Cardinals and Padres systems and plays Venezuelan Winter League ball with Oriente Carires.
Alex Ochoa:
Put up solid numbers with the Chunichi Dragons of the Japanese Central League the past two seasons.
Jorge Fabregas:
Retired before the 2004 season after spending 2003 in the Devil Rays' system (yeah, that would do it...). He runs a baseball camp in Florida.
Julio Ramirez:
"The best defensive outfielder Mike Scioscia has ever seen" played in the Arizona system last year, where he posted a 118/22 K/BB ratio. Yowza!
Clay Bellinger:
Struckout in his only at-bat with the Angels in 2002, and has been having similar success in the Giants and Baltimore systems since. Spends his free time haunting the Yankees.
Sal Fasano:
Fasano appears to have been out of baseball in 2003 (I can't find any record of him playing anywhere), but he was back with the Yankees in AAA last season.
Lou Pote:
Played for the Hanshin Tigers in the Japanese Central League in 2003, was back state-side with the Indians last season (even saw some action with the big club), and has signed with the Rangers for the up-coming season.
Dennis Cook:
Retired after the World Series.
Donne Wall:
Joined Cook at the nursing home for worthless left-handers after the 2002 season.
Mark Lukasiewicz:
After bombing-out of the BlueJays' organization in 2004, caught on with Somerset of the Independent Atlantic League. I would assume that he's currently a free agent.
Matt Wise:
Wise missed the entire 2003 season recovering from an elbow injury. He saw substantial time in the bigs with the Brewers last season (which was news to me).

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