Kenwood Grad Faces Top Stars in Arizona Fall League

The current manager for pitcher  is Joe McEwing, who played nine seasons in the major leagues.

One of his pitching coaches is Jeff Fassero, who won 121 games in "the show" before ending his career in 2006.

Pugh, a graduate, is trying to get to where McEwing and Fassero once were as big leaguers. And one big step in that direction is taking place this month as the former Essex resident is on the roster of the Mesa Solar Sox in the prospect-laden Arizona Fall League.

The league, which has churned out dozens of big league players, is reserved for top prospects.

"I am very thankful and blessed to be here," Pugh said in a telephone interview from Arizona.

The timing could not be better for Pugh, a 6-foot-3 right-hander, who spent this past season playing in the Class A Florida State League and in the Class AA Eastern League in the Minnesota Twins' farm system.

"I am fighting for a spot on the 40-man roster of the Twins," he said.

Pugh should know later this month if he makes the Twins' roster. If not, he could be picked up by another team in the Rule V draft.

Also on the Mesa pitching staff are , a minor league pitcher in the Orioles' farm system. Johnson is the son of former Baltimore pitcher Dave Johnson, who grew up in Middle River.

The Arizona Fall League ends in late November. In his first 10 games out of the bullpen, Pugh was 0-1 with an ERA of 12.34 and had allowed 22 hits in 11.2 innings with 15 walks and 11 strikeouts.

"It is a hitter's league. I am leaving the ball up (in the strike zone) right now," said Pugh, who said he makes sure not to let his front shoulder fly open on his delivery.

Among the hitters that Pugh has faced is Bryce Harper, an outfielder in the Washington farm system who began the 2011 season as the No. 1 prospect in the minors, according to Baseball America.

"I got him to ground out," Pugh said of facing Harper in Arizona.

The fact Pugh, 23, was one of the Twins' prospects that was sent to Arizona may be somewhat of a surprise. He played in junior college at Louisburg in North Carolina and Hillsborough Community College in Florida before being signed by the Twins.

After being used as a starter in 2010 by the Twins, the 19th-round pick from 2008 pitched out of the bullpen this past season to mixed results. He was 2-4 with an ERA of 4.53 with 13 saves in 30 games for Fort Myers at the Class A level and 0-3 with an ERA of 9.33 with four saves in 13 games for New Britain at the Class AA level.

Pugh entered 2011 as the No. 26 prospect in the Twins' system, according to Baseball America. 

"It was not really planned that way. I was supposed to start at Double-A but I had an oblique strain. I got that fixed up," he said.

Now he hopes to make a good impression in Arizona and end up on the Twins' roster prior to the 2012 season.

"It is a mental game I am going through right now," he said of his recent challenges in a top league for prospects.