Dee Brown News

Bierfbrodt was the first ever player picked by the Diamondbacks in the June draft, being our opening round pick - 30th overall - the first time we got to take part, in 1996.

Omaha second baseman Lance Zawadzki struggles for control as the umpire calls Albuquerque outfielder Jay Gibbons safe at third base Thursday in the fourth inning of the season opener at Isotopes Park.

Informed that the subject of my attention was wearing uniform No. 30, I approached a jacketed player and asked, 'Are you 30?' Smiling under his Kansas City Royals cap, Middletown's Mike Aviles said, 'No, I'm still 29.' Born in Manhattan and raised in Orange County, Aviles, a Middletown High School graduate, is an infielder for the Royals.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes saw the Rockford RiverHawksa eighth inning and raised them.