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Nine-year veteran happy he has job

FSL NOTEBOOK

Dunedin's oldest player is also the happiest.

Simon Pond, a 25-year-old second baseman, has had quite a season. He was named the Blue Jays' minor-league player of the month in May and was selected for the home run derby and All-Star game in June.

After laboring in obscurity through eight previous seasons in the minors, Pond is enjoying the higher profile. But he is more delighted that he is still playing.

On March 29, Pond was released by Cleveland. Although such transactions can sometimes kill careers, the Blue Jays signed him a day after his release, assigning him to Dunedin six days before the opener.

It turned out to be the perfect fit. A native of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Pond grew up watching Blue Jays games, even though Toronto was 2,800 miles away from his hometown.

"I was definitely concerned when I was released," Pond said. "It happened late and other teams were already getting their rosters set. So at that point, I was just hoping to land with anyone. I was pleasantly surprised it was the Blue Jays."

Pond struggled at the start of the season. He batted just .208 in his first 12 games but broke out of his slump with a 14-game hitting streak and had 32 hits in his next 23 games.

"I really can't explain why I didn't hit well early," Pond said. "I didn't really change anything and just kept swinging the bat."

Pond is hitting .290 and leads the league in RBIs (75) and runs scored (65).

"He (Pond) has the most raw power I have ever seen," Dunedin manager Marty Pevey said. "He has good bat speed and is an exceptional RBI man."

Pond said he hopes to improve his numbers in hopes of not only staying but moving up through the organization.

"I like the situation I'm in here," Pond said. "I'm getting at-bats and working with a great group of players and a great staff. Right now, I just want to get better. That's what I'm concentrating on."

TAMPA: Despite a number of promotions and a rash of injuries, the Yankees have plenty of talent. Outfielder Jason Grove, one of the mainstays from the opening day roster, was named FSL Player of the Week (June 24-30).

Groves had 11 hits, including two doubles and two triples, and hit .550 in six games. He also had six RBIs and scored nine runs. Groves played for Greensboro last season.

ALUMNI UPDATE: The Futures Game, featuring the top U.S. and international minor-league prospects, does not have a representative from any of the three local FSL teams. But three former players will be there.

Yankees third baseman Drew Henson (1999) and a pair of Blue Jays, catcher Josh Phelps (1999-2000) and second baseman Orlando Hudson (2000) are on the U.S. team.

The seven-inning game, held at Milwaukee's Miller Park as part of Major League Baseball's All-Star festivities, starts at 5:30 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.

ALUMNI UPDATE PART II: Fort Myers outfielder Josh Rabe is one game away from becoming the first minor-leaguer to reach base in 60 straight games since Casey Blake in 1998. Blake split time between Dunedin and Double-A Knoxville (now Tennessee) when he set the mark.

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