Minor League Baseball

The Arizona Fall League, with the help of two Major Leaguers, as helped to keep the legacy of former NFL player Pat Tillman alive.

Tillman, a former Army Ranger, was killed in action in Afghanistan. He left the NFL to join the Army on his own accord after the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01.

Two Arizona Diamondback players, Eric Byrnes and Orlando Hudson, attended the second annual Pat Tillman Benefit Night on Saturday.

The event was held at Scottsdale Stadium by the AFL.

Tillman played football at Arizona State University before joining the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL.

Byrnes played high school football against Tillman in Northern California.

A silent auction took place on Saturday night with the proceeds going to the Tillman Foundation. Also, half of the proceeds collected for admission to the stadium will also go to the Foundation in honor of the fallen hero. 

The San Francisco Giants purchased the contract of 2008 draft pick Conor Gillaspie and added him to their active roster for the remainder of the 2008 season.

Gillaspie has played a total of 24 games at the professional level over two minor league levels.

The Giants made Gillaspie the 37th overall pick in this year’s draft and he is the first player to make it to the Majors from this year’s draft.

The reason for the quick call-up: the Giants have a void at third and no one is slated to be the starter in 2009.

The team’s front office has all the confidence in Gillaspie’s hitting capabilities and the power he can supply to the team.

He hit .269 with 15 RBIs at two different levels of the Giants’ system.

He spent time with the Giants Rookie-Level Arizona League team and the short-season Class-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.

He will not be making a start at third base immediately but will be available to pinch-hit right away.

Manager Bruce Bochy will ease him into Major League life.