Metro Sports Report

Local players in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Chicago Cubs) - Placed on disabled list June 30 with fractured rib. Expected to return Sept. 1. Season stats: G - 44, Avg. - .295, AB - 112, H - 33, HR - 4, RBI - 15, SB - 1.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - Started in right field Friday and was 1-for-4 with an RBI in the Quakes' 9-7 win at Visalia. Season stats: G - 98, Avg. - .308, AB - 373, H - 115, HR - 23, RBI - 71, SB - 12.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at third base Friday and was 0-for-4 with an RBI in the Lugnuts' 5-1 win over South Bend. Season stats: G - 89, Avg. - .182, AB - 285, H - 52, HR - 5, RBI - 22, SB - 0.

ANDREW HANSE (Linn-Mar, Bowling Green (Rays)) - Promoted to Bowling Green on July 31. Pitched 1-1/3 scoreless innings in relief Friday and picked up the win in the Hot Rods' 3-2 win over Dayton. Season stats: W - 1. L - 0. Sv - 0. ERA - 0.00. G - 1. IP - 1.1. H - 1. BB - 0. SO - 1.

CHAD CHRISTENSEN (Washington, GCL Twins (Twins)) - Started at third base in both games of Friday's doubleheader and was 1-for-5 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored as the Twins split with the GCL Red Sox. Season stats: G - 27, Avg. - .250, AB - 92, H - 23, HR - 1, RBI - 11, SB - 2.

JON KELLER (Xavier, GCL Orioles (Orioles)) - Did not pitch Friday as the Orioles split a doubleheader with the GCL Rays. Season stats: W - 0. L - 0. Sv - 0. ERA - 0.00. G - 2. IP - 3. H - 1. BB - 0. SO - 3.

Worley on course for pro golf career

The confidence and maturity in Dane Worley’s voice belies his age. Lately, he’s demonstrated those traits on the golf course in a big way.

Worley, a 20-year-old Cedar Rapids Kennedy product, defends his Cedar Rapids City Amateur title this weekend after two straight runner-up finishes on the Iowa amateur circuit.

He finished second in both the Waterloo Open and Iowa Amateur, vaulting him to No.3 on the Iowa Golf Association Player of the Year rankings behind veteran Gene Elliott of West Des Moines and University of Iowa senior-to-be Steven Ihm.

“It’s been a really good spring and summer,’’ Worley said. “It’s kind of what I expected out of my game because I’ve spent a lot of time on it, putting the pieces together.

“What’s keeping me from winning, I think, is just making a few more putts. I didn’t lose the last two tournaments, I just got outplayed by some very good players.’’

Goodrum's inside-the-parker sparks Kernels

BURLINGTON - Cedar Rapids Kernels infielder Cartier Niko Goodrum is a little like the famed Cartier jewelry stores with the way he performs on a diamond.

If you're shopping for an expensive piece of jewelry or a watch, visit one of the Cartier stores that are located in 125 countries around the world. If you're shopping for a versatile ballplayer who can play all four infield positions and bat from either side of the plate, then Cartier Niko Goodrum (better known as Niko) is your man.

"I try to be versatile whatever I do, whether it's writing left-handed or shooting basketballs," said Goodrum, an ambidextrous switch-hitter. "I like being versatile."

That includes being fast enough to run around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

Goodrum accomplished the rare feat Thursday night to help the Kernels snap a two-game slide with a 3-2 victory over the Burlington Bees before 868 fans at Community Field.

Murphy takes larger role with Kernels

A year ago, Jonathan Murphy was a 22-year old 19th-round draft pick out of Jacksonville University just starting his professional baseball career in the Minnesota Twins organization. His first assignment was with the Twins’ rookie level Gulf Coast League team in Fort Myers.

Today, Murphy is the primary leadoff hitter and center fielder for the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

It’s  not at all unusual for a second-year professional player drafted out of college to be spending time with the Kernels, but Murphy, the younger brother of New York Mets infielder Daniel Murphy, didn’t take the normal path to Cedar Rapids this season.