Guy Cipriano

UNIVERSITY PARK — Arguably the players the St. Louis Cardinals sent here in 2006 are the most important in State College’s brief tenure as a minor-league city.

The ‘06 Spikes, after all, received a rare opportunity to introduce professional baseball to a new and inquisitive market.

The introduction process continues this summer as players from that inaugural team creep toward becoming big-league regulars.

Four ‘06 Spikes — pitchers Jason Motte, Luke Gregerson and P.J. Walters, and infielder Brendan Ryan — have appeared in major-league games this season. Ryan’s spot in Spikes’ lore was short because he spent three weeks here on a Double-A rehabilitation assignment. Ryan is hitting .293 in 66 games as a shortstop for the Cardinals this season.

via First Spikes climb Cardinals’ ladder | Penn State News | Sports – Centre Daily Times.

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