I am what is known as vertically challenged. I top the height chart at a smidge over 5-foot-2 and since I am incapable of wearing high heels I’m generally the smallest one in a room full of adults.

So it’s probably no big surprise that I have always been a fan of the little guy, not just figuratively but, in baseball, literally.

And this first month of the season has been a great one when it comes to big league debuts by those of slighter stature — Kansas City southpaw Tim Collins, Atlanta Braves outfielder Matt Young and Philadelphia Phillies infielder/outfielder Michael Martinez, among others.

Today I am pleased to lead off this week’s Diamonds in the Rough column with the debut of Los Angeles Angels second baseman Alexi Amarista, a Venezuelan-born youngster, just turned 22, who towers over me at … well, his “official” height is 5-foot-8 but my friend and terrific OC Register writer Bill Plunkett estimates it’s closer to 5-foot-5.

Looking at the amazing numbers he has put up consistently since making his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2007, Amarista brings to mind a clip my daughter and I used to enjoy back in the day when “Sesame Street” seemed to be in a continuous loop on our TV — Teeny Little Super Guy. The lyrics to the theme song went “you can’t tell a hero by his size, he’s just a teeny little super guy.” Seems to fit Amarista pretty well. …

Especially when you consider what this young man has been through in recent months. Back in November, his father was murdered by robbers in their native Venezuela. You can read more about the tragedy and the strength that Amarista has shown in this outstanding article by Plunkett: http://articles.ocregister.com/2011-04-29/news/29491867_1_alexi-amarista-murder-rate-venezuelan-winter-league. (Photo courtesy of OC Register as well)



ALEXI AMARISTA
2B, Los Angeles Angels
B/T: L/R H/W: 5-?/150 BORN: April 6, 1989
ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent out of Venezuela in 2007
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Salt Lake April 26 when OF Reggie Willits was sent down.
DEBUT: April 26 in an 8-3 win against Oakland: The starting second baseman, he batted ninth and went 1-for-3 with three RBI, including a two-run double in his first big-league at-bat and a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
NOTES: As mentioned, don’t let the size fool you. Though he’s not going to be vying for the home run title, he packs quite a line drive punch in that physique. Amarista was hitting .455 with two homers and 16 RBI in his 14 games for the Bees prior to his callup and brought a career .320 average into 2011. The Angels’ Minor League Player of the Year in 2009 when he hit .319 with four homers, 49 RBI and 38 steals in his full-season debut at Class A Cedar Rapids, he added 39 doubles that summer. He hit .340 in his Dominican League debut in ’07, .328 in the Arizona League in ’08 and .309 between Advanced A Rancho Cucamonga, Double-A Arkansas and Salt Lake in 2010. He is also a fine defensive second baseman.

ALEX COBB
RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-2/195 BORN: Oct. 7, 1987
ACQUIRED: Selected in the fourth round of 2007 out of high school in Vero Beach, Fla.
PROMOTED: Recalled from Triple-A Durham April 30 when P Jake McGee was sent down
DEBUT: May 1 in a 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels: The starting pitcher, he did not factor in the decision, allowing four runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings, walking four and striking out three.
NOTES: The former Los Angeles Dodgers spring training bat boy earned the fourth-round nod in ’07 after setting a Vero Beach H.S. record with 139 strikeouts as a senior, posting a 1.09 ERA in just 74 innings. Though he doesn’t dominate with one overpowering pitch, he mixes up a low 90s sinking fastball, a plus changeup, a curveball and a slider and has had consistent success on his climb through the system, including earning MVP honors at Double-A Montgomery in 2010 where he was 7-5 with a 2.71 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 119 2/3 innings despite missing a month with an oblique injury. Prior to his promotion, he was 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA at Durham in his Triple-A debut, fanning 29 while walking just six in 22 innings and limiting opposing hitters to a .215 average.

DAVID COOPER
1B/OF, Toronto Blue Jays
B/T: L/L H/W: 6-0/200 BORN: Feb. 12, 1987
ACQUIRED: Selected in the first round (17th overall) of 2008 out of Cal
PROMOTED: Contract purchased April 28 from Triple-A Las Vegas when OF Travis Snider was sent down
DEBUT: April 29 in a 5-3 win over the New York Yankees: The starting DH, he batted seventh and went 0-for-4, drawing a walk in his first plate appearance.
NOTES: Considered one of the most advanced and polished college hitters in his draft class, Cooper slid down the prospect charts over the last two years as he struggled to hit over .250 but seems to have regained the stroke that made him a first-round pick in the early going at Vegas, opening eyes with a .378 average during spring training and then hitting .395 with two homers and 19 RBI in his first 20 games at Vegas. He brought a 12-game hitting streak into his promotion. This marked his Triple-A debut as he batted .257 at Double-A New Hampshire in 2010 with 20 homers and 78 RBI.

CORY GEARRIN
RHP, Atlanta Braves
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-3/200 BORN: April 14, 1986
ACQUIRED: Selected in the fourth round of 2007 out of Mercer University.
PROMOTED: Recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett April 22 when OF Matt Young was sent down.
DEBUT: April 25 in a 5-3 loss to San Diego in 13 innings: The fifth of six pitchers, he tossed two perfect innings, striking out two.
NOTES: Added to the Braves’ bullpen to give them a fresh extra arm, Gearrin has combined for a 3.39 ERA in four seasons, all in relief. After serving as closer in 2009 at Double-A Mississippi he moved into more of a set-up tole at Gwinnett in 2010 and posted a 3.36 ERA there. Returning to that club to start 2011, he had a 2.61 ERA in six games and had fanned eight in 10 1/3 innings before his promotion.

DANIEL MOSKOS
LHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
B/T: R/L H/W: 6-1/210 BORN: April 28, 1986
ACQUIRED: Selected in the first round (fourth overall) of 2007 out of Clemson University
PROMOTED: Recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis April 30 when P Evan Meek went on the DL.
DEBUT: April 30 in a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies: The second of two pitchers, he tossed one perfect inning.
NOTES: One of the most polished college pitchers in his draft class, Moskos had the misfortune of constant comparisons to the guy who was drafted one pick after him — catcher Matt Wieters by Baltimore — and is only now reaching the big leagues. After a few seasons in the starting rotation to get in his innings, during which time he posted a 5.95 ERA at Advanced A Lynchburg in 2008 and a 3.74 mark at Double-A Altoona in 2009, he moved into the bullpen in 2010. He started off on fire back at Altoona and between two stops there posted a 1.52 ERA and 21 saves in 37 games but struggled mightily upon his promotion to Indianapolis, with an 0-5 record and a 10.38 ERA in 19 games. Back at Indy this spring, though, he may be showing why he was the fourth player taken in the draft, with a 1.69 ERA in eight games in relief there and just one walk in 10 2/3 innings to go with seven strikeouts. He has a plus fastball and slider along with a changeup.

EVAN SCRIBNER
RHP, San Diego Padres
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-3/190 BORN: July 19, 1985
ACQUIRED: Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 17, 2008, in a trade for 1B Tony Clark.
PROMOTED: Recalled from Triple-A Tucson July 25 when P Wade LeBlanc was sent down
DEBUT: April 26 in an 8-2 loss to Atlanta: The second of three pitchers, he allowed two hits and walked one in two scoreless innings.
NOTES: Originally drafted by the Dbacks in the 28th round of 2007 out of Central Connecticut State, Scribner has been one of the Padres’ top minor league closers the last few seasons, with 16 saves and a 2.59 ERA at Double-A San Antonio in 2010 and 21 saves and a 3.07 mark for the Missions the season before that. Prior to his promotion, he’d struggled a bit in his Triple-A Debut but had three saves in six games with Tucson, posting a 5.63 ERA and striking out five in eight innings without walking a batter. A two-time representative in the Texas League All-Star Game, he has limited opposing batters to a .209 average over his career coming into 2011.

MICHAEL STUTES
RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-1/185 BORN: Sept. 4, 1986
ACQUIRED: Selected in the 11th round of 2008 out of Oregon State
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Lehigh Valley April 25 when P Jose Contreras went on the DL
DEBUT: April 25 in a 4-0 loss to Arizona: The second of two pitchers, he tossed a perfect inning with one strikeout.
NOTES: Stutes has posted a 3.36 ERA in three pro seasons coming into 2011 and was off to an even stronger start with the IronPigs to open the spring, with a 1.80 ERA in seven games, having struck out 14 while walking four in 10 innings. A starting pitcher in 2008-2009, he moved to the pen in 2010 where he posted a 3.79 ERA in 25 games at Double-A Reading and a 3.10 ERA in 28 more at Lehigh Valley.

RENE TOSONI
OF, Minnesota Twins
B/T: L/R H/W: 6-0/195 BORN: July 2, 1986
ACQUIRED: Selected in the 36th round of 2005 out of Chipola Junior College
PROMOTED: Recalled from Triple-A Rochester April 28 when OF Delmon Young went on the DL
DEBUT: April 28 in a 15-3 loss to Tampa Bay: The starting left fielder, he batted seventh and went 2-for-4 with an RBI. He also made an error in the field.
NOTES: Signed as a draft-and-follow in 2006, the Canadian-born Tosoni didn’t make his pro debut until 2007 but made a quick impression, albeit during an injury-interrupted climb. A broken leg cost him much of 2008 but he came back strong down the stretch to help lift the Advanced A Fort Myers Miracle to the finals of the Florida State League playoffs. In 2009, his lone full campaign, he hit .271 with 24 homers and 78 RBI at Double-A New Britain and was named MVP of the Futures Game, repping his native Canada on the World Team. He spent most of 2010 on the DL again, this time with a torn labrum, and finally made his Triple-A debut this spring, where he was hitting .286 with three homers, 16 RBI and six doubles in 19 games at Rochester before his promotion.

ALEX WHITE
RHP, Cleveland Indians
B/T: R/R H/W: 6-3/215 BORN: Aug. 29, 1988
ACQUIRED: Selected in the first round (15th overall) of 2009 out of North Carolina
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Triple-A Columbus April 30 when P Frank Herrmann was sent down.
DEBUT: April 30 in 3-2 13-inning win against the Detroit Tigers: The starting pitcher, he did not factor in the decision, but allowed just two runs on six hits in six-plus innings, walking four and striking out four while giving up a pair of homers.
NOTES: White, a late sign after his first-round selection in 2009, makes his big league debut barely a year after his professional debut. He moved swiftly, utilizing his low 90s fastball, plus splitter and improving slider to combine for a 2.45 ERA in 26 starts between Advanced A Kinston and Double-A Akron in 2010 and getting off to a blazing stat at Triple-A Columbus, with a 1.90 ERA in four outings, striking out 28 while walking just five in 23 2/3 innings. He was ranked the No. 2 prospect in the Indians system by Baseball America this spring. The injury to starter Carlos Carrasco opened up the slot for White but don’t be surprised to see him hold onto it for the long haul.