Dec. 23, 2005

Amherst, Mass. - Nick Gorneault, who starred for the UMass baseball team from 1998-2001, was added to the 40-man roster by the Los Angeles Angels. Gorneault hit .293 with 26 home runs for the Angels AAA affiliate in Salt Lake City. Garry Brown featured Gorneault in a column in December 23rd's Republican.

While at UMass, Gorneault was selected first team All-Atlantic 10 and first team All-New England in 2001. That season he hit .369 with 12 home runs, which is third on UMass' single season list. His 26 career homers ranks fifth all-time.

He is now the second UMass player to be on a 40-man roster. Ron Villone was recently signed by the Yankees.

Gorneault ready for spring

Friday, December 23, 2005

By GARRY BROWN

gbrown@repub.com

SPRINGFIELD - Nick Gorneault thought he would be spending the winter playing ball in the Dominican Winter League, but a wrist injury has brought him home for Christmas.

Next week, he will be on his way to Los Angeles to have the injury examined, per order of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who have placed him on their 40-man roster for spring training.

"They want the wrist checked, but I feel OK. I'll be ready for spring training," he said.

After five seasons of solid hitting in the minors, Gorneault could be ready for his shot at the majors at 26.

This former standout at Cathedral High School and the University of Massachusetts will be given a good look in training camp following a 2005 season in which he led the Pacific Coast League with 108 RBI.

"I played on a good team with a strong lineup," he said of his season with the Angels' Triple A affiliate, Salt Lake City.

"Guys got on base ahead of me, and other guys hit well behind me. When you have that, you get a chance to drive in runs and score a lot of runs."

Gorneault did all of that. He scored 106 runs, hit .293 and delivered 26 doubles, 11 triples and 26 homers. His 269 total bases ranked second to the 311 posted by Tucson's Andy Green, a hot prospect for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In the five seasons since he signed in 2001 as a 19th-round draft pick, Gorneault has shown consistent improvement as he climbed the minor league ladder. Over a total of 549 minor league games, he has posted a batting average on the verge of .300 - .2995, to be exact.

His home run and RBI totals have shown a steady progression upward.

"My goal is to get better with each year of experience. I work at it, plug hard every day. I take pride in knowing what my game is - to drive in runs," he said.

At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Gorneault has the speed to play anywhere in the outfield. He'll be going to camp with the hope of winning an outfield job.

"I saw that they traded Steve Finley (Wednesday). That could be a good thing," he said.

The Angels dealt Finley, a 40-year-old veteran of 17 big league seasons, to San Francisco for third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo.

The Los Angeles 40-man roster includes five outfielders: Vladimir Guerrero, Garret Anderson, Tommy Murphy, Juan Rivera and Reggie Willits.

Chone Figgins, who played 76 games in center field and 56 at third base last year, is listed as an infielder.

"I'm just going to get myself ready, and go to camp with the idea of making the team. I feel that I can do it. I feel like I can play in the big leagues," Gorneault said.