PULASKI - At the start of the season, Pulaski Blue Jays manager Gary Cathcart defined a successful year in the Appalachian League: "The most important thing is [the players] need to take a look at themselves now, take a look at themselves at the end of the season and if they see a better player then they've done a good job at this level. They know they're far from the finished product so they need to see improvement every day. We got a short season here, so if they're a better player all-round when they leave here in September, no matter what the wins and loses are, then we've had a successful year."

There's little doubt the 2004 Blue Jays met Cathcart's qualifications. The young prospects improved throughout the Pulaski's 67-game schedule, posting a 40-27 record along the way to finishing second in the Appalachian League's East Division. The team started the season by winning nine straight games and led the division for the first two months of the season before the Danville Braves sizzled through the month of August to capture first. "It's a little tough because you want to win games, but you do see progress," said Cathcart, whose ball club went a league-best 25-10 at home. "I'm proud of the way they've played and hopefully they've learned a lot here and can go to the next level and take it even further.

"You can almost go player-by-player and everybody's improved in some area. That's something they can be proud of, too."

Centerfielder Yuber Rodriguez can be extremely proud of his second season in Pulaski. The 20-year-old, Venezuelan-born prospect appeared in 40 games a season ago, hitting .281 with two home runs and 15 RBI. He walked four times the whole year. With a new patient hitting approach this year, he became one of the Appy League's most dynamic hitters.

"Yuber's obviously had a big year," Cathcart said. "[He] didn't play much last year, kind of struggled a little bit in spring training and extended spring. [But] he's really come into his own."

Rodriguez finished the season batting .309 with 15 doubles, six triples, seven homers and 53 RBI, while walking 28 times. His name was everywhere in the league's top 10, including first in triples, second in hits (77), second in RBI, third in runs (49), third in total bases (125), sixth in doubles and ninth in on-base percentage (.396).

Outfielder Luke Hetherington is another batter who made strides at the plate. The 21-year-old from Seattle was in and out of the lineup last year during his first stint in Pulaski. He finished the season with one home run and 24 RBI. This season, he looked like a new player. "I think this year, my confidence, I've been able to keep more of an even keel whereas last year I'd be here, drop down and then come back up," Hetherington said. "I've been able to keep it more steady. That comes with age and experience."

The difference was evident. Hetherington bashed a team-high eight home runs and collected 40 RBI.

"I think what he's improved most on is the little things on how to play the game," Cathcart said. "It's not just going out there catching, throwing and swinging the bat. There's a lot of little things that go into playing defense and going to your at-bats and learning how to work pitchers a little bit. Up 'til now he just kind of went out there and played and wasn't really sure about all the other things that go along."

On the pitching side, Cathcart was impressed with Edward Cannon's progression during the year.

"Eddy Cannon, who was a late-round draft pick for us, he struggled his first couple outings when we first signed him," the first-year skipper said. "But he's been really good his last six or so outings."

Cannon, a 44th round pick out of Florida State University, went 3-0 with a 2.95 ERA working out of the bullpen. The 22-year-old, right-hander allowed 36 hits in 39.2 innings, while striking out 40.

Other notables include lefty slugger Charles Anderson, who hit a team-high .311 and posted the second best on-base percentage in the league (.429). Outfielder Nick Thomas, whom Cathcart praises as the team's most professional hitter, was third in the league in walks (42), seventh in on-base percentage (.411) and second on the team in RBI (43).

Pitchers Jordan Timm (2.67) and Chi-Hung Cheng (2.82) finished first and third in the league in ERA. Cheng, a southpaw from Taiwan, also led the league with 74 strikeouts.

"Guys have learned," Cathcart said. "You can tell guys are better players now. The results aren't always great but you can tell that they're learning how to play the game."

So what's next? A few select players have been invited to the Blue Jays fall instructional league, including pitchers Cheng (4-1), Ben Harrison (nine strikeouts in 3.1 innings), Edward Rodriguez (2-2, 5.00 ERA) and Russell Savickas (1-5, 5.79). Rodriguez, catcher Brian Bormaster (.252 average), first baseman David Hicks (.306, 25 RBI in 36 games) and infielder Emmanuel Sena (.241) will also attend the workouts.

A number of factors go into determining who is selected, including a player's age, future potential and health.

For many others like Hetherington, it's time for a well-deserved break.

"Go home, take a couple weeks off, start working out, probably get a part-time job to make some money and go from there," Hetherington said. "But probably not even pick up another baseball or bat for about a month."