Minor League Baseball Review:

GLENDALE — Of the group of former area high school and junior collegiate baseball standouts, which numbers about a dozen, many of them have spent several years trying to make the climb to Major League Baseball.

Some have successfully climbed to the top, while others are in the process of getting there. Some recently began their minor league careers this past season and have had to learn on the go.

In 2009, a former Falcon made his debut with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, while one former Vaquero made his first major league starting appearance with the Washington Nationals. A former Golden Knight was traded just past the midway point of the season and enjoyed a renaissance with his new squad.

The following wrap-up highlights the seasons that were for local products at various stages of their careers.

Trevor Bell (Crescenta Valley High, 2005) Arkansas Travelers and Salt Lake City Bees, starting pitcher: Bell, a former All-Area Player of the year and All-CIF selection, spent the first four months of the season in the minors before being called up by the Angels in August. The right-hander made his major league debut Aug. 12 against the Tampa Bay Rays. He made several starts before being put in the bullpen in early September.

“The dream is finally here, it seems like I’m living something out that’s been written in a book,” Bell told the News-Press after he was called up.

Before joining the Angels, Bell made stops in Arkansas and Salt Lake City.

With the double-A Arkansas Travelers, Bell went 4-3 with a 2.23 earned-run average. In 11 appearances, Bell struck out 51 and allowed 54 hits in 68 2/3 innings.

Bell, who was selected in 2005 by the Angels with the 37th overall pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Players Draft, was promoted to Salt Lake on June 14. He proceeded to go 3-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 11 appearances.

Bell had two complete games, including a complete-game two-hitter in his debut with the Bees. Bell struck out 38 and yielded 67 hits in 71 1/3 innings.

Marco Estrada (Glendale Community College, 2003) Syracuse Chiefs, starting pitcher: The right-hander fared quite well with Syracuse, the triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Estrada helped the Chiefs finish second in the International League’s North Division. With the Chiefs, Estrada went 9-5 with a 3.63 earned-run average spanning 27 appearances.