Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders in the Major Leagues: Week 2 Update
June 27, 2011 | Baseball
Colt Hynes has made 38 appearances this year in both Double-A and Triple-A
June 27, 2011
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech baseball program started the 2011 Major League Baseball season with several former players on MLB rosters and on Minor League Baseball rosters trying to reach the big leagues.
Currently, there are 19 former Texas Tech players who are playing with an MLB organization as a player. Throughout the remainder of the 2011 MLB season, Texas Tech athletics communications will provide weekly updates on former Red Raiders competing at the major league and minor league level.
Dallas Braden (LHP - Starting Pitcher - Oakland Athletics)
- Braden began his fifth big league season with the Athletics in 2011 with three starts and a 1-1 record in 18.0 innings pitched before a torn capsule in his left shoulder placed him on the 60-day disabled list. Currently there is no timetable for his recovery, but he is expected to miss the remainder of the 2011 season. He underwent a successful surgery on his left shoulder on May 17. Braden left his start on April 16 after five innings due to stiffness in his pitching shoulder. In three outings the left hander went 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA with 15 strikeouts and allowed just five walks. Braden pitched one season for Tech in 2004 and was drafted in 2004 in the 24th round by the Oakland Athletics.
- Braden's Bio
- Photo Gallery
- Video
Jeff Karstens (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Karstens won for the second time in his last three starts last week with a 6.2 innings performance against Boston. He allowed three earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts in his fifth win of the season. He is now 5-4 with a 2.66 ERA this season in 17 appearances (13 starts) with 84.2 innings, 76 hits allowed, 31 runs (25 earned) with 53 strikeouts and has allowed 17 walks. Karstens next scheduled start is Thursday, June 30, against the Toronto Blue Jays at 6:07 p.m. (CT) at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Karstens pitched one season at Tech in 2003 and was drafted in 2003 in the 19th round by the New York Yankees.
- Karstens' Bio
- Photo Gallery
- Video
Josh Tomlin (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Cleveland Indians)
- Tomlin won his ninth game of the season - at the time tied the MLB lead - last week in a victory over the Colorado Rockies. He went 6.1 innings allowing three earned runs and five hits without allowing a walk with three strikeouts. Tomlin has thrown at least five innings in 27 consecutive starts since beginning his MLB career. That mark is just one start short of the MLB all-time record (28, Daisuke Matsuzaka - Boston Red Sox) to start a career. Tomlin is currently 9-4 with a 3.95 ERA in 15 starts while pitching 95.2 innings with 54 strikeouts and allowing 12 walks. Tomlin pitched one season at Tech in 2006 and was drafted in 2006 in the 19th round by the Cleveland Indians.
- Tomlin's Bio
- Photo Gallery
- Video
Zach Stewart (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Toronto Blue Jays)
- Stewart made his second career start last week in Atlanta and never made it out of the fourth inning as he allowed five earned runs on 10 hits in 3.2 innings. He struck out two and walked three in his second MLB start. Stewart is now 0-1 with a 5.91 ERA this season with 10.2 innings pitched, six strikeouts and four walks allowed. Stewart will take the mound tonight against another former Big 12 pitcher as Max Scherzer will get the nod for the Detroit Tigers. Scherzer was a pitcher for the Missouri Tigers. Stewart pitched one season at Tech in 2008 and was drafted in 2008 in the third round by the Cincinnati Reds.
- Stewart's Bio
- Video
Josh Bard (C - Seattle Mariners - Triple-A - Tacoma Rainiers)
- Bard hit safely in four of five games last week while finishing the week going 2-for-5 with a run scored and RBI against Las Vegas on Sunday. Bard is batting .301 (68-for-226) with 28 runs, 18 doubles, two home runs and 41 RBI. Bard has been especially productive this season with runners in scoring position batting .364 (28-for-77) with six doubles and 35 RBI. Bard was the starting catcher at Texas Tech for three seasons, 1997-1999, and was drafted in 1999 in the third round by the Colorado Rockies.
- Bard's Bio
- Photo Gallery
- Video
Colt Hynes (LHP - Relief Pitcher - San Diego Padres - Triple-A - Tucson Padres)
- Hynes has continued to perform out of the bullpen this season as eight of his last 10 appearances have been scoreless. Hynes made four appearances last week while logging a total of four innings where he totaled two strikeouts. On the season, in both Double-A and Triple-A, Hynes is 2-4 with a 3.63 ERA in 38 appearances. He has recorded 44.2 innings while striking out 31 batters and allowing 19 walks. Hynes pitched two seasons at Tech, 2006-07, and was drafted in 2007 in the 31st round by the San Diego Padres.
- Hynes' Bio
Dustin Richardson (LHP - Relief Pitcher - Atlanta Braves - Triple-A - Gwinnett Braves)
- Richardson was claimed off waivers last week by the Atlanta Braves after going 3-1 with a 3.66 ERA in 23 appearances with two saves and 35 strikeouts with Florida's Triple-A affiliate. Richardson's first appearance with Gwinnett was on Friday where he struck out two batters in one scoreless inning of relief work. On the year, Richardson is 3-1 with a 3.55 ERA in 24 appearances with 33 innings pitched and 37 strikeouts and 20 walks allowed. Richardson pitched two seasons at Tech, 2005-06, and was drafted in 2006 in the fifth round by the Boston Red Sox.
- Richardson's Bio
- Photo Gallery
- Video
Chris Sampson (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Florida Marlins - Triple-A - New Orleans Zephyrs)
- Sampson had yet another impressive outing last week as he led the Zephyrs to a win over Round Rock while pitching seven innings and allowing one run on six hits with two strikeouts without allowing a walk in the win. Sampson is 5-0 this season with a 2.66 ERA in seven starts while pitching 44.0 innings and collecting 28 strikeouts and allowing seven walks. In fact, Sampson owns a 2-0 record over his last three starts with a 1.29 ERA. Sampson pitched one season at Tech in 1999 and was drafted in 1999 in the eighth round by the Houston Astros.
- Sampson's Bio
- Photo Gallery
- Video
Roger Kieschnick (RF - San Francisco Giants - Double-A - Richmond Flying Squirrels)
- Kieschnick belted his eighth home run of the season on Sunday while going 2-for-2 with three walks. He is now batting .263 in 72 games played this season with 12 doubles, three doubles and 40 RBI. He is also 9-of-14 in stolen base attempts. He is currently riding a six-game hitting streak while also posting four multi-hit games in his last 10 games played. Kieschnick was a three-year starter for Tech, 2006-08, and was drafted in 2008 in the third round by the San Francisco Giants.
- Kieschnick's Bio
Chad Bettis (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Colorado Rockies - Single-A (Advanced) - Modesto Nuts)
- Bettis retired both batters he faced in the California League/Carolina League Single-A All-Star Game last week. Bettis is scheduled to make his first start following the All-Star break tonight against the San Jose Giants at 9:05 p.m. (CT). He is currently among California League leaders in starts (tied for 1st), strikeouts (2nd) and innings pitched (4th). He is 4-4 with a 4.30 ERA in 14 starts with 83.2 innings pitched and 88 strikeouts with 24 walks allowed. Bettis entered the season ranked as the No. 9 prospect in the Rockies organization (Baseball America). Bettis pitched three years at Tech, 2008-10, and was drafted in 2010 in the second round by the Colorado Rockies.
- Bettis' Bio
Bobby Doran (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Houston Astros - Single-A (Advanced) - Lancaster JetHawks)
- Doran was placed on the disabled list after leaving his June 2 start in the second inning with an arm injury. Doran opened the season with a 1-3 record and 10.30 ERA in 10 starts with 39.1 innings pitched. He has struck out 22 batters this season with 16 walks allowed. Doran pitched one season at Tech in 2010 and was drafted in 2010 in the third round by the Houston Astros.
- Doran's Bio
A.J. Ramos (RHP - Relief Pitcher - Florida Marlins - Single-A (Advanced) - Jupiter Hammerheads)
- Ramos is currently fifth in the Florida State league with 12 saves and has posted a 1-1 record with a 2.31 ERA in 23 appearances (all relief). Ramos has allowed only 18 hits in 23.1 innings of work with 29 strikeouts and 10 walks allowed. He made only one relief outing last week where he pitched one scoreless inning with a strikeout and one hit allowed. Ramos pitched four years at Tech, 2006-09, and was drafted in 2009 in the 21st round by the Florida Marlins.
- Ramos' Bio
Chris Richburg (1B - Cincinnati Reds - Single-A (Advanced) - Bakersfield Blaze)
- Richburg has been inactive since being placed on the seven-day disabled list after suffering a concussion on June 10. In 44 games this season Richburg has batted .261 (42-for-161) with 21 runs, 11 doubles, one triple and four home runs with 19 RBI. Richburg has batted .333 (11-for-33) during his last 10 games played with two homers and two multi-hit games. Richburg is currently riding a nine-game hitting streak where he is batting .367 (11-for-30). Richburg played four years at Tech, 2005, 2007-09, and was drafted in 2009 in the 23rd round by the Cincinnati Reds.
- Richburg's Bio
Jay Johnson (LHP - Philadelphia Phillies - Single-A - Lakewood BlueClaws)
- Johnson has made 15 appearances this season with a 0-1 record and 3.38 ERA in 18.2 innings pitched. He has allowed only 10 hits and seven runs while striking out 22 batters and allowing 16 walks. Johnson has logged scoreless appearances in five of his last six outings and has pitched at least three innings in his last two relief outings. Johnson pitched one year at Tech in 2010 and was drafted in 2010 in the 26th round by the Toronto Blue Jays.
- Johnson's Bio
Zach Fowler (LHP - Baltimore Orioles - Rookie League - Gulf Coast League Orioles)
- Fowler signed a professional contract with the Orioles and reported to Sarasota, Fla., but has yet to make his pro debut. Fowler pitched one year at Tech in 2011 and was drafted in 2011 in the 34th round by the Baltimore Orioles.
- Fowler's Bio
Nathan Karns (RHP - Washington Nationals - Rookie League - Gulf Coast League Nationals)
- Karns made his season debut on June 20 and has since totaled 5.2 innings of relief work with a perfect 0.00 ERA in two appearances. Karns has struck out seven batters and allowed three walks. Karns pitched two years at Tech, 2008-09, and was drafted in 2009 in the 12th round by the Washington Nationals.
- Karns' Bio
Robbie Kilcrease (LHP - Pittsburgh Pirates - Free Agent)
- Kilcrease made his professional debut with the Pirates Rookie League team on Tuesday, June 21, pitching 1.1 innings allowing two runs on three hits. His second appearance was a 2.2 innings outing where he allowed three runs on four hits while striking out two batters last Friday. Kilcrease pitched three years at Tech, 2008-09, 2011, and signed as a free agent in 2011 with the Pirates.
- Kilcrease's Bio
Nick Popescu (3B - Atlanta Braves - Rookie League - Gulf Coast League Braves)
- Popescu made his pro debut last Tuesday in a pinch hitting role. In his most recent game he went 2-for-4 with a run scored, RBI and stolen base. Popescu is batting .375 (3-for-8) in three games played. Popescu played two years at Tech, 2010-11, and was drafted in 2011 in the 33rd round by the Atlanta Braves.
- Popescu's Bio
Kelby Tomlinson (SS - San Francisco Giants - Rookie League - Arizona League Giants)
- Tomlinson made his professional debut last Saturday going 2-for-4 with an RBI while also turning a double play in the field. He started the game at shortstop and hit in the 6-hole in the batting order. Tomlinson played one year at Tech in 2011 and was drafted in 2011 in the 12th round by the San Francisco Giants.
- Tomlinson's Bio
