Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders in The Major Leagues: Week 6 Update
July 28, 2011 | Baseball
Chris Richburg is batting .385 with 4 HR and 8 RBI over his last 10 games
July 25, 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 teams trying to reach the big leagues.
Currently, there are 20 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.
Josh Bard (C - Seattle Mariners)
- Bard was called up to the big leagues on June 29, marking his second stint with the Mariners, after playing the 2010 season in a Seattle uniform. Bard made three starts last week while collecting one base hit in both Wednesday and Thursday's games. Bard is currently batting .222 (8-for-36) with four doubles, one homer and four 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
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, who was named the National League Player of the Week on July 18, suffered his first loss since May 29 last Wednesday, despite allowing just one earned run in seven innings pitched. Karstens is now 8-5 this season with a 2.28 ERA in 17 starts and 114.2 innings pitched. He has struck out 61 batters and allowed only 19 walks. Karstens is 5-1 since June 14. 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)
- After taking a no decision in his last outing (7/20) against the Twins (6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO), Tomlin looks to earn his 12th win of the season against the Angels on Tuesday. Tomlin is 11-4 on the season with a 4.12 ERA in 20 starts and 126.2 innings. He has struck out 70 batters and walked 15 on the year. 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
Dustin Richardson (LHP - Relief Pitcher - Atlanta Braves - Triple-A - Gwinnett Braves)
- Richardson has made three straight scoreless outings - all last week - while totaling 4.1 innings. On the season, Richardson is 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA in 35 relief opportunities. He has 46 strikeouts in 44.1 innings pitched. 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 is perfect on the season with a 6-0 record and 3.55 ERA in 12 starts, which includes one complete game. He has tallied 71.0 innings with 80 hits allowed, 29 runs allowed with 37 strikeouts and 13 walks given up. 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
Colt Hynes (LHP - Relief Pitcher - San Diego Padres - Double-A - San Antonio Missions)
- Hynes has struck out four in his last three appearances - all last week - while posting 47 appearances (all relief) on the season in both Double-A and Triple-A. He owns a 3.97 ERA on the season with 41 strikeouts and 27 walks allowed. Hynes pitched two seasons at Tech, 2006-07, and was drafted in 2007 in the 31st round by the San Diego Padres.
- Hynes' Bio
Zach Stewart (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Toronto Blue Jays - Double-A - New Hampshire Fisher Cats)
- Stewart, who was named to the Eastern League Double-A All-Star Team, had an impressive start last Friday while earning the win against Portland. The right-hander went 7.2 innings allowing just one run on seven hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. Stewart is now 5-5 in minor-league action this season with a 4.20 ERA in 94.1 innings (16 starts) with 74 strikeouts and 27 walks allowed. Stewart has also made three starts in the big leagues this year with the Blue Jays (0-1, 4.86 ERA). 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
Roger Kieschnick (RF - San Francisco Giants - Double-A - Richmond Flying Squirrels)
- Kieschnick has continued his stellar season while hitting safely in his last three games while belting one home run with three RBI during that span. In 99 games played, Kieschnick is batting .268 (97-for-362) with 59 runs, 18 doubles, four triples, 12 home runs and 52 RBI with 12-of-19 stolen bases. 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, a California League All-Star this season, won his most recent start (last Friday) pitching seven innings while giving up two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and four walks allowed. Bettis is now 7-5 this season with a 3.68 ERA in 19 starts while pitching 120 innings. He has struck out 125 batters while allowing just 36 walks. 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 returned from the disabled list on July 20 while tossing one inning (two strikeouts) in his first outing since June 2. Doran is 1-3 this season with a 9.93 ERA in 11 starts (13 appearances) pitching 45.1 innings. He has struck out 24 batters and issued 21 walks. Despite the injury, Doran has struck out multiple batters in four of his last 10 outings. Doran pitched one season at Tech in 2010 and was drafted in 2010 in the third round by the Houston Astros.
- Doran's Bio
AJ Ramos (RHP - Relief Pitcher - Florida Marlins - Single-A (Advanced) - Jupiter Hammerheads)
- Ramos has proved to be one of the top closers in the Florida State League this year with 17 saves in 34 appearances with a 1.82 ERA in 34.2 innings. He has struck out 44 batters and allowed 14 walks. In fact, over his last 10 outings, Ramos has a 0.87 ERA in 10.1 innings pitched with five saves. Ramos has tallied six consecutive scoreless appearances. 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 one of the hottest hitters in the California League the past week while putting together a stretch of five consecutive multi-hit games from July 16-23. Over his last 10 games, Richburg is batting .385 (15-for-39) with nine runs, one double, four home runs and eight RBI. 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 tallied 3.1 innings last week allowing one run while striking out three in two appearances. In his first full professional season, Johnson is 1-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 25 relief outings while tossing 31.2 innings with 35 strikeouts. 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
Jeremy Mayo (C - Washington Nationals - Short-Season Single-A - Auburn Doubledays)
- Mayo is batting .455 (5-for-11) over his last three games. In fact, Mayo has homered in back-to-back games while his most recent game saw him going 2-for-3 with a solo homer. On the season, Mayo is batting .207 (12-for-58) with 11 runs, two doubles, three homers and seven RBI. Mayo played three years at Tech, 2008-2010, and was drafted in 2010 in the 31st round by the Washington Nationals.
- Mayo's Bio
Zach Fowler (LHP - Baltimore Orioles - Short-Season Class A - Aberdeen IronBirds)
- Fowler is now 0-0 in eight minor league appearances this year with a 2.25 ERA in eight innings pitched. Fowler has been effective with seven strikeouts and one walk allowed. 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 first appearance in Short-Season Single-A while going four innings with three strikeouts, despite allowing three runs on six hits. On the year - in both Rookie League and Short-Season A - Karns is 0-1 with a 1.19 ERA in 22.2 innings pitched with 29 strikeouts and 11 walks allowed. Karns has not allowed a base hit in his last three starts which is a combined 13 innings pitched.
- Karns' Bio
Robbie Kilcrease (LHP - Pittsburgh Pirates - Rookie League - Gulf Coast League Pirates)
- Kilcrease is now 0-2 with a 5.29 ERA in eight relief outings this year with a total of 17.0 innings pitched. He has tallied nine strikeouts while giving up four walks. In his most recent outing, Kilcrease struck out four in three innings while allowing four runs on seven hits. 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 is batting .189 (7-for-37) with a triple and two RBI in his first professional season. He recently went 0-for-1 against the Yankees on Monday. 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 has hit safely in eight of his last 10 games played while recently going 3-for-6 with a double and RBI against the Diamondbacks Rookie League squad. On the season, Tomlinson is batting .295 (18-for-61) in 15 games with five doubles, two homers and 12 RBI with three stolen bases in five attempts. 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
