Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders in the Major Leagues: Week 10 Update
August 22, 2011 | Baseball
Aug. 22, 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 started behind the plate three times last week while collecting one base hit and one RBI. This season he is batting .200 (12-for-60) with four doubles, one homer and seven RBI. Bard was a three-time All-America catcher at Texas Tech for three seasons, 1997-1999, and was drafted in 1999 in the third round by the Colorado Rockies.
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.
Jeff Karstens (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Karstens, who was named the National League Player of the Week on July 18, received a no decision in his only start last week (8/16) while pitching 5.1 innings with five strikeouts and allowing three earned runs on six hits at home against St. Louis. He is now 9-6 with a 3.12 ERA in 26 games (22 starts) with 141.1 innings pitched, 85 strikeouts and 27 walks allowed. He is set to make his next start today at 4:05 p.m. (CT) at home against Milwaukee. Karstens pitched one season at Tech in 2003 and was drafted in 2003 in the 19th round by the New York Yankees.
Zach Stewart (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Chicago White Sox)
- Stewart made his first career relief appearances last week going back-to-back days out of the bullpen. He was impressive in his first outing as he recorded all five of his outs (1.2 IP) via strikeout against Cleveland (8/17). The following day, Stewart struck out two in 2.2 innings in relief while allowing two earned runs on four hits with a walk against the Tribe. This season - in seven MLB appearances (five starts - Stewart is 1-2 with a 3.74 ERA in 33.2 innings with 22 strikeouts and 10 walks allowed. Stewart pitched one season at Tech in 2008 and was drafted in 2008 in the third round by the Cincinnati Reds.
Josh Tomlin (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Cleveland Indians)
- Tomlin took the loss in his most recent start, last Friday, going 6.2 innings with two strikeouts and allowing four earned runs on six hits on the road at Detroit. Tomlin is 12-6 with a 4.03 ERA in 25 starts this season with 160.2 innings pitched, 146 hits allowed, 72 earned runs allowed and with 83 strikeouts and 20 walks allowed. Tomlin has now gone 37 consecutive starts (spanning entire career) pitching at least 5.0 innings, which is an MLB record for the most consecutive 5.0 inning starts to begin an MLB career. Tomlin pitched one season at Tech in 2006 and was drafted in 2006 in the 19th round by the Cleveland Indians.
Dustin Richardson (LHP - Relief Pitcher - Atlanta Braves - Triple-A - Gwinnett Braves)
- Richardson recorded 5.2 innings of relief work last week during two outings while striking out five. This season he is 3-1 with a 4.84 ERA in 43 relief opportunities. He has logged 57.2 innings with 57 strikeouts and has allowed 38 walks. Richardson pitched two seasons at Tech, 2005-06, and was drafted in 2006 in the fifth round by the Boston Red Sox.
Chris Sampson (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Florida Marlins - Triple-A - New Orleans Zephyrs)
- Sampson earned the win last week (8/19) against Colorado Springs while pitching seven shutout innings with six strikeouts and one walk allowed on six base hits. He improved to 8-1 on the season with a 3.74 ERA in 96.1 innings. He has struck out 60 batters and allowed 17 walks on the season. Sampson pitched one season at Tech in 1999 and was drafted in 1999 in the eighth round by the Houston Astros.
Colt Hynes (LHP - Relief Pitcher - San Diego Padres - Double-A - San Antonio Missions)
- Hynes tallied four appearances last week that totaled 3.1 innings where he allowed only two runs with three scoreless relief outings. This season - in 60 appearances in Double-A and Triple-A - Hynes is 2-6 with a 4.30 ERA in 73.1 innings. He has one save with 50 strikeouts and 29 walks allowed. Hynes pitched two seasons at Tech, 2006-07, and was drafted in 2007 in the 31st round by the San Diego Padres.
Roger Kieschnick (RF - San Francisco Giants - Double-A - Richmond Flying Squirrels)
- Kieschnick belted his 16th home run of the season on Saturday night as he has continued a strong season at the Double-A level. He is batting .258 (114-for-442) with 69 runs, 22 doubles, five triples and 64 RBI with 13-of-20 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.
Chad Bettis (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Colorado Rockies - Single-A (Advanced) - Modesto Nuts)
- Bettis went 2-0 last week which included a dominating performance with 11 strikeouts in a seven-inning start. Bettis is now 12-5 with a 3.33 ERA in 25 starts. He has logged 159.2 innings with 168 strikeouts and has issued only 43 walks. During his last 10 starts, Bettis is 7-1 with a 2.35 ERA with 72 strikeouts and 17 walks allowed. Bettis ranks among the top five in the California League in innings pitched (159.2 - 1st), WHIP (1.11 - 1st), wins (12 - 2nd), strikeouts (168 - 2nd), starts (25 - T-3rd) and ERA (3.33 - 5th). Bettis pitched three years at Tech, 2008-10, and was drafted in 2010 in the second round by the Colorado Rockies.
Bobby Doran (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Houston Astros - Single-A (Advanced) - Lancaster JetHawks)
- Doran was sharp in his only outing last week as he delivered 4.1 innings out of the bullpen while allowing just one run on five hits with three strikeouts and one walk. He is 1-3 with a 9.78 ERA in 19 appearances (12 starts) with 58.0 innings and 35 strikeouts this season. Doran pitched one season at Tech in 2010 and was drafted in 2010 in the third round by the Houston Astros.
AJ Ramos (RHP - Relief Pitcher - Florida Marlins - Single-A (Advanced) - Jupiter Hammerheads)
- Ramos tallied three scoreless relief outings last week while notching his 21st save of the season. He also posted six strikeouts without allowing a walk in three outings last week. This season he is 1-4 with a 1.97 ERA in 44 relief outings with 45.2 innings pitched and 65 strikeouts with 18 walks allowed. Ramos pitched four years at Tech, 2006-09, and was drafted in 2009 in the 21st round by the Florida Marlins.
Chris Richburg (1B - Cincinnati Reds - Single-A (Advanced) - Bakersfield Blaze)
- Richburg hit his 10th home run of the season last week while hitting safely in five of seven games on the week. He is now batting .268 (80-for-298) with 39 runs, 16 doubles, one triple and 38 RBI. He has been especially tough on left-handed pitching batting .346 (28-for-81) with nine doubles. Richburg played four years at Tech, 2005, 2007-09, and was drafted in 2009 in the 23rd round by the Cincinnati Reds.
Jay Johnson (LHP - Philadelphia Phillies - Single-A - Lakewood BlueClaws)
- Two of Johnson's three outings last week were scoreless as he lowered his season ERA to 3.14. He picked up a pair of saves last week with a one-inning save on Aug. 16 and then a 1.1 innings save two days later. This season Johnson is 1-4 in 33 appearances (all relief) with four saves, 43.0 innings pitched, 44 strikeouts and has allowed 28 walks. Johnson pitched one year at Tech in 2010 and was drafted in 2010 in the 26th round by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Nathan Karns (RHP - Washington Nationals - Short-Season Class A - Auburn Doubledays)
- Karns grabbed the win in his only start last week going five innings with four strikeouts without allowing a run scored on Aug. 19. He is now 2-2 with a 2.44 ERA in 11 starts this year. He has pitched in 44.1 innings with 49 strikeouts and 30 walks allowed. Karns is averaging 9.99 strikeouts per nine innings this season. Karns pitched two years at Tech, 2008-09, and was drafted in 2009 in the 12th round by the Washington Nationals.
Jeremy Mayo (C - Washington Nationals - Short-Season Single-A - Auburn Doubledays)
- Mayo hit safely in two of three games played last week, including going 1-for-1 with two RBI on Aug. 17. He is batting .218 (24-for-110) this season with 24 runs, six doubles, five homers and 16 RBI. Mayo played three years at Tech, 2008-2010, and was drafted in 2010 in the 31st round by the Washington Nationals.
Zach Fowler (LHP - Baltimore Orioles - Short-Season Class A - Aberdeen IronBirds)
- Fowler notched two scoreless relief outings last week without allowing a base hit in either contest while combining for 5.2 innings pitched. He has now gone five consecutive outings without allowing a run, which combines for 11 straight innings of work. Fowler is now 1-0 with a 0.95 ERA in 13 appearances this season. He has pitched in 19 innings with 16 strikeouts and two walks allowed. Fowler pitched one year at Tech in 2011 and was drafted in 2011 in the 34th round by the Baltimore Orioles.
Robbie Kilcrease (LHP - Pittsburgh Pirates - Short-Season Class A - State College Spikes)
- Kilcrease has now tossed 4.1 innings in Short-Season A without allowing a run, which includes last week when he tossed two scoreless frames on Saturday. Kilcrease is now 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 15 appearances this season. He has pitched 28.1 innings with 23 strikeouts and seven walks allowed. Kilcrease pitched three years at Tech, 2008-09, 2011, and signed as a free agent in 2011 with the Pirates.
Nick Popescu (3B - Atlanta Braves - Rookie League - Gulf Coast League Braves)
- Popescu went 1-for-2 with a double and RBI last Friday in his only game played during the week. In 23 games this year, Popescu is batting .218 (12-for-55) with five runs, one double, one triple and four RBI. Popescu played two years at Tech, 2010-11, and was drafted in 2011 in the 33rd round by the Atlanta Braves.
Kelby Tomlinson (SS - San Francisco Giants - Rookie League - Arizona League Giants)
- Tomlinson remained hot last week while collecting four multi-hit games and hitting safely in all six games on the week. On the week, Tomlinson batted .407 (11-for-27) with 10 runs, three doubles, two stolen bases and one RBI. In 32 games, Tomlinson is batting .345 (41-for-119) with 10 doubles, four triples, two home runs, 20 RBI and is 8-of-10 in stolen bases. Tomlinson played one year at Tech in 2011 and was drafted in 2011 in the 12th round by the San Francisco Giants.
