Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders in the Major Leagues: Week 12 Update
September 06, 2011 | Baseball
Zach Stewart threw a complete-game one-hit shutout on Monday
Sept. 6, 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 made two starts last week and collected at least one base hit in each contest. This season Bard is batting .213 (16-for-75) with four doubles, two home runs and 11 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.
- Bard's Bio
- Photo Gallery
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, missed his last start with soreness in his elbow and it appears he will miss his next start as well. In 24 starts and 28 appearances this season, Karstens is 9-8 with a 3.32 ERA in 152.0 innings. He has allowed 56 earned runs on 151 hits with 91 strikeouts and has allowed 30 walks. This season Karstens has recorded career-highs in wins, starts, innings pitched and strikeouts. 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
Zach Stewart (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Chicago White Sox)
- Stewart had a perfect game through seven innings at Minnesota on Monday night before Danny Valencia doubled into the right-field corner to lead off the eighth inning to end Stewart's quest for perfection. Stewart finished the game throwing his first career complete-game shutout in the 4-0 victory at Target Field. He finished the game striking out a career-high nine while retiring 27-of-28 batters faced. In eight starts and 10 appearances this season, Stewart is 2-3 with a 4.56 ERA in 53.1 innings with 38 strikeouts and 14 walks allowed. 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 Tomlin (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Cleveland Indians)
- Tomlin remains on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow soreness. In 26 starts this season Tomlin is 12-7 with a 4.25 ERA in 165.1 innings pitched. He has struck out 89 batters and allowed only 21 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
Dustin Richardson (LHP - Relief Pitcher - Atlanta Braves - Triple-A - Gwinnett Braves)
- Richardson is 4-1 with a 4.79 ERA in 46 appearances (all relief). He has logged 64 strikeouts and walked 42 batters. 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 improved his record to 9-2 this season with a win on Sunday on the road at Oklahoma City where he pitched seven innings and allowed just one earned run on six hits with six strikeouts and one walk. He owns a 3.71 ERA in 19 starts (20 appearances) with 116.1 innings pitched with 62 strikeouts and 19 walks allowed. 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 made three relief appearances last week where he tallied five innings pitched. This season in 67 relief opportunities Hynes is 2-7 with a 4.27 ERA in 84.1 innings pitched between Double-A and Triple-A. He has 53 strikeouts and has allowed 29 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
Roger Kieschnick (RF - San Francisco Giants - Double-A - Richmond Flying Squirrels)
- Kieschnick remains on the disabled list (back) after his most recent game played on August 25. This season in 126 games played, Kieschnick is batting .255 (117-for-459) with 71 runs, 22 doubles, five triples and 16 home runs with 65 RBI. 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 was named the California League Pitcher of the Year after leading the league in strikeouts and innings pitched and ranking second in the league in wins and ERA. In his only start last week Bettis struck out nine batters in five innings pitched while not allowed an earned run on just one base hit. During his last 10 starts, Bettis is 6-0 with a 2.81 ERA in 64.0 innings of work while striking out 70 batters and allowed just 16 walks. This season Bettis is 12-5 with a 3.34 ERA in 27 starts. He has tallied 169.2 innings with 184 strikeouts while giving up just 45 walks. In just his second pro season, Bettis has earned California League Pitcher of the Week twice and been selected to the California/Carolina League All-Star Game. 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 made two outings last week - one start - pitching a total of 7.2 innings with five strikeouts while allowing four earned runs on six hits. Doran is 1-3 this campaign with a 9.05 ERA in 66.2 innings pitched. He has struck out 41 batters and allowed 32 walks. 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 made two scoreless relief outings last week while notching two saves. He now has a save in his last four appearances. He ranks third in the Florida State League with 25 saves this season. Ramos is 1-4 with a 1.78 ERA in 49 appearances with 50.2 innings pitched and 71 strikeouts with 19 walks 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)
- This season Richburg is batting .262 (90-for-343) with 44 runs, 16 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs and 40 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 made three relief outings last week while striking out four in 2.1 innings pitched. He is 1-5 this season with a 2.94 ERA in 40 appearances and 49.0 innings pitched. He has 49 strikeouts and 35 walks allowed and opponents are batting .228. 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
Kelby Tomlinson (SS - San Francisco Giants - Single-A - Augusta GreenJackets)
- Tomlinson was promoted to Single-A Augusta on Sept. 1, joining the GreenJackets for their post-season that begins Wednesday. Augusta won the South Atlantic League's Southern Division. In his first two games at the Single-A level, Tomlinson has hit safely in both games going 1-for-5 (Sept. 3) and 2-for-4 (Sept. 5). Overall, on the season, Tomlinson is batting .356 (53-for-149) with 34 runs, 10 doubles, five triples, two home runs and 27 RBI with 11-of-13 stolen bases. 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
Nathan Karns (RHP - Washington Nationals - Short-Season Class A - Auburn Doubledays)
- Karns took a no decision in his last start while going five innings and striking out four with three walks allowed. In 13 starts this year, Karns is 3-2 with a 2.28 ERA in 55.1 innings pitched with 59 strikeouts and 33 walks allowed. Karns pitched two years at Tech, 2008-09, and was drafted in 2009 in the 12th round by the Washington Nationals.
- Karns' Bio
Jeremy Mayo (C - Washington Nationals - Short-Season Single-A - Auburn Doubledays)
- Mayo was recently placed on the disabled list. In 37 games this season, Mayo is batting .230 (26-for-113) with 24 runs, six doubles, five home runs and 17 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 made a pair of multiple inning relief appearances last week, including a three-inning performance with three strikeouts while allowing just one earned run on Aug. 30. Fowler then pitched 2.1 scoreless innings on Sept. 3 while allowing just one base hit. In 16 appearances this year, Fowler is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA in 27.1 innings pitched with 20 strikeouts and has allowed just six walks. Fowler pitched one year at Tech in 2011 and was drafted in 2011 in the 34th round by the Baltimore Orioles.
- Fowler's Bio
Robbie Kilcrease (LHP - Pittsburgh Pirates - Short-Season Class A - State College Spikes)
- Kilcrease made three relief outings last week while totaling 3.1 innings pitched with two strikeouts in each appearance. Kilcrease is now 1-2 with a 3.44 ERA in 20 appearances (both Rookie and Short-Season A) with 34.0 innings pitched, 29 strikeouts and 11 walks allowed. 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 hitting .200 (12-for-60) on the season. He has scored six runs and has two extra-base hits (one double, on triple) with four RBI on the season. Popescu played two years at Tech, 2010-11, and was drafted in 2011 in the 33rd round by the Atlanta Braves.
- Popescu's Bio
