Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders in the Major Leagues: Week 3 Update
July 09, 2012 | Baseball
Karstens struck out eight batters in eight-shutout innings last week over the Astros
July 9, 2012
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech baseball program started the 2012 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 26 former Texas Tech players who are playing with an MLB organization as a player. Throughout the remainder of the 2012 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, who missed the majority of the 2011 season following shoulder surgery, suffered a setback to his return to pitching for the Athletics with a left shoulder injury at the end of March that has resulted in Braden being placed on the 60-day disabled list. Braden has thrown two bullpens during his rehab and is expected to join the team during the second half of the season. He has not pitched in a game since April 16, 2011. 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 was dominating this past week pitching eight shutout-innings while striking out eight with one walk allowed and just four hits in a win over Houston. He is 2-2 this season with a 3.94 ERA in six starts with 32 innings pitched with 24 strikeouts and five walks allowed. His past two starts he has thrown 15 innings with 15 strikeouts and only two earned runs allowed in back-to-back victories. Karstens pitched one season at Tech in 2003 and was drafted in 2003 in the 19th round by the New York Yankees.
Josh Tomlin (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Cleveland Indians)
- Tomlin won his second straight game this past Thursday pitching seven innings with three strikeouts while allowing just one earned run on two hits at home against Tampa Bay. He is 5-5 this season with a 5.45 ERA in 13 starts with 79.1 innings pitched with 48 strikeouts and 20 walks allowed. Tomlin pitched one season at Tech in 2006 and was drafted in 2006 in the 19th round by the Cleveland Indians.
Josh Bard (C - Los Angeles Dodgers - Triple-A - Albuquerque Isotopes)
- Bard had a tremendous week going 4-for-8 with two home runs and five RBI in two games played. Bard is batting .302 (29-for-96) this season with 11 runs, four doubles, five home runs and 22 RBI in 27 games played this season. 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.
Colt Hynes (LHP - Relief Pitcher - San Diego Padres - Triple-A - Tucson Padres)
- Hynes has started in his last four outings while having pitched at least five innings in three of his last four trips to the mound. He is 3-8 this season with a 6.78 ERA in 21 appearances (13 starts) with 81 innings, 50 strikeouts and 22 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 - Triple-A - Fresno Grizzlies)
- Kieschnick has been on the disabled list since the end of May after crashing into the outfield wall and suffering a shoulder injury. He started off the season on fire batting .319 (65-for-204) in 51 games with 12 doubles, four triples and 14 home runs with 37 RBI. In fact, during the 10 games before his injury, Kieschnick had four multi-hit games and four home runs, including a 4-for-5 performance with two homers and six RBI on May 23. Kieschnick was a three-year starter for Tech, 2006-08, and was drafted in 2008 in the third round by the San Francisco Giants.
Zach Stewart (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Boston Red Sox - Triple-A - Pawtucket Red Sox)
- Stewart was sharp last week in his third appearance as a member of the Red Sox organization pitching 6.2 innings allowing just two runs on seven hits with two walks allowed in a no-decision. Stewart is 1-0 with a 1.96 ERA in three Triple-A outings with 18.1 innings with five strikeouts. Stewart was traded to the Boston Red Sox in a trade that sent long-time Red Sox slugger Kevin Youkilis to the White Sox for Stewart and Brent Lillibridge. Stewart pitched in 18 games this season (1 start) for the White Sox with a 1-2 record, 6.00 ERA, 30 innings pitched with 16 strikeouts and four walks. Stewart pitched one season at Tech in 2008 and was drafted in 2008 in the third round by the Cincinnati Reds.
Chad Bettis (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Colorado Rockies - Double-A - Tulsa Drillers)
- Bettis has not made an appearance this season while rehabbing a shoulder injury suffered in spring training. Bettis was named the California League Pitcher of the Year in 2011 while earning California League Mid and Postseason All-Star recognition. MLB.com named Bettis the organization's No. 3 prospect entering the season. Bettis pitched three years at Tech, 2008-10, and was drafted in 2010 in the second round by the Colorado Rockies.
AJ Ramos (RHP - Relief Pitcher - Miami Marlins - Double-A - Jacksonville Suns)
- Ramos was named a Double-A Southern League All-Star after dominating the first-half of the season. Ramos hasn't allowed an earned run in over a month while going 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA in 34 appearances this season with eight saves, 42 innings pitched and 52 strikeouts with just nine walks allowed. Ramos pitched four years at Tech, 2006-09, and was drafted in 2009 in the 21st round by the Florida Marlins.
Bobby Doran (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Houston Astros - Double-A - Corpus Christi Hooks)
- Doran, after being named a California League All-Star in the first half of the season, was promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi on June 22. Doran is 3-0 while winning all three starts in his brief Double-A career while pitching 16 innings with nine strikeouts and three walks allowed. In 17 minor league starts this year, Doran is 9-4 with a 3.90 ERA in 99.1 innings with 66 strikeouts and 28 walks allowed. Doran pitched one season at Tech in 2010 and was drafted in 2010 in the third round by the Houston Astros.
James Leverton (LHP - Relief Pitcher - Miami Marlins - Double-A - Jacksonville Suns)
- Leverton struck out four in a 4.1 inning start last week where took a no decision. He is 1-2 this season with a 3.09 ERA in 17 appearances (2 starts) with 32 innings pitched, 36 strikeouts and 11 walks allowed. Leverton pitched three years at Tech, 2006-08, and was drafted in 2008 in the 8th round by the Chicago Cubs.
Zach Fowler (LHP - Baltimore Orioles - Single-A - Delmarva Shorebirds)
- Fowler allowed his first earned run in over a month during his last outing (July 6) while he has recorded a 0.36 ERA since May 14 with 24.2 innings, 25 strikeouts and eight walks allowed. On the season, Fowler is 0-1 with a 1.76 ERA in 15 appearances with two saves, 30.2 innings, 31 strikeouts and 10 walks. Fowler pitched one year at Tech in 2011 and was drafted in 2011 in the 34th round by the Baltimore Orioles.
Jay Johnson (LHP - Philadelphia Phillies - Double-A (Advanced) - Reading Phillies)
- Johnson has made nine appearances at the Double-A level while having pitched at three levels this season. He is 0-0 with a 2.51 ERA in 14 appearances with 14.1 innings, 19 strikeouts and five walks allowed. Johnson pitched one year at Tech in 2010 and was drafted in 2010 in the 26th round by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Daniel Coulombe (LHP - Relief Pitcher - Los Angeles Dodgers - Single-A - Great Lakes Loons)
- Coulombe was promoted to Class A Great Lakes after making three appearances at the Rookie-League level. Coulombe is 0-0 with a 6.00 ERA in five appearances this year (Rookie and Single-A) with nine innings, 13 strikeouts and five walks allowed. Coulombe pitched two years at Tech, 2011-12, and was drafted in 2012 in the 25th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Nathan Karns (RHP - Washington Nationals - Single-A (Advanced) - Potomac Nationals)
- Karns has struck out at least 10 batters in three of his last four starts. He is 6-2 on the season with a 2.31 ERA in 17 appearances (11 starts) with two complete games, two saves, 78 innings pitched, 109 strikeouts and 35 walks allowed. Karns pitched two years at Tech, 2008-09, and was drafted in 2009 in the 12th round by the Washington Nationals.
Robbie Kilcrease (LHP - Pittsburgh Pirates - Single-A - West Virginia Power)
- Kilcrease is 0-2 with a 3.83 ERA in 26 outings this season with three saves in 42.1 innings pitched. He has 45 strikeouts and 19 walks while opponents are batting just .224 against him. Kilcrease pitched three years at Tech, 2008-09, 2011, and signed as a free agent in 2011 with the Pirates.
Jeremy Mayo (C - Washington Nationals - Single-A - Hagerstown Suns)
- Mayo is batting .280 (7-for-25) this season with two runs, three doubles and one RBI with seven walks and a .438 on-base percentage. Mayo played three years at Tech, 2008-2010, and was drafted in 2010 in the 31st round by the Washington Nationals.
Kelby Tomlinson (SS - San Francisco Giants - Single-A - Augusta GreenJackets)
- Tomlinson is batting .223 (63-for-283) with six doubles, two triples, one home run and 25 RBI with 24-of-30 stolen bases in 76 games this season. He is currently ninth in the South Atlantic League 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.
Duke von Schamann (RHP - Starting Pitcher - Los Angeles Dodgers - Single-A - Great Lakes Loons)
- von Schamann has been impressive during both starts in Single-A after being promoted following just two Rookie-League appearances. von Schamann's last outing included allowing just two runs in 5.2 innings with two strikeouts. This season in four total appearances, von Schamann is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in four outings (2 starts) with 12.2 innings, five strikeouts and has not allowed a walk. von Schamann pitched two years at Tech, 2011-12, and was drafted in 2012 in the 14th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Barrett Barnes (CF - Pittsburgh Pirates - Short-Season-A - State College Spikes)
- Barnes had a three-game stretch to remember last week going 8-for-11 with three runs, three doubles, two home runs (one inside-the-park) with four RBI and two walks. Barnes is now batting .292 (19-for-65) with seven runs, three doubles, two homers and 10 RBI on the season. Barnes played three years at Tech, 2010-12, and was drafted in 2012 in the supplemental first round by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Shane Broyles (RHP - Colorado Rockies - Short-Season-A - Tri-City Dust Devils)
- Broyles earned the win last week in his first career professional start going five innings with six strikeouts allowing just two runs and a walk. He is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA this year with three appearances (1 start), 12 innings pitched with eight strikeouts and four walks. Broyles pitched one year at Tech in 2012 and was drafted in 2012 in the 14th round by the Colorado Rockies.
Jamodrick McGruder (2B/LF - Seattle Mariners - Short-Season-A - Everett AquaSox)
- McGruder continues to lead the Northwest League in stolen bases this season while picking up four last week. In fact, in one game (July 5) last week, McGruder went 3-for-5 with a double, RBI and three stolen bases. He is batting .231 (18-for-78) this season with 15 runs, six doubles, seven RBI, 12 walks and is 11-of-13 in stolen bases. McGruder played three years at Tech, 2010-12, and was drafted in 2012 in the ninth round by the Seattle Mariners.
John Neely (RHP - Relief Pitcher - Houston Astros - Short-Season-A - Tri-City ValleyCats)
- Neely is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in six relief opportunities this year with 10 innings pitched, seven strikeouts and two walks. Neely pitched three years at Tech, 2010-12, and was drafted in 2012 in the 30th round by the Houston Astros.
Bo Altobelli (C - Minnesota Twins - Rookie League - Elizabethton Twins)
- Altobelli is batting .045 (1-for-22) with a run, double and RBI this season. He has played in six games this season. Altobelli played three years at Tech, 2010-12, and was drafted in 2012 in the 21st round by the Minnesota Twins.
Reid Redman (2B - Tampa Bay Rays - Rookie League - Princeton Rays)
- Redman is batting .262 (17-for-65) with 13 runs, four doubles, one triple, one homer, six RBI and is 3-f-4 stolen bases. He has hit safely in eight of his last 10 games while hitting predominantly in the Princeton Rays' 3-hole. Redman played two years at Tech, 2011-12, and was drafted in 2012 in the 23rd round by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Rusty Shellhorn (LHP - Relief Pitcher - Seattle Mariners - Rookie League - Arizona League Mariners)
- Shellhorn has dominated the Rookie League competition thus far making three appearances with a 1-0 record, 0.69 ERA, 13 innings, one run allowed, 22 strikeouts and zero walks allowed. Shellhorn struck out nine in a six-inning victory last Thursday allowing just two hits in the six-shutout innings. Shellhorn is fourth in the league with 22 strikeouts while having thrown seven fewer innings than all of the pitchers ranked ahead of him. Shellhorn pitched one year at Tech in 2012 and was drafted in the 31st round by the Seattle Mariners.
