Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders in the Major Leagues: Week 9 Update
August 20, 2012 | Baseball
Tomlinson ranks eighth in the South Atlantic League with 33 stolen bases
Aug. 20, 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 needing an additional surgery on his left shoulder. 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 made two starts last week while taking a loss (Aug. 13) and a no decision (Aug. 19). He pitched seven innings at home against the Dodgers last Monday in the loss allowing four earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and a walk. He also pitched seven innings yesterday in a no decision allowing just two earned runs with four strikeouts. Karstens is 4-3 this season with a 3.79 ERA in 13 starts with 76 innings, 54 strikeouts and 15 walks allowed. 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 was placed on the 15-day disabled list after recently suffering a sore right-elbow injury. Tomlin is 5-8 this season with a 6.36 ERA in 21 appearances (16 starts) with 103.1 innings, 56 strikeouts and 25 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 two strong performances last week going 2-for-4 with a double on Aug. 13 and going 2-for-4 on Aug. 17. He is batting .308 (40-for-130) this season with six doubles, five home runs and 27 RBI in 40 games. 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 made one start last week (Aug. 17) allowing just one earned run on five hits in seven innings while taking a no decision. Hynes is 6-9 this season with a 5.87 ERA in 28 appearances (20 starts) with 118 innings, 66 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.
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 took the loss on Friday allowing three runs on five hits in three innings with two strikeouts and a walk. He is 3-4 this season with a 4.13 ERA in 10 starts with 52.1 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.
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 made two appearances last week while making his 49th and 50th appearances of the season. Ramos is 3-2 with a 1.33 ERA in 61 innings with 17 saves, 78 strikeouts and has issued 18 walks. He ranks third in the Southern League in both appearances (50) and saves (17). Ramos pitched four years at Tech, 2006-09, and was drafted in 2009 in the 21st round by the Florida Marlins.
James Leverton (LHP - Relief Pitcher - Miami Marlins - Double-A - Jacksonville Suns)
- Leverton earned a no decision last Thursday in a four-inning relief appearances where he allowed three earned runs with three strikeouts. He is 4-2 with a 3.71 ERA in 27 appearances (5 starts) with one save, 60.2 innings, 60 strikeouts and 21 walks allowed. Leverton pitched three years at Tech, 2006-08, and was drafted in 2008 in the 8th round by the Chicago Cubs.
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 earned the win last Thursday pitching seven innings with six strikeouts and just one run allowed to improve to 12-6 on the season. He has a 4.37 ERA in 24 starts with 142 innings pitched with 96 strikeouts and 41 walks allowed. Doran pitched one season at Tech in 2010 and was drafted in 2010 in the third round by the Houston Astros.
Jay Johnson (LHP - Philadelphia Phillies - Double-A (Advanced) - Reading Phillies)
- Johnson made two scoreless appearances last week while pitching 1.1 innings. He is 1-1 this season with a 3.00 ERA in 29 appearances with 30 innings pitched, 33 strikeouts and 19 walks allowed. 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 - Single-A (Advanced) - Potomac Nationals)
- Karns, who has twice been named the Carolina Pitcher of the Week this season, took the loss last Monday in a six-inning start allowing three earned runs on three hits with 10 strikeouts. It marked Karns' fourth double-digit strikeout performance of the season. He is 11-4 with a 2.17 Era in 24 appearances (18 starts) with two complete games, two saves, 116 innings pitched and 148 strikeouts with 47 walks. Karns pitched two years at Tech, 2008-09, and was drafted in 2009 in the 12th round by the Washington Nationals.
Daniel Coulombe (LHP - Relief Pitcher - Los Angeles Dodgers - Single-A - Great Lakes Loons)
- Coulombe has been a strikeout machine lately having recorded his last 14 outs via strikeout over his last five appearances (4.2 innings). Coulombe is 0-1 with a 4.42 ERA in 17 appearances with 18.1 innings, 32 strikeouts and 12 walks allowed. He is averaging 15.9 strikeouts/nine innings this season. Coulombe pitched two years at Tech, 2011-12, and was drafted in 2012 in the 25th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Zach Fowler (LHP - Baltimore Orioles - Single-A - Delmarva Shorebirds)
- Fowler has bounced around this season from Class A Advanced Fredrick all the way to Triple-A Norfolk. He is 2-1 with a 3.39 ERA in 25 appearances with two saves, 58.1 innings, 52 strikeouts and 19 walks allowed. His most recent outing he allowed two runs in 4.2 innings with five 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.
Robbie Kilcrease (LHP - Pittsburgh Pirates - Single-A - West Virginia Power)
- Kilcrease made three scoreless appearances last week pitching 3.2 innings with four strikeouts during the week. He is 1-2 with a 2.98 ERA in 40 appearances with three saves, 60.1 innings and 62 strikeouts with 25 walks allowed. 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 has been placed on the disabled list. He is batting .196 (9-for-46) with five runs, four doubles, two RBI and has played in 18 games on the season. Mayo played three years at Tech, 2008-2010, and was drafted in 2010 in the 31st round by the Washington Nationals.
Rusty Shellhorn (LHP - Starting Pitcher - Seattle Mariners - Single-A - Clinton LumberKings)
- Shellhorn was recently promoted to Class-A Clinton after going 3-2 with a 2.76 ERA in six starts in Short-Season A Everett. He made his Single-A debut last night in a winning effort allowing just two earned runs in seven innings with three strikeouts. Shellhorn has been stellar this year with a 5-2 record, 2.35 ERA, 11 appearances (10 starts) with 57.1 innings, 61 strikeouts and 11 walks. Shellhorn pitched one year at Tech in 2012 and was drafted in the 31st round by the Seattle Mariners.
Kelby Tomlinson (SS - San Francisco Giants - Single-A - Augusta GreenJackets)
- Tomlinson is 5-for-9 over his last two games with two runs, one double and has hit safely in four of his last six games. He is batting .233 (95-for-407) with 55 runs, nine doubles, four triples, one home run and 35 RBI with 33-of-43 stolen bases. He currently ranks eighth 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 took the loss last Thursday pitching six innings with seven strikeouts while allowing just two earned runs. He is 4-4 this season with a 3.00 ERA in 12 appearances (10 starts) with 60 innings, 33 strikeouts and nine walks allowed. 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 is out for the season with a fractured ankle after being named to the New York-Penn League All-Star game. He batted .288 (36-for-125) with 16 runs, six doubles, five home runs, 24 RBI and 17 walks with 10-of-16 stolen bases in 38 games. Barnes went on the disabled list at the end of July following a lower-leg injury (stress fracture) that turned into a more severe injury. 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 made two starts last week and totaled 10 strikeouts in 10.1 innings. He is now 4-3 on the season with a 3.00 ERA in 11 appearances (9 starts) with 57 innings, 54 strikeouts and just nine walks allowed. 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/CF - Seattle Mariners - Short-Season-A - Everett AquaSox)
- McGruder remains the top base stealer in the Northwest League with a league-leading 24 stolen bases in 28 attempts. The next closest in terms of stolen bases in the league has 19. He is batting .234 (50-for-214) with 30 runs, nine doubles, one triple, 14 RBI and is 24-of-28 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 made two appearances last week pitching 2.2 innings with two strikeouts. He is 0-0 with a 3.45 ERA in 16 outings with two saves, 31.1 innings and 22 strikeouts with seven walks allowed. 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 5-for-8 over his last two games and went 1-for-3 in one game last week (Sunday). He is batting .216 (11-for-51) with six runs, two doubles and five RBI in 14 games. 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 collected three multi-hit games last week while having hit safely in five of his last six games. He went 2-for-5 to start the week and then went 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI on Friday and went 2-for-5 with a double on Saturday. Redman is batting .271 (54-for-199) with 35 runs, 14 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 23 RBI with 6-of-9 stolen bases. Redman played two years at Tech, 2011-12, and was drafted in 2012 in the 23rd round by the Tampa Bay Rays.
