Former Oklahoma Baseball Stars Shine In The Pros

NORMAN, Okla. -- Twenty-eight former Sooners are making their presence known in professional baseball clubs across the country this season, including six in the Majors.

Former Sooner pitcher Russ Ortiz, who helped lead OU to the national title in 1994, is posting a 4.07 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 88.1 innings pitched for the Atlanta Braves. Ortiz's numbers are not unique to this season as he is coming off of a career season when he led the National League with 21 wins, more than any other pitcher.

Mark Redman, another pitcher from the 1994 National Championship team, so far this season has posted a 4.07 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 79.2 innings pitched with a 5-3 record in his first season with the Oakland Athletics.

Other former Sooners in the major leagues include Damon Minor, Geoff Geary, Greg Norton and Val Pascucci. Minor is making his return to the Giants organization this season after a stint with triple-A affiliates in the Giants' and Phillies' organizations. He has seen limited playing time since his return, but has recorded six RBI and seven runs in his 22 games.

Geary, a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, has played in nine games this season and has struck out nine batters in 13.2 innings pitched. A third baseman for the Detroit Tigers, Norton has also seen limited playing time so far this season in 41 games. Pascucci briefly made his major league debut as an outfielder with the Montreal Expos and is now with the Edmonton Trappers. He has recorded a 37 RBI with 13 doubles and 10 home runs this season with Edmonton.

The former OU standouts are not just limited to the majors though. Single, double and triple-A team rosters throughout the country feature many former Sooner stars.

Ready to break into the majors are former Sooners at the triple-A level. Kyle Denney of the triple-A Buffalo Bisons has a 6-1 record with a 3.59 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 62.2 innings pitched and is poised to make his move into the majors. Louisville Bats pitcher Brian Shackelford is 4-1 with a 4.08 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 39.2 innings pitched. Derek Wathan of the Albuquerque Isotopes is posting a .307 average with 47 runs, 29 RBI, 14 doubles, seven home runs and 12 stolen bases.

Also of the Isotopes, pitcher Kevin Olsen has a 3-3 record with a 4.37 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 55.2 innings pitched. Jason Bartlett with a .339 average over 27 games has helped the triple-A Rochester Red Wings move in to second place in the International League north standings.

Trying to take their place among the best of the minor leaguers are the standouts in double-A. Austin Coose is helping the Montgomery Biscuits with a 3-3 record and an ERA of 2.89 with 43 strikeouts in 37.1 innings pitched. Before he was recently promoted to the Tacoma Rainers, Greg Dobbs had a .325 average with 34 RBI and five home runs in his 51 games with the San Antonio Missions.

Pitcher Jeff Bajenaru has 10 saves so far for the Birmingham Barons, and has also has recorded an impressive 43 strikeouts in only 26.2 innings pitched. Tommy Whiteman earned a promotion to the New Orleans Zephyrs, the triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, by batting a .335 average in 66 games with 38 runs, 44 RBI and eight home runs with the Round Rock Express.

Buddy Blair, with a 5-5 record this season with the single-A Palm Beach Cardinals, joined the Cardinals' double-A club, the Tennessee Smokies, for one game where he recorded two strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched.

Other former Sooners in the minor leagues include Reggie Willits (Rancho Cucamonga Quakes), Eddie Cornejo (Modesto A's), Spencer Wyman (Jamestown Jammers), Jason Fransz (Clinton LumberKings), Evan Greusel (Jupiter Hammerheads), Corey Hart (Omaha Royals) and Rocky Cherry (Daytona Cubs) are all poised to make their mark. Beginning their professional careers are Ole Sheldon (Greeneville Astros), Casey Brown (Tri-City ValleyCats), Mark Roberts (Spokane Indians), Mike Swindell (Kingsport Mets) and Jarod McAuliff (Vancouver Canadians).

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Former Oklahoma Baseball Stars Shine In The Pros

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