A-Sun Professional Baseball Update

MACON, Ga. - As the Major League Baseball regular season wraps up, A-Sun Insider takes a minute to look at the former members of the A-Sun that continue to perform well for their minor and major league squads.



Former FGCU Eagle Casey Coleman picked up Chicago Cubs’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year honor as he finished the year with a record of 14-6 for the Cubs Double A affiliate, the Tennessee Smokies. Coleman, in his second season in the Cubs system, posted a 3.68 earned-run average in 27 starts while recording 84 strikeouts.

Daniel Murphy, a Jacksonville baseball product, posted solid numbers in his first full season with the New York Mets. Murphy led the Mets in home runs, 12, and games played, 155. He hit .266 with 38 doubles, second to David Wright and tied for 12th in the National League.

Murphy Highlights

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=502517

Murphy also showed his skills in the field in one of the best defensive plays of 2009

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5485207

Former Stetson outfield standout, Chris Johnson spent most of 2009 with the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate Round Rock. While with the Express, Johnson posted a .281 batting average with 13 home runs and 42 RBIs. Johnson picked up his first major hit against the Atlanta Braves on Sept. 10.

Johnson Highlights

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=453400

Caleb Joseph, a former catcher for Lipscomb, spent 2009 with the Frederick Keys posting a .284 batting average with 12 home runs and 60 RBI. Joseph, the MVP of the 2008 Atlantic Sun Championships, posted 37 extra-base hits and a .450 slugging percentage. Joseph’s accomplishments were not just on the field as he also accepted the Elrod Hendricks Community Service Award on behalf of Orioles’ minor league system. Joseph also recently received an invitation to the Orioles’ Major League camp in Feburary.



After being drafted in the first-round (34th overall) of the 2009 Amateur Entry Draft, former Lipscomb left hander Rex Brothers split time between the Asheville Tourists and Tri-City in the Colorado Rockies organization. The Shelbyville, Tenn. native appeared in 17 games between the two teams posting a 2-0 record with a 3.38 ERA all in relief appearances. Brothers, who led the A-Sun in strikeouts in 2009 with 132, continued to rack up the “K’s” fanning 28 in 21.1 innings.

Kyle Heckathorn posted a 4-1 record in 13 starts in his final season with Kennesaw State before being chosen in the first round of the 2009 MLB amateur entry draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. After signing, the Ringgold, Ga., native made five starts with Helena. In 16.1 innings pitched, Heckathorn struck out 11 batters and surrendered 13 earned runs.

Former Hatter pitcher, Lenny DiNardo came up during September with the Kansas City Royals. DiNardo, in five games, posted 12 strikeouts and only surrendered two home runs in over 20 innings pitched.

In his second season in the Detroit Tigers, former UNF right-handed pitcher Tyler Stohr spent the year with the West Michigan Whitecaps appearing in 52 games all in relief appearances and posting a 3.54 ERA in 61 innings pitched with 55 strikeouts. He ranked second in the Midwest League in saves, recording 19.

C.J. Lee, formally of ETSU, finished his third season in the Atlanta Braves system. Lee spent a majority with Myrtle Beach Pelicans and in 89 games drove in 19 runs, while racking up 22 extra base hits.

Former Belmont Bruin, Carlo Testa, finished his second season with in the Kansas City Royals system spending the season with Idaho Falls Chukars. Testa posted a .305 batting average with six home runs, 20 RBI and 19 extra base hits in only 32 games.

Richard Bleier posted a 7-1 record with a 2.09 ERA and four complete games in his final season with FGCU in 2008. In 2009, Bleier spent most of the season with the Bakersfield Blaze in the Texas Rangers system posting a 7-11 record with a 4.51 ERA in 22 starts and 143.2 innings pitched. He finished 10th in the league in innings pitched.