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Diamondbacks High on Former Florence Freedom Pitcher Mike Demark

by Diamond Notes
February 7, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom

Former Florence Freedom pitcher Mike Demark, undrafted and unsigned out of Marietta College, seems to be on the fast track in the Arizona Diamondbacks system.

In DeMark's freshman year at Marietta he was approached by his coaches and told he was a weak hitter and his only option with the team was to learn to pitch. Obviously he learned well, posting a 12-2 record with a 1.78 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in his final season with Marietta.

According to Jim Seip of the Daily Record http://www.ydr.com/revolution/ci_17884750 DeMark was scouted by many teams but they were expecting him to be more like his father, whom many of them had scouted. They were hoping for a tall left-hander, not a less than 6-foot right-hander.

DeMark told Seip "It was disheartening not to get picked up, but I'm never going to say die."

He pitched one season with the Florence Freedom of the Frontier league before the Padres offered him a spot. He pitched very well for the Padres reaching AAA-Portland in 2009. However, on the last day of spring training last season, the Padres released him.

DeMark told Seip "It wasn't even something I was prepared for. It felt kind of like I broke up with my girlfriend."

June 1, 2011 the Diamondbacks signed DeMark and he enjoyed a fine season with AA-Mobile, posting a 3-2 record with a 1.85 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 15 saves.

According to Beach Bums Digest http://beachbumsdigest.webs.com/interviews.htm, Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers is very high on DeMark and said "he has a chance to be a contributor to our big league pen if not this year, in the near future."

DeMark is expected to start 2012 with AAA-Reno and if he continues to put up good numbers, he is likely to make it into the Major leagues very soon. Despite what the scouts thought .

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Frontier League Stories from February 7, 2012


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