Pump Jacks Alumni Report

Published on July 24, 2012 under Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


Since the Pump Jacks arrived in East Texas, no TCL franchise has amassed more top prospects and All-TCL players than the Jacks. More than 30 of them have been drafted by major league teams, and though they may not call historic Driller Park home any longer, many Pump Jacks alumni have gone on to prosper as professionals.

Matt Curry (2008) continues to thrive as the starting first baseman for the Altoona Curve, the Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate in the Double-A Eastern League. The lefty is hitting .311 for the Curve and showing off some power with 27 doubles, seven homers and 49 RBI. In 39 games at the Curve's home ballpark, People's Natural Gas Field in Altoona, Pa., he is hitting a remarkable .370 and slugging .578 for the hometown fans. He leads the Curve in doubles, ranks fourth in batting, and his 148 total bases are just seven off the team lead.

As the primary catcher for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the High Class-A Carolina League affiliate of the Texas Rangers, Brett Nicholas (2009) has been solid all season. Now leading the entire Pelicans squad with a .287 batting average, he's following up a month of June that saw him hit .327 with a .301 mark in July. He also has a team-leading 24 doubles and 49 RBI, just one behind the Pelicans' leader in that category. His .416 slugging percentage is tops on the squad and his .342 on-base percentage ranks second on Myrtle Beach.

Miguel Pena (2010) has yet to let up in his first full professional campaign. The lefty is 5-5 with a 2.60 ERA for the Greenville Drive, the Class-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. He has also struck out 68 batters in 72.2 innings while walking just 14.

David Rollins' (2009) strong season has put him on the major league radar. Rollins was involved in a ten-player swap between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Houston Astros this month, making him the first Pump Jacks' alum ever to be moved as part of a major league trade. He was acquired by the Astros in the deal, who assigned Rollins to the Lexington Legends in the Class-A South Atlantic League. The Deberry, Texas, native posted excellent numbers prior to the trade, going 6-1 with a 2.78 ERA in 18 starts for the Lansing Lugnuts, the Blue Jays' Class-A affiliate. The lefty has 75 strikeouts in just 77.2 innings pitched this summer.

Matt Shelton (2008) continues to be a stalwart out of the bullpen for the Great Lakes Loons, the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 32 appearances for the Loons, the right-hander has 52 strikeouts in 48 innings versus just 14 walks. He's registered two saves along with a 2.25 ERA.

Pitching for the Midwest League's Cedar Rapids Kernels, a Los Angeles Angels' affiliate, southpaw Stephen Tromblee (2009) has a 4-0 record and a 3.20 ERA with four saves in 45 innings pitched. He has 39 strikeouts and only 13 walks as one of the most-used Kernels relievers.

Kilgore, Texas, native Logan Chitwood has gotten off to a strong start for the Vermont Lake Monsters, the Class-A Short-Season affiliate of the Oakland Athletics in the New York-Penn League. In 23.1 innings pitched over ten games, Chitwood boasts a 3-0 record and a 1.54 ERA with 19 punchouts and eight walks.

Several newly-minted pros have gotten their professional careers off to a fine start after they were drafted last month. Assigned to the Jamestown Jammers in the New York-Penn League, Miami Marlins draftee Matt Jeungel (2009) is batting .261 with 11 RBI. After adjusting to pro ball in June, he is hitting .292 in July with nine of his 11 RBI. Like Curry, he is also producing for the hometown crowds, batting .310 in front of the Jamestown fans.

Daniel Minor (2011) is having a solid first season for the Greeneville Astros, the rookie ball affiliate of the Houston Astros in the Appalachian League. In five starts spanning 22.2 innings, Minor has compiled a 3.18 ERA and 17 strikeouts while walking only six.

John Walter (2010) is currently playing for the Burlington Royals, the Kansas City Royals affiliate in the Appalachian League. The righty has been a force out of the pen with a 3-0 record, a 1.38 ERA and four saves. Just like in college, he continues to show a penchant for the punchout, registering 19 strikeouts in only 13 innings pitched.

Jordan Hershiser (2011) has pitched in eight games since the Dodgers drafted him and assigned the 6-foot-8 righty to their entry in the rookie-level Arizona League. In nine innings of work, Hershiser has struck out 12 while allowing only two earned runs.

Two Pump Jacks from last summer are having strong enough seasons in the well-regarded Northwoods League to earn an invitation to that circuit's All-Star Game. John Michael Twichell ranks sixth in the league with a .360 batting average for the nationally-ranked Mankato Moondogs. He also has 12 doubles, four triples and six home runs to go with 27 RBI. Last summer's TCL Freshman of the Year, Hunter Dozier, is also having a solid season, batting .283 for the Willmar Stingers. His 35 RBI at the break are third on the team and puts him in the top-15 in the league.

The Pump Jacks continue their four-game road trip Tuesday night in Alexandria for a rematch against the Aces. It will be the final regular season matchup between the two teams. Wednesday night, the Pump Jacks are in Lafayette to play the Acadiana Cane Cutters, and Thursday night the team will travel to Bryan to face the Brazos Valley Bombers.

The Jacks return home on Friday evening for another edition of Fireworks Friday. With just one game at historic Driller Park this week, the home team is looking to pack the park as they light up the night sky with an Olympic-sized postgame fireworks display. The Pump Jacks face off against the Brazos Valley Bombers, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Texas Collegiate League Stories from July 24, 2012


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