Astros Ink River Bats Hurler
January 29, 2003 - Southeastern League (SEL)
Baton Rouge River Bats News Release
BATON ROUGE â Baton Rouge River Bats starting pitcher and Southeastern League All-Star Corey Avrard has signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros. Avrard will report to Kissimmee, Fla., in February. Once there, his spring training performance will determine his minor league assignment.
The minor league contract makes Avrard the second River Bats pitcher to join a major league organization, following Billy Brian's mid-July signing with the New York Yankees. Brian finished the 2002 season at single-A Greensboro [N.C.].
Avrard, a former third-round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, was part of the River Bats pitching staff, which limited visitors to a .229 batting average at home. In 15 innings of work at Pete Goldsby Field, Avrard fanned 20 batters.During his seven-year professional career Avrard advanced as high Double-A Little Rock, Ark. in the Cardinals organization. He set a career high with 133 and two-thirds innings while splitting time between two Cardinal Single-A affiliates in 1997. Avrard became a closer for Little Rock late in the 1999 season and then spent all of 2000 in that role for the St. Louis farm club.
The River Bats are gearing up for their 2003 Southeastern League season. Corporate nights, advertising packages and season ticket packages now are available. Contact the River Bats office at (225) 344-BATS or log on to the River Bats' official Web site, www.BRriverbats.com, to receive more information about professional baseball in Baton Rouge.
Pete Goldsby Field, home of the River Bats, is located next to Memorial Stadium off Interstate 110 near the Governor's Mansion in downtown Baton Rouge.
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Southeastern League Stories from January 29, 2003
- Astros Ink River Bats Hurler - Baton Rouge River Bats
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