Calgary Vipers LHP Brant Stickel Acquired by Los Angeles Dodgers
Published on October 22, 2010 under Golden Baseball League (GBL) News Release
(October 22, 2010. Calgary, AB, Canada) The Calgary Vipers Baseball Club have announced that they have sold the contract of rookie LHP Brant Stickel to the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. The Alberta native was quickly signed by the Dodgers after a tryout in Phoenix, Arizona earlier this month where he threw only four pitches including two at 92 miles per hour. After pitching in the instructional league in Glendale, Arizona the left-handed thrower is travelling to Venezuela to play winter ball for six weeks.
"I was given the opportunity to have a shot to enter spring training with the Vipers and I am very blessed for what the organization gave me," says Stickel. "I was able to gain some valuable knowledge from manager Morgan Burkhart and pitcher Joe Sergent as well as pitching coach Mike Snyder. Also to be able to face ex big league hitters in the GBL was a huge benefit for me now."
The 23-year-old made his professional debut with the Vipers this season and pitched in 15 games including three starts where in total he struck out 16 batters in 27 innings. It has been a whirlwind 2010 for Brant who was invited to training camp on a tryout basis after Manager Morgan Burkhart watched him throw his final game for the University of Calgary Dinos. From there the 6'4" 210 pounder was a surprise addition to the opening night roster after a fantastic showing in an exhibition game where he struck out the side.
"It's a perfect example of a guy who comes to work early everyday and works hard to get better in hopes of improving himself even though he wasn't getting much playing time," says Burkhart. "The fact is he does have spectacular raw talent, more than most guys on our team, and now he has the chance to put it all together in an organization."
Stickel completed four seasons with the Dinos Baseball Club where he was a 1st Team Canadian College Baseball Conference All-Star and in early 2010 he led the CCBC as both the strikeout king with 61 and also run producer with 25 runs batted in.
The baseball player comes from hockey bloodlines as he is cousins with National Hockey League players Shane Doan and Carey Price.
Brant is the second Calgary Vipers pitcher to be acquired this year after Jay Broughton had his contract purchased by the Boston Red Sox during the season. He is the 16th Golden Baseball League player to have his contract purchased by a major league organization in 2010 and the 115th Golden Baseball League player to go to a big league organization since 2005.
Golden Baseball League Stories from October 22, 2010
- Calgary Vipers LHP Brant Stickel Acquired by Los Angeles Dodgers - GBL
- Caps OF Larry Bigbie Named Independent All-Star - Edmonton Capitals
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