MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

'Caps Get New Catcher; Roa Placed on DL

Published on August 11, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The Detroit Tigers and West Michigan Whitecaps announced today that catcher Joel Roa was placed on the disabled list retroactive to August 7 after injuring his hamstring in a game on Sunday, August 6. The Tigers have promoted catcher Jeff Kunkel from the Oneonta Tigers to keep the roster at 25 active players.

Kunkel was selected by the Tigers in the 37th round of the 2005 June draft out of the University of Michigan. The Oak Park, Illinois native was a co-captain of the Wolverines in 2006 and was one of three finalists for the Coleman Company Johnny Bench Award for national catcher of the year. He signed with the Tigers before the 2006 draft as they had retained his draft rights because he was a fifth year senior. Kunkel won the Ray Fisher Award as U of M's most valuable player for the second consecutive year and was an All-Big Ten First Team catcher and the All-Big Ten Tournament catcher. Kunkel has played 20 games for the Oneonta Tigers in 2006. He is batting .264 with four doubles and seven RBI in 72 at bats.

Roa played in 47 games for the Whitecaps this season. He was batting .144 with three doubles, two home runs and nine RBI before the injury, which caused him to leave the August 6 game in the bottom of the third inning.

The roster attached has no jersey number for Kunkel. A new roster will follow with the number as soon as possible.

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Midwest League Stories from August 11, 2006


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