MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Receive OF Taiwan Easterling From Mesa

Published on July 16, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL- The Peoria Chiefs and Chicago Cubs have announced that outfielder and 2011 draftee Taiwan Easterling has been promoted to the Chiefs' roster from Short-Season Mesa in the Arizona Rookie League. In conjunction, Peoria will send infielder Pierre LePage to the disabled list with back tightness, retroactive to Wednesday.

Easterling, 22, was drafted in the 27th round of the 2011 draft out of Florida State University. He appeared in seven games for Mesa Cubs and hit .500 in 28 plate appearances while recording two doubles, two triples, ten runs scored, and a .517 on-base percentage. Easterling's final game with Mesa was on Wednesday when he was 1-for-5 against the AZL Rangers. On July 10, Easterling went 4-for-5 with three runs scored in an 11-10 win against the AZL Padres. Easterling started 35 games for the Florida State Seminoles in 2011 after joining the team in 2010 as a walk-on. Easterling hit .296 with one homer, 19 RBI, and six stolen bases this spring for the Seminoles who fell to Texas A&M in the NCAA Super Regionals. Easterling attended Florida State on a football scholarship, starting in 31 games on the gridiron as a wide receiver. He set personal single-season highs in 2010 for receptions (43), receiving yards (551), and touchdowns (5). Easterling collected 108 receptions in his football career for the Seminoles, 18th-most in the program's history. The Florida Marlins drafted Easterling twice before the Cubs selected him in 2011. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2007 draft and again in the 31st round of the 2010 draft, but chose not to sign. Easterling was Mississippi's Mr. Baseball in 2007 leading Oak Grove to the state championship with a .455 average, 13 homers and 56 RBI.

LePage, 22, has been placed on the disabled list after missing the last eight games with back tightness. He is hitting .252 with two homers, 26 RBI, and eight stolen bases for the Chiefs in 2011. LePage leads the current Chiefs roster with eight stolen bases and is second on the team in runs scored (37), third in doubles (17), and tied for fourth in total bases (85). LePage strives with runners in scoring position, with a .345 batting average and 25 RBI including a .379 batting average with two out. The Wolcott, CT native is in his second professional season after spending last year with short-season Boise Hawks and the rookie-level Mesa Cubs. He was drafted in the 13th round of the 2010 draft out of the University of Connecticut.

The Chiefs head into a three-game series against the 2009 MWL Champion Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego Padres) Saturday, July 16 before leaving for a 12-game road trip. Saturday is Cancer Awareness Night with spectacular post-game Fireworks. Sunday is Princess Day and all the kids 12-and-under can run the bases after the game, while Monday, July 18 is Splash Day, and half-priced tickets and an 11:00 a.m. start. Tickets are available online at www.peoriachiefs.com, by calling 1-866-MYTICKET and at the O'Brien Field Box Office.

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Midwest League Stories from July 16, 2011


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