SAL1 Greenville Drive

Clay Buchholz Makes Major League Debut Friday

Published on August 17, 2007 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, S.C. - When right-handed pitching phenom Clay Buchholz makes his Major League debut for game one of the Boston Red Sox doubleheader Friday at Fenway Park, it will mark the first former Greenville Drive player to reach the bigs.

His first start against the Los Angeles Angels - with the likes of Vladimir Guerrero, Orlando Cabrera and Chone Figgins - will have playoff implications for both teams.

Buchholz, a 2005 sandwich round selection (42nd overall) of the Red Sox, spent the majority of the 2006 season in a Drive uniform, making 21 starts for the South Atlantic League affiliate. Prior to his promotion to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League on August 15th, Buchholz posted a 9-4 record with a 2.62 ERA for Greenville. His 117 strikeouts ranked first on the Drive at the time of his departure.

Coupled with his 2-0 record and 1.13 ERA in three starts with the Blue Rocks, Buchholz was named the Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2006. He led all Boston farmhands with 140 strikeouts, an average of 10.6 per nine innings, and tied for the lead with 11 wins.

Prior to the 2007 season, Baseball America ranked the 6'3" Texan as the number two overall prospect and the number one pitching prospect in the Boston organization. The same publication ranks him as having the best curveball in the organization as well.

Buchholz, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Tuesday, compiled an 8-3 record in 21 starts while splitting time between the Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A) and Pawtucket Red Sox (Triple-A) this season.

Has been the case since joining the Red Sox organization, Buchholz continues to strikeout opposing batters at an astounding clip. His 164 strikeouts in 117.0 innings leads all of Minor League Baseball, while his 12.68K / 9IP and .185 average against rank second.

"The entire Drive organization is proud of Clay's accomplishments, both on and off the field," commented Drive General Manager Mike deMaine. "He has had success at each level of his professional career and we are excited for his Major League debut. We wish him the best of luck, today and in the future."

The Drive return home to West End Field on Tuesday, August 21st for a three-game series versus the Augusta GreenJackets. Tickets to all Drive home games can be purchased by calling the Drive box office at (864) 240-4500 or by visiting www.GreenvilleDrive.com.

Check out the Greenville Drive Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from August 17, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central