Cody Clark to Atlanta Organization
December 15, 2005 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
San Diego Surf Dawgs News Release
The Golden Baseball League announced that San Diego Surf Dawgs catcher Cody Clark has been acquired from the league by the Atlanta Braves. The Braves will sign him to a contract immediately and have him projected at High-A (Myrtle Beach, Carolina League) or Double-A (Pearl, Mississippi, Southern League) as they just lost two catchers in the minor league Rule V Draft last week.
"This is a great acquisition by the Braves," said Terry Kennedy, San Diego Manager and former four-time major league all-star catcher. "Cody is one of the finest defensive catchers that I've seen at any level in the minor leagues, and he really surprised us with his bat this year as well. He has a great future ahead of him in the Atlanta organization."
Clark, 24, is a 6'2", 180 pound catcher who was drafted in the 11th round by the Texas Rangers in June of 2003. Originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays after a stellar high school career in Fayetteville, Arkansas, he opted to play ball at Wichita State University until signing with Texas. The Rangers sent him to Spokane in the Northwest League in 2003, and then promoted him to Clinton in the Mid-West League for the 2004 season. After being released in spring training of 2005, Clark was recruited by a number of independent leagues and signed with the San Diego Surf Dawgs just before the GBL season began. The GBL All-Star catcher was a key force behind San Diego's championship season as he hit .292 with power and led the league in all catching defensive categories to garner a Gold Glove award. In the playoffs he led both with his bat (over .400) and with his defense and was awarded the GBL Championship Series MVP.
"Cody is what independent baseball is all about. He is an extremely talented and dedicated player who just needed a chance to show what he can do on an everyday basis," said Kevin Outcalt, Commissioner of the GBL. "He is the 15th GBL player in 2005 to sign with a major league organization, placing our league in second of the six independent leagues in player signings."
About the Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, Presented by Safeway Inc./VONS, is a professional baseball league operating under a single-entity ownership model, with the League owning all the individual teams. Charter Golden Baseball League teams include the Chico Outlaws in Chico; CA, the Fullerton Flyers in Fullerton; CA, the Long Beach Armada in Long Beach; CA, the San Diego Surf Dawgs in San Diego; CA, the Yuma Scorpions in Yuma; AZ, and the Reno Silver Sox in Reno; NV. The season consists of 80 games per team and will begin the first of June and end in early September. Each team will have a 23-player roster.
For general information, please visit our League web site at www.goldenbaseball.com.
Golden Baseball League Stories from December 15, 2005
- A Solid Friendship Turns Into a Great Partnership - Orange County Flyers
- Cody Clark to Atlanta Organization - San Diego Surf Dawgs
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.
