MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

First 2011 Draftee Arrives in West Michigan

Published on June 17, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps received their first member of the 2011 draft class on Friday, as left-handed pitcher Brian Flynn was assigned to the 'Caps to begin his professional career.

A 21-year-old native of Owasso, Oklahoma, Flynn was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the seventh round out of Wichita State University. One of 20 new draftees to ink professional contracts with the Tigers on Thursday, Flynn became the first member of the new draft class to reach full-season baseball with his assignment to West Michigan on Friday.

To make room on the active roster, right-handed pitcher Brennan Smith was transferred from West Michigan to Connecticut. The Connecticut Tigers will open the New York-Penn League season with a road game at Lowell on Friday night.

Flynn spent three years at Wichita State and racked up 136 strikeouts in 139.2 innings for the Shockers. Over 34 career appearances and 20 starts, the 6-foot-8, 239-pounder went 8-9 with a 4.77 ERA and two saves. He is a graduate of national prep power Owasso High School in Oklahoma, where Flynn was a part of teams that went 35-3 and won the Oklahoma 6A state title in both his junior and senior seasons.

Flynn is expected to make his professional debut as a starter in the final game of the first half on Sunday afternoon.

The Whitecaps return to Fifth Third Ballpark to close out the first half with a three-game series against the Lake County Captains that starts on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. RHP Kevin Eichhorn (4-3, 3.98) is slated to take the hill for West Michigan against RHP Cole Cook (2-7, 5.31) for Lake County in the opener of the three-game series. Jason Thompson will be on hand as part of the Tiger Friday series while the first 1,000 fans will take home retro Tigers' t-shirts. Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting whitecapsbaseball.com.

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Midwest League Stories from June 17, 2011


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