First Things First – Dawgs Land Koonce

May 23, 2006 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
San Diego Surf Dawgs News Release


SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Surf Dawgs opened up spring training with much excitement after winning the 2005 Golden Baseball League Championship. Little did they know that a big surprise was waiting for them as they rolled onto the field for the first time in 2006. Earlier in the morning, they bolstered their roster with the most significant signing of the off-season by locking down first basemen Graham Koonce. Koonce, who attended Julian High School, spent time in the Oakland Athletics minor league organization and spent some time at the major league level with the A's during the 2003 season.

Koonce (Julian, Calif.), 31, spent last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates Triple-A affiliate. With the Indianapolis Indians of the International League, Koonce battled injuries for the greater part of last year, but still slugged 23 home runs and drove in 77 RBI's. His best season in the minor leagues came in 2003 with the Sacramento River Cats when he hit .277, pacing the Pacific Coast League in 34 home runs and 115 RBI's. Koonce earned the PCL Most Valuable Player, was presented post-season All-Star honors, and named Oakland's Minor League Player-of-the-Year and Topps/Minor League Player of the-Year.

The left-handed slugger was taken by the Detroit Tigers in the 1993 draft and bounced around the minors with Detroit and San Diego before winding up with the Athletics. He joins the Surf Dawgs and promises to bring some pop to the heart of the lineup.

Koonce and the Surf Dawgs are into full spring training mode. If you would like to conduct player interviews, please contact the Media Relations Department of the San Diego Surf Dawgs.



Golden Baseball League Stories from May 23, 2006


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