Five Players Represent Owls Organization in MLB Spring Training
Published on March 17, 2016 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Forest City Owls News Release
FOREST CITY, N.C. - This spring, 75 Coastal Plain League alumni appeared in Major League camps across the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues - a CPL record. Five of those 75 players have ties to the Forest City Owls franchise, dating back to the Spartanburg Stingers era.
Steven Tolleson (Baltimore Orioles), Heath Hembree (Boston Red Sox), Jerry Sands (Chicago White Sox), Spencer Patton (Chicago Cubs) and Josh Edgin (New York Mets) all reported to their respective camps this March.
Steve Tolleson (Spartanburg -- 2003)
Now in the Orioles' system, Tolleson spent part of each of the past two seasons with the resurgent Toronto Blue Jays, posting a .260 batting average in 234 plate appearances. The Spartanburg, S.C. native signed a minor-league deal with an invite Baltimore's spring camp in the offseason, and is competing to be the club's utility infielder. Nearly six years after his MLB debut, Tolleson is 5-for-22 with four RBIs and one home run this spring.
As one of Spartanburg's top offensive players in 2003, Tolleson started all 26 games he played in and finished with a .313 average and .444 slugging percentage - second on the team in both. Tolleson also finished second in runs scored (20), hits (31), and on-base percentage (.393).
Heath Hembree (Forest City -- 2008, 2009)
Hembree, entering his third year in the Red Sox organization, has 37 career MLB appearances -- 22 of which came as a reliever out of Boston's bullpen last season. Hembree, another Spartanburg native, has continued to improve throughout his young career, and is believed to be a candidate to make Boston's 25- man roster after posting a 3.55 ERA last year. Through four appearances this spring, Hembree's earned one win and suffered no losses.
In Forest City's 2008 debut season, Hembree made five starts and went 3-1 with a 4.20 ERA. Hembree returned in 2009, making five more starts and helping the Owls win their first CPL title with a 3-2 record and a 4.20 ERA.
Jerry Sands (Spartanburg -- 2006)
After spending the first four years of his big-league career with the Dodgers, Rays and Indians, Jerry Sands finds himself competing for a roster spot with the Chicago White Sox in 2016. With a .238 average over 408 career MLB plate appearances, Sands has one home run and four RBIs this spring.
Sands started in all 50 of Spartanburg's games in 2006, hitting .282 with a team-high 15 doubles and 30 RBIs. Sands continued his CPL career with Wilson in 2007 and 2008.
Spencer Patton (Spartanburg -- 2007, Forest City -- 2008, 2009)
One of the franchise's all-time best players, Patton spent the last two seasons with the Texas Rangers before being traded to the Chicago Cubs in the offseason. Battling for a bullpen slot with 36 career MLB appearances, Patton has not allowed an earned run over five Spring Training ball games. Patton has struck out nine batters through five full innings for the Cubs.
Patton went 4-6 with a 2.63 ERA in 11 starts for Spartanburg in 2007, and after staying aboard after the franchise made the jump to Forest City, Patton made 13 starts and went 4-1 with a 2.75 ERA in 2008. But Patton's best year -- and perhaps the best season by a pitcher in franchise history -- came in 2009, when Patton led Forest City to a league-record 46 regular-season wins with a 1.46 ERA and 9-0 record in 11 starts.
Josh Edgin (Forest City -- 2008, 2009)
Yet another member of the Owls' title-winning team in 2009, Josh Edgin continues recovering from a Tommy John surgery that sidelined him in 2015 after making 115 appearances for the New York Mets between 2012-2014. Edgin, who posted a 1.32 ERA in 47 appearances out of the bullpen in 2014, progressed to throwing live batting practice on Mar. 10, and could return to game action as early as May.
Once healthy, the Mets plan to rely heavily on Edgin as a lefty reliever.
A part of the starting rotation in 2009, Edgin made 11 starts and finished 6-3 with a 3.46 ERA, improving from a 2-6 record and a 4.26 ERA in eight starts the year prior.
Lock down seats for all 30 home games this year with season tickets. The Owls play 28 regular season games against opponents of the Coastal Plain League and two exhibition games, including the May 30th season opener presented by Moose Vending against the United States Military All-Stars. Visit forestcitybaseball.com or call 828-245-0000 for season tickets and more information.
Coastal Plain League Stories from March 17, 2016
- Five Players Represent Owls Organization in MLB Spring Training - Forest City Owls
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.
