SAL1 Lexington Legends

Former Legend Wins MLB Debut

Published on August 17, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release


APPLEBEE'S PARK (Lexington, KY) -- Former Lexington Legend pitcher Chad Reineke made his Major League Baseball debut on Saturday and got the win, as the Padres defeated the Phillies.

Reineke also added his first Major-League RBI in the 8-3 victory, pitching five innings giving up just 3 runs on 5 hits.

"I feel good about the win and helping the team win is the most important thing," Reineke told MLB.com writer Ronald P. Clark. "I would like to have thrown fewer pitches and been able to have gone longer in the game. As a starter, you don't want to come out after five innings. But I'm happy I was able to keep the game close, and keep them in the game and contribute a little bit. They put up some runs."

The 2005 Legend standout Reineke was called up to replace San Diego Padres pitcher Chris Young's spot in the rotation. Young was placed on the 15-day Disabled List with a strained right forearm on Thursday.

Reineke was selected in the 13th round in the 2004 June Amateur Draft by the Houston Astros out of Miami (OH) University, where he went 4-3 with 5 saves and a 4.42 ERA as a junior.

After a year in Tri-City, he appeared in 42 games as a Lexington Legend in 2005, going 10-8 with a 3.52 ERA. He was mostly out of the bullpen, starting just 11 games, saving 4.

The 6-foot-6, 210 pounder was called up by the Houston Astros on July 9th for emergency purposes against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but never appeared in the game, being sent down shortly after.

The Defiance (OH) native was recently moved in the Astros deal that sent the pitcher to the San Diego Padres for Randy Wolf on July 22nd. He was immediately placed in Triple-A Portland.

In 23 games this season at Triple-A Round Rock and Portland, the 26-year old went 5-10 with a 4.37 ERA. He has struck out 113, to just 35 walks in 2008.

He is the fourth former Legend to make his major league debut this season. Former Lexington standouts Jimmy Barthmaier (Pirates), Jesse Carlson (Blue Jays) and Brooks Conrad (Athletics) additionally made their MLB debuts this season.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 17, 2008


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