Freeman, Nuno Make MLB Debuts in April
Published on April 30, 2013 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
EDENTON, NC - The Edenton Steamers of the Coastal Plain League announce today that right-handed pitcher Justin Freeman and left-handed pitcher Vidal Nuno have both made their Major League debuts.
Freeman, a 2007 Steamer, made his debut for Cincinnati on April 17th in an 11 - 2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. The 5-11, 175-pound righty entered the game in relief during the top of the eighth inning, surrendering two runs on two hits. With his debut, Freeman becomes the 61st CPL alum and sixth Steamer to play in Major League Baseball. Drafted in the 32nd round out of Kennesaw State by Cincinnati in 2008, Freeman pitched for the Billings Mustangs to start his professional career. Over the next two years he improved his game and found himself in Double-A Carolina to start the 2011 season. After striking out 56 in 60 innings that year, Freeman continued to prove he could locate his pitches effectively, as he struck out 68 in 68 innings for Pensacola in 2012. He started the 2013 season with Triple-A Louisville, where he was 0-0 with a low 1.29 ERA through seven innings with just a pair of walks and eight strikeouts before joining the Reds. In his 26 innings of work during the 2007 summer season, Freeman finished 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA for the Steamers. He gave up 12 runs on 26 hits, while walking four and striking out an impressive 26. Edenton finished as North Division first and second half champions that year as well.
Vidal Nuno, on April 29th, became the 62nd and seventh Steamer overall to make their Major League debut when he was summoned from the New York Yankees bullpen in the seventh inning of a 9-1 ballgame in favor of Houston. The 5-11, 195-pounder entered in relief of another CPL alum, Adam Warren (New Bern, 2006) and pitched extremely effectively in his three innings of work, allowing four hits and no runs while adding two strikeouts. Taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 48th round of the 2009 MLB Draft, Nuno started out with the Arizona League Indians. The next season, he found himself in Single-A Lake County before being released at the end of the season by the Tribe. He started the next season in the Frontier League before signing with the Yankees in 2011. In 2012, Nuno spent time between High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton, where he went 9-5 with a 2.45 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 114 innings. He started the 2013 season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders (Triple-A). While with the Railriders, Nuno was 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings prior to being called up by New York. Spending the 2008 summer in Edenton out of Baker University, Nuno finished 5-3 with a respectable 3.54 ERA for the Steamers. In 48 1/3 innings on the mound, Nuno gave up just 22 runs (19 earned) on 37 hits to go with 24 walks and 46 strikeouts. His play helped Edenton to the first half North Division championship that summer.
The Edenton Steamers are a proud member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 17th season in 2013, the CPL features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts.
Furthermore, the CPL has had over 1,000 alumni drafted and 62 alums - including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander - make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as cplbaseball).
Coastal Plain League Stories from April 30, 2013
- Former Players Returning to Coaching Staff of SwampDogs - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- Freeman, Nuno Make MLB Debuts in April - Edenton Steamers
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