Hogan and Tufts promoted, 'Dads get three new players
Published on August 18, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, N.C. - The Hickory Crawdads, South Atlantic League affiliate of the Texas Rangers, have announced that C Doug Hogan and RHP Tyler Tufts have been promoted by Texas to the Bakersfield Blaze in the California League (High-A). The Crawdads also announced that C Vincent DiFazio (from Short-A Spokane), OF Edward Koncel (from the Arizona League Rangers) and RHP Jorge Quintero (from High-A Bakersfield) have all been transferred to Hickory, while OF Miguel Alfonzo has been placed on the disabled list.
Hogan, 24, appeared in 68 games with the Crawdads this season, compiling a .249 batting average with 16 home runs and 43 RBIs, earning a selection to the 2009 SAL Northern Division All-Star Team. The native of Greenville, North Carolina, and Clemson graduate also added 15 doubles and three triples, having 34 of his 60 total hits go for extra bases. Hogan is one of just three Crawdads this season to belt a grand slam, which he hit on May 27 in Delmarva. He homered in consecutive games a team-high four times, including two team-best, three-game homer streaks in the span of eight games in mid-July, clubbing six total bombs during that stretch. Behind the plate, he led the team's catching corps with a .984 fielding percentage, committing only eight errors in 487 total chances on the season. He was selected by the Rangers in the 18th round of the 2008 draft out of Clemson.
Tufts, 22, appeared in 34 games out of the Crawdads bullpen this season, posting a 3-2 record with a 2.73 ERA. In 66 total innings of work, he gave up just 20 earned runs (32 overall) on 71 hits with nine walks and 58 strikeouts. The native of Sagamore Hills, Ohio, had the second-highest ground-out-to-air-out ratio on the team at 2.17, only trailing RHP Cody Eppley's ratio of 2.32. Tufts was also tied for second with Eppley for second on the team with four saves this season. He registered back-to-back saves twice on the campaign, on May 5 and May 8 in Lake County and on July 1 and July 2 in Delmarva. Tufts' longets outing of the season came on July 27, when he shut out the Augusta Greenjackets for four innings at L.P. Frans Stadium. He was selected by the Rangers in the 32nd round of the 2008 draft out of the University of Indiana.
DiFazio, 23, was just selected by the Rangers in the 12th round of the 2009 draft out of the Universtiy of Alabama. He has played in 47 games with Spokane, registering a .274 average with seven home runs and 29 RBIs in his first professional season. Koncel, 21, has hit .220 with six home runs and 23 RBIs in 37 games with the AZL Rangers this season, after being selected in the 13th round of the 2008 draft out of Joliet Junior College in Illinois. He hit .205 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 40 games with Spokane after being drafted last year. Quintero, 22, is in his fourth professional season, after signing with the Rangers as a non-drafted free agent in 2005 out of Valencia, Venezuela. He appeared in two games with High-A Bakersfield this season, posting no decisions with a 6.00 ERA. He went 6-7 with a 5.93 ERA in 30 games/10 starts with the Clinton LumberKings last season, who were the Rangers full-season Low-A affiliate.
Hogan and Tufts become the ninth and tenth Crawdads to earn a promotion this season, joining RF Mike Bianucci, LHP Richard Bleier, INF Jake Kaase, CF David Paisano, OF Timmy Rodriguez and LHP Glenn Swanson on the Blaze. LHP Martin Perez is currently with the AA Frisco RoughRiders, and OF Eric Fry is with the Crawdads after spending a month with Bakersfield.
Crawdads Clippings: The home series against Greenville continues on Tuesday with Dollar Day at the ballpark and KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets, and all kids run the bases after Wednesday's game, before the series concludes with $1 Beverage Night on Thursday.
The Crawdads then kick off the series against Asheville on Friday night at 7 p.m. with Friday Night Fireworks, sponsored by The Light 106.9 FM, as well as the Extreme Physical Science Show, presented by Catawba Science Center. Saturday night's game features the Crawdads Beach Towel Giveaway, sponsored by Galaxy Food Centers, Dial Liquid and Bar Soap and WHKY Talk Radio 1290 AM. On Sunday, the Crawdads will usher former GM David Haas to the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame with a pre-game ceremony. It is also Bark at the Park, presented by KICKS Radio Group, when all fans are invited to bring their dogs to the game! Final bids for the Crawdads Blast from the Past Jersey Auction will be collected in a silent auction on the concourse during the Sunday game as well.
Get Tickets:
Single game tickets for all 2009 Crawdads games are on sale at the Crawdads Ticket Office and online at www.hickorycrawdads.com and start at just $6! Season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available at the Crawdads office, located at 2500 Clement Blvd. NW or by calling 322-3000.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 18, 2009
- Drive's Three-Run Lead Evaporates in Bottom of the 9th - Greenville Drive
- Santana hits walk-off homer, 'Dads win 6-5 - Hickory Crawdads
- Kannapolis Rallies for 11-Inning Win - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Power Take Tenth in a Row - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Tourists Late Rally Falls Short - Asheville Tourists
- Hot Rods Miss Numerous Chances in 15-3 Loss - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Legends Lose in 11, 3-2 - Lexington Legends
- Hogan and Tufts promoted, 'Dads get three new players - Hickory Crawdads
- Wrestling Champion Judas Young at FirstEnergy Park on August 20 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Hot Rods Race Past Hoppers With Six-Run Inning - Greensboro Grasshoppers
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