Indians Sign RiverHawks Rookie
Published on June 15, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Rockford RiverHawks News Release
LOVES PARK, Ill. - Drew Rucinski's time as a Rockford RiverHawk was brief.
Rockford's only professional baseball team announced Wednesday that the Cleveland Indians have signed the right-handed pitcher. Rucinski, 22, signed with the RiverHawks on Monday and made his professional debut Tuesday.
It's the 15th time in the RiverHawks' 10 seasons in the Stateline that a major-league team has signed a player directly off their roster. It's the first in-season signing of a player since the Arizona Diamondbacks signed pitcher Taylor Sinclair in 2008.
Rucinski started Tuesday's 10-8 loss at Windy City. He gave up seven runs, nine earned, in two-plus innings and took the loss.
Rucinski was 5-3 with a 2.95 ERA in 13 starts for Ohio State this spring. He struck out 53 and walked 18 in 82 1/3 innings. Rucinski, OSU's staff ace, was named to the All-Big Ten second team.
Rucinski has been assigned to Cleveland's short-season Class A affiliate, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the New York-Penn League.
Rucinski is one of four former RiverHawks in affiliated ball. The others are pitcher Justin Dowdy, with San Francisco's Class AAA Fresno affiliate; pitcher Taylor Sinclair, with Arizona's high Class A Visalia affiliate; catcher Travis Scott, with Pittsburgh's Double-A Altoona farm team.
The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, a 12-team independent professional baseball league in its 19th season. Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com.
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