Miners Add Depth With Former Texas Prospect And Well-Traveled Rookie
February 17, 2010 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
MARION, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Miners have signed right-handed pitcher Dustin Brader and outfielder Jon Kourie for the 2010 season.
Brader, 24, spent the last two seasons with the Texas Rangers organization where he went 6-0 with a 3.96 ERA in 36 relief appearances. He posted 53 strikeouts against only 21 walks in 63.2 innings of work and held batters to a.249 average. In 2009 he was with the Bakersfield Blaze, the Rangers advanced single-A club. His Bakersfield teammate, former Miner Tanner Roark, gave Miners Manager Mike Pinto a recommendation with an outstanding report on Brader's talents.
"I have had excellent reports on Dustin," Pinto said. "He is a big, strong, hard thrower who commands the strike zone with four pitches. Dustin can start or work out of the pen for us."
Brader is six-feet-four-inches and 220-pounds and was drafted by the Rangers out of Arizona State in the 21st round in 2008. He began his professional career with Spokane of the Northwest League where he allowed just four runs in 24.1 innings. Despite his two years of professional experience, Brader will be classified with rookie status in the Frontier League.
Originally from Selah, Wash., he began his college career at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix where he had a 2.31 ERA in two seasons. He struck out 152 and walked only 35 as he led South Mountain to the 2005 Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo. He then moved to ASU where he was a part of back-to-back Pac-10 Champion teams. As a senior he was 1-0 with a 4.27 ERA in 20 games including an appearance in the College World Series.
Meanwhile, Kourie, 26, finished his college baseball career at Texas A&M Corpus Christi in 2007 and has spent the last two summers with the semi-pro powerhouse Long Island Storm.
In 91 games in 2009, the six-foot-two-inch, 220-pound outfielder hit.394 in 246 at bats, including 22 doubles, six triples and seven home runs. He had a.496 on-base percentage, stole 15 bases and drove in 63 runs. The Storm play a strong schedule which includes matchups with Major League organizational teams during spring training, the Italian National Team and a trip to the Dominican Republic to face the 2009 Dominican Winter League Champion Licey Tigers. While in the Dominican, Kourie went 8-for-16 including a home run. He also hit.444 while helping Long Island to the runner-up spot in the Stan Musial World Series.
The Long Island native played two years at Briarcliffe College in New York. At Briarcliffe in 2004, he hit.359 with 3 home runs and 20 RBI. He led the conference in home runs and triples as a sophomore. At Corpus Christi, he hit.273 over his two seasons with a.331 on-base percentage while playing centerfield against some of the nation's top college baseball programs including Rice, Texas, Oklahoma State, UCLA and Mississippi State.
"I have had nothing but glowing reports on Jon, from his manager to teammates and to players who have had success in our league," Pinto said. "Jon hits for average and for power and runs well. He has maturity and has been playing against high quality competition and succeeding at a high level. I expect him to compete for a spot in our outfield this season."
The Miners open the season on May 20 at home against River City. For a complete schedule and the latest news on the Miners and events at Rent One Park, visit www.southernillinoisminers.com.
Frontier League Stories from February 17, 2010
- Freedom Trade Basham To Joliet For Two New Players - Florence Y'alls
- Bums Sign Two From Tryout - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Miners Add Depth With Former Texas Prospect And Well-Traveled Rookie - Southern Illinois Miners
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