Normal CornBelters No. 1 Draft Pick Purchased by Baltimore Orioles
Published on June 22, 2013 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
Normal, IL - The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, have sold the contract of right-handed pitcher Casey Upperman to the Baltimore Orioles. The CornBelters selected him with the first pick in the 2013 Frontier League Draft in early May. The CornBelters will begin a three-game series at The Corn Crib tonight versus the Traverse City Beach Bums at 7 p.m.
"Casey is very deserving of this opportunity," said CornBelters field manager, Brooks Carey. "It is always satisfying as a manager to be a part of helping a young player get a second chance, which is the case with Upperman." "The CornBelters organization wish him all the best."
Upperman attended Yavapai College (Prescott, AZ) and was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 47th round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft. That season, he split time between the Missoula Osprey (Pioneer League - Class Rookie) and Yakima Bears (Northwest League - Class Low A). He was 2-0 with a 5.96 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 17 appearances. This season, he was 1-0 with a 3.97 ERA, 17 strikeouts and four saves in eight appearances for the CornBelters.
Upperman will report to the Delmarva Shorebirds (Class A). He is the fourth active CornBelters player to have his contract purchased by a Major League Baseball organization since 2010. He joins current CornBelters pitchers Tyler Lavigne (Boston Red Sox - 2010) and Mitch Mormann (San Francisco Giants - 2012), along with pitcher Rich Mascheri (New York Yankees - 2012).
THE NIBLET: The Normal CornBelters have signed catcher Luis De La Cruz. De La Cruz has played professional baseball since 2006 and most recently played for the St. Loius Cardinals organization. Most recently De La Cruz has played for Lynchberg Hillcats (Carolina League) where he appeared in 24 games with a total of 84 at bats resulting in a .202 batting average, 17 hits and three RBIs.
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