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Round Rock Express

Oswalt Scheduled to Start for Express Saturday

May 30, 2012 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Three-time All-Star Roy Oswalt is scheduled to start Saturday for the Round Rock Express against the Albuquerque Isotopes pending results from a physical. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond. The right-hander signed a minor league contract Tuesday night with the Texas Rangers.

Saturday's game also features the St. David's Round Rock Express Postgame Concert Series, presented by Dell. The Eggmen, a Beatles tribute band, will take the stage beyond the right-centerfield wall approximately 15 minutes after the game's conclusion. For tickets, contact the Round Rock Express ticket office at 512.255.2255 or purchase online at www.RoundRockExpress.com.

Oswalt is no stranger to The Dell Diamond and current Rangers personnel. He made his Double-A debut May 25, 2000, in a spot start for the Express - at the time a Houston Astros affiliate. Oswalt struck out 15 batters in a complete-game win for then-Express manager Jackie Moore, who currently is the Texas bench coach.

At the recommendation of Moore and current Rangers Owner and CEO Nolan Ryan, the Astros kept Oswalt in Round Rock. He finished the season 11-4 with a 1.94 ERA (28 ER/129.2 IP) in 18 starts and one relief appearance. Oswalt tallied 141 strikeouts against 22 walks and tossed a pair of complete games. His pitching coach with the Express was Mike Maddux, who now serves in the same capacity with the Rangers.

"That's the place that made me who I am now," Oswalt said in a teleconference Wednesday. "With Nolan being there and learning some things from him; and, with Mike Maddux being there ... Maddux is the one I gave credit to as far as learning how to get deep into ball games. Jackie Moore was there handing me the ball, and he always believed in me. It means a lot to me with those guys being (with the Rangers). Going back to Round Rock where everything kind of started, it's going to be great."

Oswalt said his relationship with Ryan was a major factor in his decision to sign with the Rangers.

"He's the one that put his name on me to be able to pitch in Double-A and then go on from there and get into the big leagues," Oswalt said. "I got a lot of respect for Nolan; I watched him a lot growing up, and he was kind of an idol of mine. To get a guy like that to stand behind you and put his stamp on you means a lot to a young player - especially a guy that wasn't a high-round draft pick but a guy that was trying to prove a point that it doesn't matter the size of town you grew up in, that you can still compete in the big leagues."

Oswalt, a product of Weir [Miss.] High School and Holmes [Miss.] Community College, also said he is excited about returning to the Lone Star State where he spent 10 seasons with the Astros.

"I love the state of Texas; it reminds me a lot of Mississippi," Oswalt said. "The people there are about on the same lines as Southern people from Mississippi. It's a great place."

Oswalt said he and the Rangers will play it by ear as far as a timetable for his arrival in Arlington. He expects to throw 50-60 pitches in his first start with the Express. He said he hopes to be able to join the Rangers after four or five starts with the Express.

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