Phillies Sign Beach Bums Catcher Joe Blackburn
July 6, 2008 - Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release
TRAVERSE CITY, MI - The Traverse City Beach Bums have sent their second player to affiliated baseball in 2008. Catcher Joe Blackburn was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies organization before the start of Sunday night's game.
Blackburn played in nine games for the Beach Bums behind the plate, making seven starts. He was batting .241 with a double, a triple, a homer, and five RBI. Blackburn got off to a strong start going 5-for-13 and had started the past four games behind the plate. His first professional hit came at Washington on June 20 and it drove in a run. Blackburn hit his first professional homer in the top of the fifth at Kalamazoo on July 3, a solo shot to give Traverse City a 3-2 lead.
A true rookie, Blackburn signed with the Beach Bums on June 14 following his college career at Penn State University. He was a Third Team All-Big Ten choice this year after appearing in 56 games. Blackburn finished second on the team with a .342 batting average and was also second on the team in doubles (14), stolen bases (10), and RBI (43). He hit three homers and connected on a team best three triples.
"I'm excited for Joe to get this opportunity," Beach Bums Director of Baseball Operations Jason Wuerfel said. "He proved at Penn State and in his brief time in a Beach Bums uniform that he can play the game at a very high level. He handles himself very well behind the plate and he has Major League power potential with the bat. I wish him the best."
Bryan Rembisz was signed last Sunday by the Angels organization and has appeared out of the bullpen twice for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the Class High-A California League. He has not allowed a hit while striking out four in three innings. Rembisz was the first Beach Bums player to be signed by an affiliated organization during the season.
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