Pippins Add University of Oregon, Oregon State Pair to 2016 Roster
January 9, 2016 - West Coast League (WCL)
Yakima Valley Pippins News Release
YAKIMA, Wash. - A pair of former Oregon high school players - one now a Duck and the other a Beaver - will join the Yakima Valley Pippins this summer.
Connor Zwetsch, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound right-hander from Westview High School in Beaverton, Ore., transferred to the University of Oregon from Western Nevada College. In 2015, Zwetsch earned a team-high seven saves in 23 appearances for the Wildcats. He finished with a 2.79 ERA and struck out 45 in 38 2/3 innings.
Alex O'Rourke, a 6-foot, 180-pound catcher and outfielder from Pendleton (Ore.) High, is a freshman at Oregon State. In 2014, he was rated the No. 8 prospect in the state by Baseball Northwest. As a senior, he was an all-state honorable mention selection and hit at the .400 clip during Pendleton's postseason play and was just the third four-year baseball letter-winner in school history. He also was an all-league selection in 2014 after batting .347 with eight doubles, 17 RBI and a school-record 30 stolen bases.
"Alex will mostly catch for us but will play some outfield, too," Pippins manager Marcus McKimmy said. "He has above-average arm strength and speed for a catcher. He is a great teammate, according to all of his coaches, and a proven leader at a position that requires it to be successful.
"As a Beaver, I also trust that he will infect our team with a winning attitude," McKimmy said. "We are very excited about what Alex will bring to our team in 2016."
Zwetsch will be the first Duck to play for the Pippins in the West Coast League team's three-year history.
"I'm very excited to begin our relationship with the Ducks with Connor," McKimmy said. "Connor is a guy I've had my eye on since he was a high school player. He's a very physical, power arm, who has closing experience on his resume and will come out of the bullpen primarily this spring. Connor is a winner, and his experience, as a junior, will be a huge plus for our locker room and our team."
The Pippins open the 2016 season at Wenatchee on June 3. Yakima Valley's home opener is slated for Monday, June 6, at 7:05 p.m. against 2015 West Coast League champion Bend, Ore. Season tickets and ticket mini plans are available for purchase at Hunky Shaw's Team Shop, 12 S. Second St. in the historic Larson Building in downtown Yakima. Ticket packages also can be purchased by calling 509-575-4487 or online at pippinsbaseball.com.
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West Coast League Stories from January 9, 2016
- Pippins Add University of Oregon, Oregon State Pair to 2016 Roster - Yakima Valley Pippins
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