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Pump Jacks Add a Pair of Big Bats

May 8, 2014 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The East Texas Pump Jacks have had quite a bit of success with freshmen in the last six years. Kansas City Royals first round draft pick Hunter Dozier and Matthew Dickey, who last year broke the TCL record for steals, are just two of the rookies who have thrilled fans at historic Driller Park.

On Thursday, the Pump Jacks signed two more freshmen they hope to keep that tradition alive. Nick Rabat, a catcher from Hagerstown Community College, and Drew McLaughlin, a middle infielder out of Dixie State, will join the Jacks this summer.

To say the pair will give the Pump Jacks' offense a shot in the arm is an understatement. The two players combined to hit .358, score 81 runs, and drive in 86 this spring.

Rabat's numbers can only be described as gaudy. The redshirt freshman batted .403 for Hagerstown, and his 64 RBI in just 53 games rank 12th in the nation. Rabat also led the Hawks with 16 doubles and tied for the team lead with 71 hits. It came as no surprise when he was named both all-conference and all-Region XX as Hagerstown prepares for the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference tournament.

Rabat's campaign is even more impressive because he is only now healthy after injuries sustained in high school football. A former all-conference linebacker and lineman at Middletown High School in Maryland, Rabat gave up the gridiron after a series of concussions.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Rabat was no slouch on the diamond in high school, either. He picked up all-conference and all-county honors for the Knights, and he was selected to participate in the prestigious Brooks Robinson All-Star Game at Camden Yards in 2012.

Standing 5-foot-11 and tipping the scales at 150 pounds, McLaughlin may not cast as big a shadow as his new teammate, but he's no less impressive. He batted .318 for the PacWest Conference regular season champions and tied for the team lead with 46 runs scored. He also tied for second in the conference in runs scored and tenth in hits with 62.

Dixie State is the currently waiting to hear if the squad will participate in the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Red Storm are currently ranked fifth in the West region.

McLaughlin prepped at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he helped lead the Wolves to a state runner-up finish in his sophomore year. McLaughlin captured all-region honors as a junior, when he batted .340, and he was named all-city as a senior. He honed his skills in the summers as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks scout team, batting over .400 against pro and junior college players. Head Coach John Foster and the Pump Jacks kick off the season in Dallas on Thursday, May 29, against the Texas Marshalls. The club returns to East Texas for its home opener on Tuesday, June 3, when the Woodlands Strykers visit historic Driller Park. The complete Pump Jacks schedule can be found here.

Host Families: The Pump Jacks are seeking host families for the 2014 season. Hosting a player gets you closer to the team than ever, but it's so much more. When a Pump Jacks player lives with you for the summer, he becomes a part of your family, forging a relationship that becomes much bigger than the game. Plus, everyone in your household receives free season tickets! If you're interested in learning more about the host family program, please contact the Pump Jacks at (903) 218-GO ET or info@pumpjacksbaseball.com.

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