Pump Jacks Sign Marlow Brothers from University of Texas

Published on May 16, 2013 under Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


A song recently on the airwaves declared "two is better than one."

Taking the lyrics to heart, the East Texas Pump Jacks concluded that if one Marlow is good, two must be better. The Pump Jacks announced Thursday they have signed brothers Ty and Brooks Marlow, brothers playing for the Longhorns at the University of Texas at Austin.

Ty is no stranger to Pump Jacks Nation, having played for East Texas during the team's record-setting season in 2011. Ty batted .283 and led the team with three home runs, placing him fifth in the league. He also scored 27 runs and drove in 20 more. Ty was chosen to start in the TCL All-Star Game and he was selected to represent the Jacks in the pregame home run derby.

 

This spring, Ty has been a force both at the plate and on the mound for the Longhorns. He has made 23 appearances out of the bullpen, good for third on the team, and another 15 starts as a position player. The elder Marlow sports a 1.93 ERA with a win and two saves, and he has held opposing hitters to a paltry .204 average. He has 25 strikeouts in 32.2 innings, and he has surrendered just six walks.

Ty has also batted .255 with 14 RBI in just 55 at-bats. Despite his limited time at the plate, he is tied for second on the Longhorns with two home runs and he's tied for fifth in RBI.

After not seeing much playing time at Texas A&M his freshman year, Ty transferred to McLennan Community College, where enjoyed a breakout year in 2012 for the Highlanders. He batted .359 with eight home runs, 60 RBI, 48 runs, and 10 stolen bases, leading the team in nearly every offensive category. He even added 15 doubles and four triples for a .635 slugging percentage.

While Ty took an indirect route to Austin, Brooks was a Longhorn the moment his collegiate career began. Now in his sophomore season, the younger Marlow has started 41 games in the middle infield, good for fourth on the team. After struggling early on, he has surged of late, improving his average to .243 on the season. He's tied for third on the club with seven doubles and tied for third with a pair of triples.

As a freshman last year, Brooks didn't waste any time making a name for himself as a promising prospect. In his first game for the Longhorns, Brooks blasted two home runs to lead UT over Duke, making him the first player in Texas history to hit two home runs in his collegiate debut. He earned the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week award for his efforts, an honor he duplicated two weeks later. Brooks led the Houston College Classic with a .600 average and slugged .900, and he was one of just three freshman named to the All-Tournament Team.

Initially thought to be a short-term replacement at second base, Brooks remained the starter and was the only true freshman to play in all 51 games for the Longhorns. He batted .214 with 29 RBI, second on the team and first among rookies, and earned a spot on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.

High school ball was an even bigger family affair for the Marlows, who played under their father Mike at Giddings High School. The pair led the Buffaloes to state runner-up finishes in 2009 and 2010, and each one was named to the all-state team three times. Both brothers were selected all-district every year in high school, with Brooks picking up all-Centex honors three times to Ty's one. Brooks was also named district offensive MVP as a junior and then district MVP as a senior.

A year-by-year look at the numbers shows just why they picked up so many honors. As a freshman in 2007, Ty batted .376, and then as a sophomore hit .493 with six homers and 37 RBI. His average spiked to .576 in 2009, his junior campaign, when he also hit 12 homers and drove in 51 runs to lead the Buffaloes to the first of two straight state championship games. That same year, Brooks batted .568 with 12 homers and 37 RBI as a sophomore.

In 2010, the senior Ty batted .491 and hit eight homers, while Brooks batted .588 with 13 home runs and 47 RBI. After Ty moved on to A&M, Brooks batted .591 with 12 homers as a senior.

The Marlow brothers join a growing Pump Jack roster that already includes three players from No. 3 Oregon State: pitcher Carlos Rodriguez, catcher Nate Esposito, and designated hitter Beau Day. Position players signed for the Jacks include local outfielders Nico Moran from Tarleton State, and Matthew Dickey from Stephen F. Austin State, as well as UNLV third baseman Joey Armstrong and Northwestern infielder Zach Jones. The Pump Jacks have also compiled strong pitching staff including KJ Edson and Houston Hibberd from the University of San Francisco, Kenny Oakley (UNLV), Robert Parucha (UC Davis), Nick Rossetta (Long Beach State), and Evan Schreiber (Northwestern). 

The Pump Jacks open the defense of their title on Thursday, May 30, on the road against the Texas Marshals. They open their 2013 home schedule on Tuesday, June 4, against the Acadiana Cane Cutters, then conclude their opening homestand with a championship rematch against the Victoria Generals.

Host Families:  The Pump Jacks are seeking host families for the 2013 season. Hosting a player is a great experience that forges a lifelong bond with a young man, a relationship that transcends the game of baseball. Host families also receive free season tickets - including the All-Star Game - for every member of their household. If you're interested in finding out more about the host family program, please contact the Pump Jacks at (903) 218-GO ET or info@pumpjacksbaseball.com.

Season tickets for the Jacks are on sale now:  Season ticket prices remain the same this year - that's right, no price increase even with a championship and the All-Star Game! Lower Box seats, which include in-your-seat wait service, are just $199 each, and Upper Box seats are $150. Grandstand season tickets are $105 for adults and $85 for children and seniors. Season tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or in person at the Jacks' office in downtown Kilgore.

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