SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

RiverDogs Place Laird, Two Pitchers On DL

Published on May 7, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON- A rash of early-season injuries has continued for the first-place Charleston RiverDogs, who have placed starting third-baseman Brandon Laird, starting pitcher Adam Olbrychowski and reliever Ryan Zink and on the disabled list, the New York Yankees announced Wednesday.

To fill their spots, the Yankees announced that infielder Braedyn Pruitt and pitcher Casey Erickson will come to Charleston for the first time, while pitcher Gabe Medina will re-join the club. Charleston now has seven inactive players, joining pitchers Jairo Heredia and Michael Solbach, catcher Austin Romine and infielder Bradley Suttle.

Charleston's disabled list now includes four of the Yankees' top minor league prospects according to PinstripesPlus, an independent scouting service that covers the Yanks farm system: No. 9 Heredia, No. 16 Romine, No. 19 Suttle and No. 22 Laird.

Laird, who left Tuesday's game in Hickory with a lower-body injury, was in the midst of a four-game hitting streak. The Cypress (CA) Junior College product posted a .226 average in 30 games, while splitting time at first base and third base. The 20-year-old has two home runs and 14 RBI this season.

He is replaced on the active roster by Pruitt, who was sent down from the High-A Tampa Yankees and will likely play third base for Charleston in Laird's absence. The Stetson product comes to the RiverDogs after struggling in 12 games with Tampa, hitting just .100 (4-for-40) with two RBI.

Pruitt, the Yankees 14th round selection in last year's draft, had an excellent campaign with short-season Class-A Staten Island in 2007, hitting .347 in 51 games, with four home runs and 32 RBI. He finished second in the New York-Penn League in batting average.

Olbrychowski, who is suffering from an upper-body injury, last pitched on May 3 at Hickory where he tossed seven innings and allowed only two runs on three hits. After a rocky start to his 2008 season, the 21-year old right-hander has won his last two starts to post a 2-2 record with a 3.94 ERA.

The Calabasas, Calif. native Olbrychowski has brought his ERA down nearly three full runs since April 17, surrendering just four earned runs in his last 17.0 innings of work. His spot in the starting rotation is expected to be filled by right-hander Jason Stephens, who is scheduled to make his first start of the season Thursday night in Asheville.

Zink, who was placed on the DL with an upper-body injury, had just joined the RiverDogs on May 1 from extended spring training. The former 17th round selection in the 2007 draft was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA in two appearances for the RiverDogs.

Erickson will don a RiverDogs cap for the first time, after spending the previous two seasons with the Gulf Coast Yankees. The 22-year old right-hander appeared in 10 games (five starts) last season and posted a 3-2 record with a 2.76 ERA in 29.1 innings pitched. The Chatham, Ill. native was a 10th round selection in the 2006 draft out of Springfield (Ill.) Junior College.

Gabe Medina rejoins the RiverDogs after being transferred to the Staten Island Yankees roster on Sunday. The Venezuela native struggled in his first four appearances this season, recording a 0-0 mark with 7.04 ERA. Medina, who was selected in the 15th round of the 2006 draft, has allowed 11 runs and 15 hits in 7.2 innings pitched, with four walks and six strikeouts.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 7, 2008


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