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Rollins Becomes Third Pump Jacks Big Leaguer

July 4, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


David Rollins made his major league debut Saturday afternoon, becoming the third former East Texas Pump Jacks pitcher to reach the major leagues this season.

Rollins came out of the bullpen for the Seattle Mariners to begin the eighth inning of this afternoon's game against the Oakland Athletics. Rollins struck out the first big league hitter he faced, first baseman Ike Davis, in a perfect inning. The Mariners lost, 2-0.

The left-hander had appeared in seven games for the Tacoma Rainiers, the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate, before he was called up. In 9.1 scoreless innings, Rollins had eight strikeouts and one walk.

Rollins made a meteoric yet winding rise to the majors. Drafted four different times, he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays after they picked him in the 24th round in 2011. After little more than one year as a pro, Rollins was traded to the Houston Astros as part of the J.A. Happ deal.

Rollins spent the 2014 season with the Corpus Christi Hooks in the Double-A Texas League, where he made the transition to the bullpen.

Rollins was a member of the Pump Jacks in 2009, after his freshman season at San Jacinto College. He tied for second in the league in wins by going 5-2 with a 2.45 ERA, and he led the league with 63 strikeouts in 51.1 innings.

He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 19th round coming out of high school in 2008. The Mariners selected Rollins twice, in 2009 in 23rd round and in 2010 after redshirting a season at San Jacinto, before the Blue Jays picked him in 2011.

During the Baseball Winter Meetings in December, Rollins was selected by the Mariners once again, this time in the Rule 5 Draft. Seattle had to keep Rollins on the big league roster or return him to the Astros, and the Texas native posted a 1.13 ERA in spring training to earn a spot in the bullpen.

The lefty follows Jacob Lindgren and Scott Copeland, former Pump Jacks who made their major league debuts in May. Lindgren was called up by the New York Yankees less than a year after the Yanks made him their top draft pick in 2014, while Copeland reached the big leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays five years after being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles.

The Pump Jacks have had 57 players who were drafted by major league organizations, including seven who were picked in this year's draft.

The Jacks return to action with a doubleheader Sunday at the Acadiana Cane Cutters after their Independence Day game was rained out. The first game Sunday will begin at 5:05 p.m.

The league breaks on Monday before convening in Victoria for the 2015 TCL All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 7.

Following All-Star Game, the Jacks return home Thursday and Friday, July 9 and 10, for a two-game series against the Woodlands Strykers.

Thursday will be the Pump Jacks' first Thirsty Thursday of the season, presented by the original lite beer, Miller Lite. All adults will receive a Pump Jacks koozies presented by Miller Lite, and soft drinks will be discounted to $2 each for the entire night. So beat the heat with the Pump Jacks and Miller Lite next Thursday for Thirsty Thursday!

Fans can also tune in to our live Ustream broadcast or follow the game with live scoring updates on our Pointstreak feed.

To follow all the news during the Jacks' inaugural season in Tyler, presented by Brookshire's, visit the Pump Jacks official web site at www.pumpjacksbaseball.com. Join the conversation with other members of Pump Jacks Nation by visiting the Pump Jacks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.



Texas Collegiate League Stories from July 4, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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