Runzler Gets Call to the Big Leagues
September 2, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - The dream for all minor league baseball players is to one day make it to the big leagues and for one member of the 2009 Augusta GreenJackets Opening Day roster, that dream has come true. Daniel Runzler, Augusta's closer for the first two months of the season, was promoted to the San Francisco Giants in a move announced on Wednesday morning.
Runzler joins top catching prospect Buster Posey in the list of September call-ups for the Giants. Major league teams are allowed to expand their rosters to 40 players for the final month of the regular season, beginning on September 1st.
At the time of his promotion to San Jose from Augusta, Runzler was a perfect 11 for 11 in save opportunities and was among the South Atlantic League leaders in the category. The lefty was named to the South Atlantic League's midseason All-Star team and a near-automatic presence out of the bullpen for GreenJackets manager Dave Machemer.
"The guy was a horse for us out of the bullpen this year, absolutely lights out," said the veteran skipper. "His hard work from day one of the season has paid off for him in a big way this year with his promotion to the big leagues."
Runzler has risen through the San Francisco organization quickly this year, spending time for four different Giants affiliates before getting the call to the big club. He becomes the first GreenJacket in recent memory to begin the season in Augusta and finish with the Giants in that same season. The closest a Jacket has come to such a meteoric rise in one year was in 2008, when Brian Bocock was the Opening Day shortstop in San Francisco one year after his stay in Augusta.
The GreenJackets are currently in the thick of the 2009 Southern Division playoff race and will return home from a brief two-game road trip to finish their regular season with a three-game series beginning on Saturday against the Rome Braves. First pitch on Saturday will come at 7:05 from Lake Olmstead Stadium. You may purchase seats to Saturday's game and every home game by calling 706-922-WINS or online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from September 2, 2009
- Drive Head in Reverse Against Hot Rods, Lose 7-3 - Greenville Drive
- 'Hoppers escape Hickory with 6-3 win - Hickory Crawdads
- BlueClaws Lose Home Finale - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Scelfo Powers Hot Rods Past Drive 7-3 - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Kannapolis comes closer with 5-1 win over West Virginia - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Late-Game Heroics Lift Suns To Series Victory Over Lakewood - Hagerstown Suns
- Playoff Hopes In Doubt After Loss To Kannapolis - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Cesario Smashes Asheville To Victory - Asheville Tourists
- Tourists score four in eighth, beat Legends 6-2 - Lexington Legends
- Charleston Pitching Outlasts Braves - Rome Emperors
- Dannemiller Lands Female Executive Of Year Award - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- RiverDogs Conquer Rome Again, 4-0, In 13 Innings - Charleston RiverDogs
- Runzler Gets Call to the Big Leagues - Augusta GreenJackets
- Suns Saving Their Best For Last Homestand Of 2009 - Hagerstown Suns
- Ratliff, Satin Promoted To St. Lucie - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Walk-Off Win Propels GreenJackets To Sweep Of Gnats - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park's Field Selected Best in South Atlantic League - Charleston RiverDogs
- Logan County Little League Honored by Hot Rods - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Monell's Two Home Runs Keep Jackets in Chase - Augusta GreenJackets
- Fan Appreciation Night Tonight, Roof-man and Playoffs Next Week - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Norris and Lombardozzi Selected to South Atlantic League Post-Season All-Star Team - Hagerstown Suns
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