Saltdogs Could See Two Alumni Reach Majors in 2009
Published on March 2, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Lincoln Saltdogs News Release
LINCOLN, NE - The Lincoln Saltdogs hope to see two of their former players reach the major leagues for the first time in 2009. Pitchers Lindsay Gulin and Chris Jakubauskas are both working in big-league training camps this spring.
Gulin dominated the American Association for Lincoln in 1006, going 13-2 with a 2.10 ERA in 19 games, including 18 starts. He won the league's ERA crown, finished second in wins (setting a Lincoln team record), and ended up third in the league in strikeouts. His efforts earned him a shot in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, where he put together a standout year for the Class AAA Nashville Sounds last season. The lefty earned the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week award twice, made the Triple-A All-Star team, finished second in the PCL in ERA and held opponents to a .219 batting average.
Jakubauskas had a short but memorable Saltdogs career, going 6-0 with a 2.42 ERA in seven starts for Lincoln in the first half of the 2007 season. The win streak caught the attention of the Seattle Mariners, who purchased his contract and sent him to Class AA West Tennessee. Although Chris struggled with injuries in 2008, his performance when healthy (3-0, 0.83 ERA for West Tennessee, and 5-1, 2.59 ERA for Class AAA Tacoma) was impressive enough to earn him a ticket to major-league spring training this month.
Both Gulin and Jakubauskas are considered "non-roster invitees," meaning neither hurler is on his respective team's 40-man roster. However, both pitchers are in situations where they could have a legitimate shot at making a big-league roster. Milwaukee lost a pair of All-Star pitchers (C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets) during the offseason, and a new manager and coaching staff means every player in camp-including Gulin-will get a fresh look. In Seattle, Jakubauskas also has the benefit of a new manager and coaching staff, and the Mariners have an unsettled pitching staff after a 101-loss season in 2008.
Later this month, the Saltdogs will also have three key players from the 2008 season making their debuts in minor-league camps in Arizona. Infielder Anthony Contreras was Lincoln's starting shortstop for the first half of '08, until his contract was purchased by the San Diego Padres organization; he finished the year in low-Class A Fort Wayne, and is currently listed on the roster of high-Class A Lake Elsinore. Pitcher Jason Jarvis was selected in the June draft by the San Francisco Giants, and left Lincoln to join the organization at the end of July. He made brief appearances for the Giants' rookie-league team in Arizona, and for short-season Class A Salem-Keizer. Catcher Shawn McGill spent a record-setting season with the Saltdogs in 2008, and had his contract purchased by the Chicago Cubs organization last month. He could be assigned to low-Class A Peoria or high-Class A Daytona at the end of spring training.
The 2009 Lincoln Saltdogs season begins on May 14 in Wichita, with the home opener scheduled for May 22 against Fort Worth. For more team and ticket information, go to www.saltdogs.com.
American Association Stories from March 2, 2009
- Cats sign O'Sullivan - Fort Worth Cats
- Saltdogs Could See Two Alumni Reach Majors in 2009 - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Saints' Cameron Sold To Philadelphia - AA
- Dave Nitz Joins the X's as the Voice of The Explorers in 2009 - Sioux City Explorers
- Saints Pitcher Cameron Joins Phillies Organization - St. Paul Saints
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