Steamers Go Versatile with Latest Signings
Published on May 20, 2013 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
EDENTON, NC - The Edenton Steamers of the Coastal Plain League announce today the additions of Nick Miller, Nick Thompson and Sam Bumpers to the 2013 roster.
Miller, a junior from University of Northern Colorado in the NCAA Division I Great West Conference, makes his way to Edenton as an all-lefty first baseman, outfielder and pitcher. The 6-4, 205-pound Loveland, Colo., native has been an everyday middle-of-the-order bat and Sunday starter for the Bears this spring. As they wrap up the regular season, Miller batted .354 and leads the team in doubles with 13, triples with four and home runs with three. His on-base average is .418, slugging is .526 and he has an OPS of .944. To go along with his offensive prowess, he has committed only two errors all season while splitting time between first base and the corner outfield positions. On the mound for the Bears, Miller has logged 65.1 innings in 12 appearances (all starts), including two complete games with 45 strikeouts and 22 walks. After spending his freshman year at the University of Nebraska and his sophomore season at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado, Miller has emerged this spring as a crucial two-way player for the UNC Bears. During the 2011 summer season he showed his two-way capability admirably while suiting up for Klamath Falls in the West Coast Collegiate League. This summer he has been recruited to the Steamers as a hybrid player and has not disappointed thus far. As a position player he features a sweet swing from the left side that should play up well at Hicks Field and ideal length with a plus arm at first base. On the mound he creates deception and plane with his height and arm action and is an effective finesse guy with a low-to-mid 80s fastball and excellent differential on his change-up. With his defensive versatility and ability on the mound, he should feature prominently throughout the summer for Edenton.
Thompson is a sophomore at East Carolina University (NC) in the NCAA Division I Conference USA. He bats and throws from the right side and has been a backup outfielder this spring for the Pirates. Hailing from Chesapeake, Va., the 6-1, 195-pound Thompson will serve as a super utility man this summer for Edenton after playing ball last summer in the CPL for the Peninsula Pilots. He finished batting .288, adding a .409 on-base average, .381 slugging average, .790 OPS and 28 walks to 28 strikeouts. Along with playing every position along the infield he made some quality appearances on the mound last summer. For the Pirates this spring he has appeared in 28 games, including 19 starts. In 66 at-bats he is hitting .303, has an on-base average of .452, is slugging .379, good for an OPS of .831, adding five doubles, 14 walks and 11 strikeouts. Thompson likely possesses the best plate discipline of any 2013 Steamer recruit and impressed last summer while playing for division-rival Peninsula. He acquitted himself very well, defensively, last summer with the Pilots at shortstop in the first half and is also comfortable at second base. He has added corner outfield to his defensive skillset this spring after seeing some time at both infield and outfield corner spots last summer. Thompson also offers similar versatility on offense with the ability to slot into most any spot in the order, providing quality plate appearances, the ability to hit for a good average and a high on-base percentage.
Bumpers joins the Steamers as a junior from Lamar University (TX) in the NCAA Division I Southland Conference. The 6-0, 170-pound Bourbonnais, Ill., native has served as the leadoff hitter and starting shortstop for the Cardinals this spring. Having just wrapped up the regular season, Bumpers is hitting .341 with a team-leading 19 doubles, a.406 on-base average, .491 slugging average and an .897 OPS. His defense is as good as his offense with a .968 fielding average and a 5.22 range factor at the shortstop position. Bumpers transferred to Lamar this year from Iowa Western College, one of the best JUCO programs in the country, and brings with him the strong fundamental play that has been a hallmark of that program for years. A future second baseman in pro ball, he has had a stellar defensive season at short for the Cardinals thanks to quick feet, transfer, release and a savvy baseball IQ. He should team up with Alex Delgado to give Edenton the best double-play combination in the league this summer and, along with Thompson, protects the Steamers' depth at shortstop behind Delgado. Bumpers also offers rare offensive prowess for a middle infielder and has the chance to make an impact on both sides of the ball.
Coastal Plain League Stories from May 20, 2013
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- Steamers Go Versatile with Latest Signings - Edenton Steamers
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