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Yuma Scorpion Rusty Meacham Signed by Washington Nationals

January 15, 2007 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Yuma Scorpions News Release


(Pleasanton, CA January 15, 2007) The Golden Baseball League (GBL) announced today that Yuma Scorpion pitching coach, Rusty Meacham, has been signed by the Washington Nationals to handle similar duties for the Class A Vermont Lake Monsters in the New York-Penn League. Meacham has been the pitching coach for the Scorpions for both years of the team's existence. He has been responsible for developing a fine pitching staff that produced numerous GBL Pitchers of the Week, five GBL All-Star pitchers, and had one pitcher acquired by the Boston Red Sox.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for Flaco, and we wish him well," said Yuma Scorpions General Manager Jason Matlock. "He brought incredible teaching skills and an ability to connect closely with the players and fans that will really be missed."

After a very successful professional playing career, Yuma Scorpion Manager Benny Castillo gave Meacham his first chance at professional coaching in the inaugural season of the Golden Baseball League in 2005. During that first year, Meacham was a true player coach as he also made 16 starts as a member of the rotation. Moving to a coaching only role in 2006, he ended a 20 year pro playing career that began in 1987 as the Detroit Tigers' 33rd round draft choice when he shocked his organization by going 9-1 and being named to the Appalachian League All-Star team in 1988 and then following up with a 10-3 mark in the South Atlantic League the next year putting him on the prospect path to the major leagues. He made the big club in Detroit in 1991 and spent 8 seasons in the majors with Detroit, Kansas City, Seattle, Houston, and Tampa Bay as he appeared in over 200 games.

Meacham is the third 2006 GBL coach or manager to be signed by a major league organization this year, joining Yuma Scorpion's Manager Benny Castillo who was signed by the Detroit Tigers to manage their Gulf Coast League ballclub and Fullerton Flyer's pitching coach Charlie Hough who was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers to be the pitching coach of their Single-A California League team.

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