OSU Beavers In The Pros Season Wrap Up

Twenty-nine former Beavers saw action for a professional affiliated organization in 2008.

Jacoby Ellsbury from Oregon is the first Navajo to play in the major leagues. Photo: Richard Phibbs (mensvogue.com)

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Many former members of the Oregon State baseball team have wrapped up their regular seasons, with only Jacoby Ellsbury, Jamie Burke and Brian Barden still playing with their respective Major League clubs.

Here’s a look at how each of the twenty-nine Beavers did.

Kyle Aselton, LHP (Minnesota Twins) – Appeared in 38 games for the New Britain Rock Cats (AA), going 8-6 with a 4.24 ERA in 14 starts … Worked 110 1/3 innings, striking out 86 while opponents hit .270 against him … Saved one game.

Andy Baldwin, RHP (Seattle Mariners) – Appeared in 30 games, 22 starts, for the Tacoma Rainiers (AAA) … Went 10-5 with a 4.75 ERA … Worked 147 2/3 innings, striking out 87 while allowing 177 hits … Opponents batted .295 against him.

Brian Barden, INF (St. Louis Cardinals) – Played in 103 games for the Memphis Redbirds (AAA), batting .285 with 24 doubles, four triples, nine home runs and 35 RBI … Saw action for Team USA at the Beijing Olympics, appearing in eight of the nine games en route to the Bronze Medal … Called up St. Louis on Sept. 2 … Season is still in progress.

Darwin Barney, SS (Chicago Cubs) – Played in 123 games for the Daytona Cubs (A), batting .262 with 22 doubles, four triples and three home runs … Drove in 51 … Walked 38 times and scored 46 runs … Is scheduled to appear for the Cubs’ Arizona Fall League club.

Dallas Buck, RHP (Arizona Diamondbacks/Cincinnati Reds) – Played for three teams over the season, including two in the Arizona organization … Was 1-4 in nine games for South Bend (A) to start the season and moved to Visalia (A), where he was 0-1 in just one appearance … Traded to Cincinnati in the Adam Dunn deal and went 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in three starts for Sarasota (A) … Between the three clubs, worked 63 2/3 innings.

Jamie Burke, C (Seattle Mariners) – As of Sept. 6, had played in 45 games for the Seattle Mariners (MLB), batting .270 with three doubles and a home run … Has eight RBI and five walks.

Mitch Canham, C (San Diego Padres) – Appeared in 113 games for Lake Elsinore (A), batting .285 with 28 doubles, five triples and eight home runs … Drove in 81 while posting a .434 slugging percentage … Walked 66 times and stole 13 baes.

Jacoby Ellsbury, OF (Boston Red Sox) – As of Sept. 6, had played in 127 games for the Boston Red Sox (MLB), batting .264 with 15 doubles, six triples and seven home runs … Is among the American League leaders with 44 stolen bases and has 42 RBI and 39 walks.

Mike Ekstrom, RHP (San Diego Padres) – Appeared in 41 games for the San Antonio Missions (AA), going 11-8 with a 4.58 ERA … Started 15 games and worked 108 innings, saving one game as well … Struck out 101 and opponents hit .305 against him.

Cole Gillespie, OF (Milwaukee Brewers) – Appeared in 131 games for Huntsville (AA), batting .281 with 38 doubles, four triples and 14 home runs … Drove in 79 while walking 75 times … Stole 17 bases and posted a .472 slugging percentage.

Tyler Graham, OF (San Francisco Giants) – Played in 84 games for the San Jose Giants (A), batting .264 with 10 doubles, two triples and two home runs … Drove in 29 and walked 21 times.

Kevin Gunderson, LHP (Atlanta Braves) – Began the season with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (A), going 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA in 15 appearances, all coming in relief … Saved 10 games before being promoted to the Mississippi Braves (AA), where he went 2-2 with a 4.74 ERA in 36 games, all also in relief … Saved three for Mississippi … Opponents hit just .173 against him at Myrtle Beach and .289 with Mississippi.

Chris Hopkins, OF (Toronto Blue Jays) – Appeared in 57 games for the Auburn Doubledays (A), batting .188 with a double and a triple … Stole 11 bases.

Andy Jenkins, 1B (Florida Marlins) – Played in 110 games for the Carolina Mudcats (AA), batting .259 with 16 doubles, a triple and eight home runs … Drove in 53 and walked 19 times while posting a .380 slugging percentage.

Josh Keller, RHP (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) – Appeared in 12 games for the Arizona League Angels (R), going 1-0 with a 3.77 ERA and six saves … Worked 14 1/3 innings in Arizona … Promoted to the Orem Owlz (A), where he went 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in six appearances, all in relief.

Chris Kunda, 2B (New York Yankees) – Played primarily for the Tampa Yankees (A), batting .145 in 45 games … Finished with three doubles and 22 walks … Also played in two games for the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees (AAA), going 1-for-3 with a double.

Eddie Kunz, RHP (New York Mets) – Began the season with the Binghamton Mets (AA), going 1-4 with a 2,79 ERA in 44 games, all starts, and earned 27 saves … Struck out 43 in 48 1/3 innings and was promoted to the New York Mets (MLB) … Appeared in four games for the Mets and not did get a decision after working 2 2/3 innings, striking out one … Later sent down to the New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA) and went 0-1 with 7.94 ERA in six games.

Lonnie Lechelt, INF (Florida Marlins) – Played primarily for the Jamestown Jammers (A) and hit .186 in 37 games … Finished with four doubles, a triple and four home runs … Also played for the Greensboro Suns (A), batting .200 in six games.

Jordan Lennerton, 1B (Detroit Tigers) – Appeared primarily for the Gulf Coast Tigers (R), batting .243 in 36 games … Doubled nine times and finished with a triple and a home run … Drove in 22 … Also saw time with the Lakeland Flying Tigers (A), hitting .179 in 18 games, finishing with two doubles, a home run and eight RBI.

Mike Lissman, OF (Oakland Athletics) – Began the season with the Kane County Cougars (A), hitting .203 in 54 games … Doubled seven times to go along with two home runs and 13 RBI … Also played for the Vancouver Canadians (A), appearing in 44 games, batting .219 with eight doubles, six home runs and 22 RBI.

Aaron Mathews, OF (Toronto Blue Jays) – Played in 72 games for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA), hitting .296 with 13 doubles, three triples and six home runs … Drove in 51 while stealing two bases and posting a .421 slugging percentage.

Mark McLemore, LHP (Houston Astros) – Did not pitch in 2008 due to injury but was listed on the roster of the Round Rock Express (AAA).

Jonah Nickerson, RHP (Detroit Tigers) – Appeared in 27 games for the Lakeland Flying Tigers (A), with 26 coming as starts … Went 12-4 with a 3.99 ERA, working 146 2/3 innings … Struck out 114 while limiting opponents to 137 hits and a .246 batting average.

Joe Paterson, LHP (San Francisco Giants) – Began the season with the Augusta Green Jackets (A), where he was 5-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 20 appearances with one save … Worked 31 1/3 innings with Augusta, limiting opponents to a .204 batting average against … Promoted to the San Jose Giants (A) and went 3-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 34 games … Saved seven games and held opponents to a .200 batting average in 37 2/3 innings.

Jason Ogata, 2B (Texas Rangers) – Appeared in 54 games for the Spokane Indians (A), batting .244 with four doubles, a triple and two home runs … Drove in 32 and stole four bases.

Nathan Pendley, LHP (San Francisco Giants) – Appeared in six games for the Arizona League Giants (R), going 0-0 with a 4.09 ERA … Promoted to the Augusta Green Jackets (A) and went 0-0 with a 9.64 ERA in seven appearances.

Daniel Robertson, OF (San Diego Padres) – Played in 73 games for the Eugene Emeralds (A), leading the Northwest League with a .377 batting average … Broke the league’s 36-year short-season record with 114 hits and finished among the league leaders with 21 doubles, 45 RBI, 20 stolen bases and a .497 slugging percentage … Finished with three triples and three home runs and was named the NWL MVP.

Mike Stutes, RHP (Philadelphia Phillies) – Began the season with the Williamsport Crosscutters (A) and went 2-2 with a 1.33 ERA in six starts … Struck out 31 in 27 innings and limited opponents to a .172 batting average … Promoted to the Lakewood BlueClaws (A) and went 5-1 with a 1.48 ERA in seven starts … Struck out 53 in 42 2/3 and held opponents to a .139 average.

Daniel Turpen, RHP (San Francisco Giants) – Began the season with the Augusta Green Jackets (A) and went 5-4 with a 3.45 ERA in 40 relief appearances … Worked 62 2/3 innings, striking out 48 … Was promoted to the San Jose Giants (A) and went 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA in six games in relief.

Make sure to visit osubeavers.com for more information on the Oregon State baseball team. Available online is an interview with Oregon State Olympian Brian Barden, as well as photo galleries, statistics, information on the 2009 Papé Grand Slam and a page devoted to the six-team Palm Springs Tournament in March hosted by the Beavers.

Source: Oregon State Athletics

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