June 29, 2004
ORLANDO - Three drafted players from UCF's 2004 team highlight a group of 18 former Golden Knights who are currently active in professional baseball. The latest three to join the professional ranks include pitchers Matt Fox and Jaime Douglas along with center fielder Clay Timpner.
Timpner is off to a red-hot start with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (San Francisco Giants) of the Northwest League. In 11 games, Timpner is eighth in the league in batting and is second in the Northwest League through 11 games. Overall, Timpner is batting .340 with 16 hits, two triples, one home run, eight RBI and seven stolen bases.
Fox is 0-0 in two games including one start for the Elizabethton Twins in the Appalachian League. The first round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins has a 6.00 ERA in 6.0 innings of work with eight strikeouts.
Douglas, a 26th round draft selection of the Anaheim Angels, is currently pitching with the Provo Angels in the Pioneer League. Douglas has appeared in one game, pitching 1.2 innings without allowing a run. He struck out four and walked four in his lone appearance. Provo is the same rookie league team that Von David Stertzbach started his professional career with last season.
Stertzbach turned a solid pro debut in 2003 into one of the top pitching performances in the California League in 2004. Stertzbach is 1-1 with 11 saves and a 1.96 ERA with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the class A affiliate of the Anaheim Angels. Stertzbach has been one of the top closers in the league and has totaled 31 strikeouts in 23.0 innings of work. Stertzbach is third in the California League in saves.
Jason Arnold is currently on the disabled list with the Syracuse SkyChiefs, the triple A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Prior to his injury, Arnold was 1-3 with a 3.65 ERA for the SkyChiefs. In seven starts, Arnold pitched 37 innings with 15 strikeouts and 12 walks.
Another former UCF All-American pitcher, Justin Pope, has been promoted to Trenton. The class AA affiliate of the New York Yankees, Pope has pitched in four games for the Thunder. He is 0-0 with a 3.75 in four appearances including one start for Trenton. In 12 innings of work, Pope has 12 strikeouts for the Thunder. Prior to his promotion, Pope was 4-4 with a 3.80 ERA with Tampa.
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Mike Maroth is 5-5 with a 4.47 ERA in 16 games this season. The southpaw leads the Tigers in innings pitched (100.2) and his ERA is second lowest among the Tigers' starters.
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Position PlayersRyan BearGreensboro Bats (Florida Marlins)South Atlantic LeagueClass Awww.greensborobats.com2004 Stats.264, 6 HR, 32 RBI
Chad EhrnsbergerPalm Beach Cardinals (St. Louis Cardinals)Florida State LeagueClass Awww.palmbeachcardinals.com2004 Stats.249, 4 HR, 32 RBI
Jeremy FrostHigh Desert Mavericks (Milwaukee Brewers)California LeagueClass Awww.hdmavs.com2004 Stats.265, 5 HR, 21 RBI
Matt MeathLynchburg Hillcats (Pittsburgh Pirates)Carolina LeagueClass Awww.lynchburg-hillcats.com2004 Stats.315, 2 HR, 22 RBI
Chad MottolaOttawa Lynx (Baltimore Orioles)International LeagueClass AAAwww.ottawalynx.com2004 Stats.270, 7 HR, 29 RBI
Mike MyersWinston-Salem Warthogs (Chicago White Sox)Carolina LeagueClass Awww.warthogs.com2004 Stats.286, 0 HR, 3 RBI
Eric RiggsLas Vegas 51s (Los Angeles Dodgers)Pacific Coast LeagueClass AAAwww.lv51.com2004 Stats.235, 2 HR, 7 RBI
Esix SneadNorfolk Tides (New York Mets)International LeagueClass AAAwww.norfolktides.com2004 Stats.255, 0 HR, 12 RBI
Clay TimpnerSalem-Keizer Volcanoes (San Francisco Giants)Northwest LeagueRookie Levelwww.volcanoesbaseball.com2004 Stats.340, 1 HR, 8 RBI
PitchersJason ArnoldSyracuse SkyChiefs (Toronto Blue Jays)International LeagueClass AAAwww.skychiefs.com2004 Stats1-3, 3.65 ERA, 15 SO
Jaime DouglasProvo Angels (Anaheim Angels)Pioneer LeagueRookie Levelwww.provoangels.com2004 Stats0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 SO
Matt FoxElizabethton Twins (Minnesota Twins)Appalachian LeagueRookie Levelwww.elizabethtontwins.com2004 Stats0-0, 6.00 ERA, 8 SO
Bo HallHigh Desert Mavericks (Milwaukee Brewers)California LeagueClass Awww.hdmavs.com2004 Stats4-5, 5.40 ERA, 57 SO
Mike MarothDetroit TigersAmerican LeagueMajor League Baseballwww.detroittigers.com2004 Stats5-5, 4.47 ERA, 47 SO
Mark MichaelWilliamsport Crosscutters (Pittsburgh Pirates)New York-Penn LeagueClass Awww.crosscutters.com2004 Stats0-0, 0.00 ERA, 11 SO
Justin PopeTrenton Thunder (New York Yankees)Eastern LeagueClass AAwww.trentonthunder.com2004 Stats4-4, 3.80 ERA, 44 SO (at Tampa)
Von David StertzbachRancho Cucamonga Quakes (Anaheim Angels)California LeagueClass Awww.rcquakes.com2004 Stats1-1, 1.96 ERA, 11 saves
David TorresBrooklyn Cyclones (New York Mets)New York-Penn LeagueClass Awww.brooklyncyclones.com2004 Stats0-0, 2.08 ERA, 3 SO