June 15, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Three former UCF pitchers are tearing up the minor leagues so far this season, while five hitters are also deep into their respective campaigns. Let's take a look at how these Knights have been progressing in 2009.
Working his way back to his old self after suffering injuries immediately after being drafted in the summer of 2004, Matt Fox has been stellar for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats of the Minnesota Twins organization. A first-round pick by the Twins, Fox is 5-2 in 11 starts and holds a 2.64 ERA, fanning 51 in 64.2 innings. Fox leads all Rock Cat starting pitchers in ERA and victories.
Just promoted to the Double-A level, Tim Bascom (sixth-round pick after his 2006 UCF season) joined the Baltimore Orioles' Bowie Baysox and got the win in a 7.0-inning start in his first game. At Class A, Bascom was 4-5 with a 3.40 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 53.0 innings.
And a member of the 2008 UCF rotation, Mitch Herold has pitched 15 games in relief for the Class A Greenville Drive (Boston), going 2-0 with three saves, a 2.16 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 25.0 innings.
At the plate, Tyson Auer and Dwayne Bailey, both seniors on the 2008 Knights' roster, are with the Los Angeles Angels' Class A affiliate the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Auer has racked up 72 hits for a .314 average in 55 games, scoring 41 runs, while Bailey holds a .224 average in 24 games. One more player from last year's UCF team is in Class A as well, as Robert Lara has a .209 mark with a homer and 18 RBI for the Fort Wayne TinCaps.
While that trio is in their second year in the minors, Drew Butera (2003-05) and Clay Timpner (2002-04) are busy at the Triple-A ranks. Butera is hitting .223 for the Twins' Rochester Red Wings, and Timpner is in the San Francisco Giants organization, batting .237 with 20 runs for the Fresno Grizzlies.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
UCF Baseball in the Professional RanksHittersTyson Auer - Cedar Rapids Kernels (A, Angels) - 55 GP, .314 BA, 72 H, 12 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 41 R, 22 SBDwayne Bailey - Cedar Rapids Kernels (A, Angels) - 24 GP, .224 BA, 13 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 4 RBI, 6 R, 2 SBDrew Butera - Rochester Red Wings (AAA, Twins) - 44 GP, .223 BA, 29 H, 4 2B, 12 RBI, 9 RRobert Lara - Fort Wayne TinCaps (A, Padres) - 24 GP, .209 BA, 19 H, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 12 RClay Timpner - Fresno Grizzlies (AAA, Giants) - 57 GP, .237 BA, 42 H, 6 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 20 R, 4 SB
PitchersTim Bascom - Bowie Baysox (AA, Orioles) - 1 GP, 1 GS, 1-0, 1.29 ERA, 7.0 IP, 2 BB, 7 K (11 starts at Class A)Matt Fox - New Britain Rock Cats (AA, Twins) - 12 GP, 11 GS, 5-2, 2.64 ERA, 64.2 IP, 24 BB, 51 KMitch Herold - Greenville Drive - (A, Red Sox) - 15 GP, 0 GS, 2-0, 2.16 ERA, 3 SV, 25.0 IP, 8 BB, 32 K ="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>