Vickerson Moves to High-A Myrtle Beach
Hickory, NC - Texas Rangers announced today that Hickory Crawdads third baseman Nick Vickerson has been promoted to the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, becoming the third 'Dad this season to move up to the Rangers High-A affiliate.
Vickerson's move highlights four total player moves involving the Crawdads, with RHP Kelvin Vasquez being placed on the DL while INF Luis Marte is activated from the Disabled List and RHP Jose Valdespina joins the 'Dads from Extended Spring Training.
Vickerson, 24, was leading the South Atlantic League with a .448 OBP and 38 walks, while also batting .299 with four home runs, 13 doubles, 25 RBI, and a team-high 11 stolen bases. A 20th round selection by the Rangers in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Mississippi State, Vickerson was also a key member of the record-breaking 2013 Crawdads as he hit seven home runs with a .366 OBP in 72 games played.
Vasquez, 21, heads to the DL after lasting only two innings in his most recent start for the Crawdads on June 5th. The Dominican Republic native had starred in both the rotation and bullpen for Hickory in 2014, accumulating a 3-1 record, a 4.35 ERA, and 58 strikeouts over 51.2 innings pitched.
Marte, 20, rejoins the Crawdads from the DL, where he had been since April 13th with a broken hand. The 6'1" infielder was off to a hot start over the season's first eight games with a .296 average, one double, and two stolen bases. Marte played 125 games with the 'Dads in 2013, batting .217 with 16 doubles, three home runs, 27 RBI, and 16 stolen bases.
Valdespina, 22, is added to the Hickory roster for the second straight season after going 4-1 with a 5.58 ERA over 15 starts totaling 59.2 innings pitched in 2013.The 6'6" Dominican Republic native was signed by the Rangers as a non-drafted free agent in 2011, before pitching in the Dominican Summer League in 2011 and the short-season Northwest League in 2012.
Vickerson joins former Crawdads Abel De Los Santos and Kevin Torres on the Pelicans roster.
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