Michalec Brings Big 12 Saves Record to Tri-City
Josh Michalec joined the Tri-City Dust Devils on Wednesday. Michalec broke the Big 12 Conference and Baylor University single season saves record with 21 in the 2014 season. His 21 saves also ranked second in the nation. Though he only recorded saves in 2014, he is still third on the Baylor all-time saves list.
Michalec was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week on March 10. He is only the second Baylor pitcher to receive the honor. The right-hander was also a First-Team All-Big 12 honoree in 2014. Michalec was selected by the Rockies in last week's MLB First Year Player Draft. He was picked in the 21st round, 623rd overall.
Also joining the Dust Devils Wednesday are 2014 draft picks Sam Bumpers, Shane Hoelscher, and Dylan Thompson.
Bumpers is an infielder and was a 22nd round selection out of Lamar University. He was selected to the 2014 All-Southland Conference First-Team and won the Southland Newcomer of the Year in 2013. Bumpers holds Lamar single game records for the most total bases with 17 and most hits with seven. He also hit three home runs in the game, tying another school record. He led the Southland Conference with a .427 batting average in 2014.
Hoelscher, also an infielder, was picked in the 17th round from Rice. He was a First-Team All-Conference USA honoree. He played 218 games for Rice and had a .292 batting average in his college career.
Bumpers and Hoelscher were both named as Third Team All-Americans infielders by Collegiate Baseball News in 2014.
Thompson is a pitcher selected in the 31st round out of the University of North Carolina - Greensboro. He made 14 appearances there with a 2-4 record and a 5.46 ERA.
The Dust Devils will also have the 45th overall pick from the 2011 draft, Trevor Story, for the first two games of the season. Story has been playing for the Modesto Nuts of the High A California League. He is making a rehab visit to Tri-City before returning to Modesto in time to play in the California League All-Star game.
The first game to be played at Gesa Stadium will be on Wednesday, June 18th at 7:15 p.m. against the Everett AquaSox. All fans in attendance will receive a 2014 Dust Devils schedule magnet courtesy of Pizza Hut, and there will be postgame fireworks presented by CO-Energy immediately following the game. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by contacting the Dust Devils front office at (509) 544-8789, at the Gesa Stadium box office, online at www.dustdevilsbaseball.com, and at all TicketsWest outlets.
Dust Devils Baseball… "It Will Blow You Away!"