Four Former Kings Involved in Lee Deal

Smoak, Beavan, Lawson and Lueke were all in Clinton during the 2008 season

By Dave Lezotte

July 9, 2010

Clinton, IA - In a trade just completed between their current Major League affiliate, the Seattle Mariners, and their former affiliate, the Texas Rangers, four former Clinton LumberKings have been acquired by the Mariners in exchange for left-hander Cliff Lee and right-hander Mark Lowe. Major League first-baseman Justin Smoak, minor-league right-handers Blake Beavan and Josh Lueke and minor-league infielder Matt Lawson were all part of the 2008 club that finished with the Midwest League's best record of 78-59.

Smoak spent 14 games with the LumberKings at the tail end of the season after his first-round selection out of the University of South Carolina that same year. The switch-hitting first-baseman hit .304 with three doubles, three home runs and six RBI in 56 at-bats with Clinton, his first professional assignment. After being called up by the Rangers this season, Smoak hit .209 with eight home runs and 34 RBI in 70 games.

Beavan was the top pitcher for the 2008 Kings, going 10-6 with a 2.37 ERA over 23 starts in his first pro action after a first-round selection in 2007 out of Irving High School (Irving, TX). He had just recently been called up to triple-A Oklahoma City within the Texas system, but had yet to pitch for the RedHawks. Beavan started the year in double-A Frisco, going 10-5 with a 2.78 ERA in 17 starts.

Lueke pitched with the LumberKings in 2007 and 2008, going 1-1 with a 2.61 ERA in eight relief outings the latter year. The 16th round pick by the Rangers in 2007, Lueke was 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA and two saves in 15 outings with double-A Frisco.

Lawson hit .251 with 15 doubles, six HR, 25 RBI and 18 steals in 100 games for the LumberKings in 2008. The 14th round pick in 2007, he was a Texas League All-Star with Frisco this season, hitting .277 with 16 doubles, seven HR and 34 RBI in 76 games.

Smoak will report directly to the Mariners. No announcement has been made on where the other three players will end up in the Seattle system, but none are expected to join the 25-man Clinton roster.

The LumberKings (8-5) take on the Quad Cities River Bandits (8-5) at Alliant Energy Field tonight, first pitch scheduled for 7:00 PM. Listen to the game on AM 1390 KCLN in Clinton or online at 1390kcln.com.