HOME Standings Three more pitchers heading for Rookie League rosters from UTA

Three more pitchers heading for Rookie League rosters from UTA

Written by Andrew Vaughan, Contributor to The Shorthorn

Tuesday, 30 June 2009 06:37 PM

Andrew Kainer signed a free-agent contract with Florida Marlins as a Rookie League relief pitcher June 26. (Courtesy Photo: UT Arlington Sports Information) Maverick baseball players Matt Otteman, Andy Sauter, and Andrew Kainer signed free agent contracts with professional baseball teams this month. These three, who all signed as pitchers, join 26 other Mavericks drafted or signed by Major League Baseball teams since 2001. Two pitchers, Nathan Long and Rett Varner, were drafted earlier this year. The league has now drafted or signed 17 Mavericks as pitchers, including five this year. Matt Otteman signed a contract with the Seattle Mariners on June 24, becoming the third Maverick to sign with the Mariners since 2004. A 6-foot-1-inch right-hander, he averaged 14.2 strikeouts in nine innings after making 10 appearances on the mound this season. Otteman, holding the third-highest batting average in conference history with .432, tied a school record 26-game hit streak at the season’s start. On Tuesday, the Mariners flew Otteman to Peoria, Ariz. where he signed his contract the next afternoon, joining their Rookie League Arizona Mariners. Otteman said he’s excited. Matt Otteman signed a free-agent contract with Seattle Mariners as Rookie League relief pitcher June 24. (Courtesy Photo: UT Arlington Sports Information) “This has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid playing T-ball,” he said. “And now I get paid to pretty much do my favorite thing.” He’s in training now, mainly pitching bullpits, but pitches in a game next week, Otteman said. Andrew Kainer, primarily an outfielder, signed a contract to pitch for the Florida Marlins’ Rookie League Gulf Coast Marlins on Friday. He broke the Southland Conference hitting streak record last year, had a batting average of .417 and ranked third in UTA single-season history. The Marlins flew Kainer to Jupiter, Fla. on June 19 after he was clocked pitching at 90 to 92 mph, a speed he said he has never pitched before. “This is a real dream come true for me,” Kainer said. “I’ve played baseball all my life. My father played for the Texas Rangers and now it is my job. I do it every day. This is a real honor and amazing opportunity.” Andy Sauter signed a free-agent contract with Milwaukee Brewers as their Rookie League starting pitcher June 21. (Courtesy Photo: UT Arlington Sports Information) Andy Sauter signed a free agent contract June 20 with the Milwaukee Brewers and flew to Arizona to join the Arizona Brewers in the Rookie League. In the past season, Sauter held an opponent batting average of .257 after pitching 30 innings and threw 44 strikeouts in 51 innings with only 16 walks. He once struck out nine batters in eight innings in a 5-3 win against UTSA. After an injury sidelined him for a month, the right-handed pitcher still managed a 4-2 record with a 4.55 ERA in 11 appearances. All three players entering professional sports pitched under head coach Darin Thomas. Thomas said he is happy for the players. “All of them have had outstanding careers,” Thomas said. “I’m glad they’ve been given this chance at affiliated baseball.” Views: 1512 | E-mail   Be first to comment this article Only registered users can write comments. Please login or register. Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com All right reserved

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 30 June 2009 06:39 PM )

 

Next >