DMACC Bears News
posted 09/15/10
Five DMACC Athletes Complete First Season of Professional Baseball
Five DMACC baseball players signed professional contacts following the 2010 season and have completed their first seasons as professional athletes.
Cole Nelson, Patrick Cooper, Travis Meiners, George Jensen and Scott Schebler were signed by Major League teams and spent their first seasons in rookie league play. Nelson, a left-handed pitcher, and Cooper, a right-handed pitcher, were signed by the Detroit Tigers; Meiners, an outfielder, signed with the Texas Rangers; Jensen, a right-handed pitcher, was signed by the Tampa Rays; and Schebler was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I think it’s every coach’s dream to have guys go on to the next level and, hopefully, have a guy play in the major leagues,” DMACC baseball coach Dan Fitzgerald said. “I’m proud of all of our players for their work ethic and how they go about it, but it’s really a special feeling to have guys playing professional baseball.”
Nelson spent this past summer playing for the Gulf Coast League Tigers and with the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Florida State League. He finished the season with a 1-0 record and played in nine games with three starts. Nelson pitched 27 1/3 innings, allowing 12 hits and six runs, two of which were earned. He struck out 36 batters, walked 13 and finished the season with a 0.66 earned run average.
Cooper played with the Connecticut Tigers in the New York-Penn League and the West Michigan Whitecaps in the Midwest League. He finished the season at 4-2 and pitched in 13 games, including 12 starts. He worked 62 1/3 innings, allowing 57 hits and 37 runs, 35 of which were earned. Cooper struck out 50 batters, walked 30 and ended the season with a 5.50 ERA.
Meiners appeared in 38 games for the Arizona Summer League Rangers. He hit .279 with 31 hits, including five doubles and three home runs. Meiners drove in 15 runs and stole six bases.
Jensen pitched for the Princeton Rays of the Appalachian League and finished the season with a 1-2 record. He pitched 36 1/3 innings, including one start, and allowed 38 hits and 14 runs, 12 of which were earned. Jensen struck out 30 batters, walked six and finished the season with a 2.79 ERA.
Schebler played in five games for the Arizona Summer League Dodgers. He appeared in five games, had 17 at-bats and finished with five hits, including a pair of triples. Schebler drove in one run, scored three runs and stole one base.