Two Former Eagles Going to MLB Spring Training
2/13/2009 5:23:00 AM | Baseball
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Two former Georgia Southern Baseball players will join their parent club as a non-roster invitee for Major League Baseball Spring Training. Chris Walker signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and will join the defending World Champion while Flint Wipke will join the Los Angeles Angels.
Wipke joined the Angels on Friday (Feb. 13) when the pitchers and catchers reported. The reigning American League West champions reported to Tempe, Arizona.
Last year Wipke played in Class A (Rancho Cucamonga), Double-A (Arkansas) and Triple-A (Salt Lake) He batted .253 in 41 games with Rancho Cucamonga, with 12 doubles, 24 RBI and 17 runs scored. He batted .278 in Double-A, and had a hit in 13 at-bats during a five-game stint at Salt Lake.
The former Eagle catcher was a two-year letterwinner from 2004-05 and was drafted in the 38th round by the Angels.
Walker saw action in 78 games last year with Salt Lake batting .257 with 45 runs scored, six triples and 27 RBI. He stole 14-of-24 bases on the year. The former sixth-round draft pick in 2002 was a two-time All-Southern Conference selection in the outfield. Walker lettered from 1999-2002 for the Eagles.
The Phillies report to Clearwater, Florida, on Saturday (Feb. 14) for camp.
“We are extremely happy for Flint and Chris. This is a great opportunity for them to gain valuable experience at Spring Training. They both have worked extremely hard to get to earn this chance,” said head coach Rodney Hennon. “In recent years we had two former pitchers get the call to the Majors, and now Todd Greene joined the Tampa Bay coaching staff. This is all great exposure for our baseball program.”
