Former Eau Claire Express players Ryan O’Sullivan (2008) and DeMarcus Tidwell (2010) were named to the Top 2011 NAIA Draft Prospects List by Baseball America last Friday. O’Sullivan ranked as the top prospect on the list, with Tidwell coming two spots later at number three.
O’Sullivan played with the Express during the 2008 season as an infielder and pitcher. The The El Cajon, CA native tied for the team-lead that season with five home runs and ranked fourth on the squad with 24 runs batted in.
Prior to playing with the Express, O’Sullivan was drafted by the San Francisco Giants out of high school but elected to attend school. He recently transferred from San Diego State, where he went 4-4 with a 6.79 ERA in 2009.
Tidwell appeared in 42 games of Eau Claire’s championship season last summer and played a large role in the team’s late-season success. The outfielder ranked second on the team with a .333 batting average in 156 at-bats. The former Yavapai Roughrider is seen as a potential five-tool centerfielder.
He was drafted in the 28th round of the draft by the Cleveland Indians last year, but went unsigned. Tidwell led Yavapai with a .410 batting average last spring and ranked third on the team with 19 stolen bases. He will play for the Southern Poly State (Ga.) Hornets in 2011.
Read more about O’Sullivan and Tidwell at www.eauclaireexpress.com.
