Madison, WI – September 3, 2010. Sun Prairie-native Kurtis Muller (Iowa, pictured), who was selected in the 22nd round by the Cincinnati Reds in June, finished his first season in professional baseball in grand fashion by playing for the Arizona Reds in the Rookie League and posting a .333 batting average in both July and August, and finishing the summer with a .317 mark. He added six doubles, two triples, 22 RBI.
Muller had a monster season for the Mallards in 2009 by posting a .335 batting average with eight doubles, three home runs, and 24 RBI. He also stole 19 bases. Muller was named to the Northwoods League Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star Teams for his total body of work.
In order of 2010 MLB Draft selection:
Player, former college, year(s) with Mallards, current professional team, level, (big league organization) (drafted)
Phil Gosselin, Virginia, 2008, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class-A Advanced (Atlanta Braves) (5th round)
The 6’1″ second baseman from West Chester, PA began his professional career with the Rome Braves, the Single-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves where he hit .294 with nine doubles, three triples, and two home runs. He also recorded 24 RBI through 57 games. On August 31st, Gosselin was moved to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans organization in the Class-A Advanced League, and has two hits in 13 at-bats.
He was a steady contributor for the Mallards in 2008 in hitting .270 with six doubles, a team-high seven triples, and 25 RBI through 55 games.
Lucas LeBlanc, Delgado CC, 2010, Hasn’t been assigned yet (Boston Red Sox) (11th round)
LeBlanc signed a few hours prior to the deadline in mid-August and, therefore hasn’t been placed with a minor league club yet. He was actually set to transfer to LSU this fall prior to the Red Sox meeting his contractual demands.
This past summer LeBlanc hit .262 with four home runs, 21 RBI, and 16 runs scored over 35 games.
Dan Burawa, St. John’s, 2009, Staten Island Yankees, Class-A Short-Season (New York Yankees) (12th round)
Burawa is now a member of the Staten Island Yankees after beginning the summer in the summer collegiate Cape Cod League with the Harwich Mariners. As a member of the Yankees, he has allowed six earned runs through six innings of work.
Burawa finished the 2009 season in Madison with a 1-1 record and 5.50 ERA that included six saves, all coming on the road. He struck out 41 batters over 34.1 innings of work.
Luke Stewart, UAB, 2008, Kingsport Mets, Rookie League (New York Mets) (20th round)
The 6’4″ powerful left-handed first-baseman has shown his ability to hit a baseball over the fence as he has totaled eight home runs and 31 RBI through 58 games for the Kingsport Mets. He is hitting .255.
Stewart helped fuel a talented 2008 Mallards squad by hitting 13 doubles, six home runs, and 35 RBI.
Tyler Jones, LSU, 2010, Didn’t sign; decided to attend college. (21st round)
Jones was drafted by the Chicago White Sox as the 638th overall pick, but elected to instead transfer to the powerhouse LSU baseball program this fall.
This past summer he pitched a team-high 64.1 innings while compiling a 5-5 record and 2.80 ERA. Jones also struck out 42 batters.
Patrick Lala, Iowa, 2009-10, Didn’t sign; decided to attend college (29th round)
Lala was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 29th round out of Kirkwood Community College in Iowa but opted not to sign, instead deciding to transfer to the University of Iowa this fall. This past summer, he appeared in eight games while striking out 16 batters through 17 innings for the Mallards.
Alex Rivers, Santa Clara, 2008-09, Idaho Falls Chukars, Rookie League (Kansas City Royals) (39th round)
Rivers posted a 1-2 record and 4.01 ERA over 24.2 innings of relief for the Idaho Falls Chukars this past season.
The 5’10” Lodi, CA native spent two summers in Madison and compiled an 8-3 mark and 3.20 ERA over 104.1 innings of work.
Kevin Cahill, Purdue, 2009, Vermont Lake Monsters, Class-A Short Season (Washington Nationals) (41st round)
Cahill posted a 0-1 record and 3.54 ERA over 20.1 innings pitched and 12 games for the Monsters this past season. He also struck out 25 batters.
He played in Madison in 2009 but didn’t see a lot of action due to an injury cutting his time short. In seven relief appearances he struck out seven batters.
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