Nashville, TN – Former Waterloo Bucks pitcher Tom Boleska was selected today by the Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball’s 2012 Rule 5 Draft.  Boleska, who played with Waterloo in 2007, was selected by the Orioles in the Triple-A Phase of the draft.

 

Boleska had been in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization since he was drafted by the Buccs in the 35^th round in 2007.  This past season, Boleska played with the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks of the American Association, an independent league, appearing in 46 games and finishing the year with a 2-1 record and 58 strikeouts with a 1.76 ERA.  The Burlington, Ontario native last played affiliated ball in 2011 with the Pirates’ Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve.  Boleska finished that season with a 5.40 ERA and a 1-1 record in 12 games.

 

A product of High Point University, Boleska appeared in 21 games for the Bucks in 2007, finishing with a 1-1 record and a 1.95 ERA.  Boleska collected eight saves on the season, striking out 42 while walking just 14. The right-handed hurler ranks ninth on Waterloo’s career saves list and 10^th on the team’s single-season saves list.

 

The Rule-5 Draft is an annual event held by MLB that allows teams an opportunity to select other team’s minor league players who haven’t been added to the 40-man roster within a specific time frame since being signed.  The draft has three phases: MLB, Triple-A, and Double-A.

 

The 2013 Northwoods League schedule is expected to be released in December. Fans are encouraged to stay in touch with the Bucks in the off-season by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com.