PACE SETTERS IN THE PROS - JUNE UPDATE
PLEASANTVILLE, NY - Ten former Pace University baseball players are currently following their dreams of playing professional baseball. Patrick Stanley (Ramsey, NJ/Ramsey), Bryan Hallberg (River Edge, NJ/River Dell), Matt Arburr (Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern), Jack Cawley (Bronx, NY/Iona Prep) and Matt Rigoli (Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany) are all playing with minor league affiliated teams; while David Qualben (Brooklyn, NY/Xavier), Earl Oakes (Bristol, CT/Bristol Central), Matt Reilly (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls), Andre Liscinsky (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) and Giuseppe Granitto (Bronx, NY/Salesian HS/Concordia College) are in independent leagues.
Stanley was originally selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 16th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Stanley spent two seasons in the Rockies organization playing with the Casper Rockies (Rookie) of the Pioneer League in ‘04 and playing for the Tri-City Dust Devils (Short-Season A) of the Northwest League in 2005. Stanley then spent three seasons in independent baseball playing the 2006 and 2007 seasons with the Washington Wild Things of the Independent Frontier League and with the Newark Bears of the Atlantic Independent League in 2008. This year, Stanley has made a return to affiliated baseball, signing with the Detroit Tigers organization. Stanley began the season with the Lakeland Flying Tigers (Class A - Advanced) of the Florida State League. In eight games played (one start), Stanley posted a 1- 0 record with a 1.40 ERA, allowing 11 hits, 3 runs, 6 walks, while striking out 18 in 19.1 innings pitched. Stanley was then called up to AAA, where he made one relief appearance on May 14th for the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League. In his lone appearance, Stanley tossed 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks, while fanning five as he would go on to earn the victory. Stanley was the first Pace University player to reach the Triple-A level since current head coach Henry Manning did so in 1994. Stanley is currently playing for the Erie SeaWolves (AA) of the Eastern League, where he has made five starts, posting a 1-2 record with a 4.88 ERA, while striking out 19 batters in 27.2 innings of work.
Hallberg was selected by the Houston Astros in the 12th round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft. Hallberg began his pro career with the Tri-City ValleyCats (Short-Season A) of the New York-Penn League. He then split time in 2007 between the ValleyCats and the Lexington Legends (Class A) of the South Atlantic League and pitched for the Salem Avalanche (Class A-Advanced) of the Carolina League in 2008. This season, Hallberg is pitching for the Lancaster JetHawks of the California League, the new Class A-Advanced team of the Astros. So far this season, Hallberg has made 20 appearances (one start) for the JetHawks, posting a 3-2 record, to go along with three saves, which ties him for the team lead. He has a 4.08 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 46.1 innings pitched.
Arburr was selected by the Saint Louis Cardinals in the 17th round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft. Arburr made his pro debut with the Johnson City Cardinals (Rookie) of the Appalachian League. He then split time between the Quad Cities River Bandits (Class A) of the Midwest League and the Palm Beach Cardinals (Class A - Advanced) of the Florida State League in 2008. Recovering from off-season surgery, Arburr began the 2009 season on the DL. He made his return to the field on May 3rd with Palm Beach, where he played in 16 games, hitting .208 (10-for-48) with four homeruns, one double, seven RBI and seven runs scored. Arburr was then promoted to the Springfield Cardinals (AA) of the Texas League on May 24th, where he has currently played in 22 games, hitting .203 (12-for-59) with five homeruns, one double, 12 RBI and seven runs scored.
Cawley was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 34th round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft. Similar to former teammate Arburr, Cawley made his pro debut with the Johnson City Cardinals. Following a solid rookie season, Cawley has been promoted to the Batavia Muckdogs (Short-Season A) of the New York-Penn League. The Muckdogs had their season opener on June 19th. Cawley has played in one game as the DH, going 0-for-2 with a stolen base.
Rigoli was also selected by the Saint Louis Cardinals in the 21st round of the 2008 MLB draft. Also following Arburr's footsteps and playing with Cawley, Rigoli made his pro debut with the Johnson City Cardinals. Johnson City is opening their season on June 23rd.
Qualben was originally selected by the Houston Astros in the 7th round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft. Along with Hallberg, Qualben made his pro debut with the Tri-City ValleyCats. He then pitched for the Lexington Legends in 2007 and split time between the Salem Avalanche and Legends in 2008. This season, Qualben has signed with the New Jersey Jackals of the CanAm League. In four games (three starts), Qualben has a 1-2 record with a 2.60 ERA, posting 12 strikeouts in 17.1 innings of work.
http://www.howesportsdata.com/howesportsdata/stats/baseball/history/2009/66367.txt
Oakes was originally selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 24th round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft. Oakes made his pro debut with the Vancouver Canadians (Short-Season A) of the Northwest League. He then split time in 2007 between the Canadians and the Stockton Ports (Class A-Advanced) of the California League. In 2008, Oakes began the season with the Kane County Cougars (Class A) of the Midwest League before being released. He finished the season with the Midwest Sliders of the independent Frontier League. Oakes continues his second season with the Sliders in 2009. So far this year, Oakes has made 12 relief appearances posting a 0-1 record with a team leading four saves. He has an 8.74 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 11.1 innings of work.
http://www.howesportsdata.com/howesportsdata/stats/baseball/history/2009/54665.txt
Reilly was originally selected by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 27th round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft. Reilly made his pro debut with the Arizona League Angels (Rookie). For the 2007 season, Reilly signed on with the Brockton Rox of the independent CanAm League. In 2008, Reilly played for the Fort Worth Cats of the independent American Association. Reilly continues in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, as he began the season with Sioux Falls Canaries before being claimed off waivers by the Lincoln Saltdogs. Reilly made 12 relief appearances for the Canaries, posting a 1-0 record with a 7.15 ERA. So far for the Saltdogs, Reilly has made four appearances allowing four runs in three innings of work.
http://www.howesportsdata.com/howesportsdata/stats/baseball/history/2009/56476.txt
Liscinsky is the latest former Setter to continue his playing career in independent baseball when he signed with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League on June 17th. Liscinsky has played in five games so far for the Otters and has two runs batted in.
http://www.howesportsdata.com/howesportsdata/stats/baseball/history/2009/54146.txt
Granitto is also continuing his career in the independent route playing for the New Jersey Jackals along with former Setter David Qualben. Granitto has made five appearances (one start) for the Jackals and has a 6.97 ERA.
http://www.howesportsdata.com/howesportsdata/stats/baseball/history/2009/66374.txt
