FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                              Media Contact: Jon Versteeg
April 29, 2008                                                                                        815-774-2881

                                                                        jversteeg@jackhammerbaseball.com

 

FORMER JACKHAMMERS SHINE IN AFFILIATED BALL

                                                                   Lockport Native Byrdak Headlines the List of JackHammers Playing With Major League Organizations

JOLIET-The Northern League of Professional Baseball exists to help players reach their goal of playing Major League Baseball. At the start of April, five former JackHammers began playing in major league organizations. Lockport resident and former JackHammer (2003) Tim Byrdak is currently pitching in relief for the Houston Astros. He is joined by Brian Mazone (2002-2004) in the Phillies organization (Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, Triple A); Justin Fiske (2007) in the Cardinals system (Quad Cities River Bandits, Low A); Derell McCall (2006) in the Marlins organization (Jupiter Hammerheads, High A); and Dennis Blackmon, Jr. (2006-2007) with the Red Sox (Lancaster JetHawks, High A). The JackHammers 2008 home schedule begins on Friday, May 23 at 7:05 p.m. with Harris Bank Opening night against the Winnipeg Goldeyes at Silver Cross Field.

 

Byrdak began his career in professional baseball as a fifth round draft pick of Kansas City in 1994. He had already logged major league time with the Royals (1998-2000) when he signed by play in Joliet in 2003. After spending parts of the last three seasons with Baltimore (2005-2006) and Detroit (2007), Byrdak signed a minor league deal with Houston on April 3. He pitched in seven games with AAA Round Rock before the Astros purchased his contract on April 20. Through Monday, he has pitched in three games for the Houston, logging a 0-0 record with an E.R.A. of 0.00.

 

Mazone is currently in AAA with the Phillies after finishing the 2007 season with the Samsung Lions of the Korean League. He started 2007 with AAA Ottawa before heading to Korea in mid-May. He is currently at Lehigh Valley (PA) in the International League with a 2-3 record and an E.R.A. of 3.09.

 

McCall is starting his second season in the Marlins system after a 2006 season in Joliet where he revived his career with a 6-5 record and a 3.94 E.R.A. in 32 appearances. He is working as a starting pitcher with high A Jupiter of the Florida State League. He has a 1-1 record and a 2.96 E.R.A. in five starts.

 

Fiske began his professional career by signing with the JackHammers on June 20, 2007 after completing his college career at Texas State University (Division I, San Marcos, TX). He pitched in four games with Joliet before St. Louis purchased his contract on July 4. He finished 2007 with short-season A Batavia (NY) in the New York-Penn. League. Fiske is 0-0 with a 4.15 ERA in seven appearances with the Quad Cities River Bandits (Moline, IL).

 

Blackmon, Jr. began his career as a catcher with the JackHammers in 2006. He signed out of Division II Barton College in North Carolina and won the starting catcher’s job early in the 2006 season. After a wrist injury forced him to end his rookie campaign that August, Blackmon, Jr. rebounded and hit .289 with nine home runs and 40 RBI to become a Northern League All-Star in 2007. The Red Sox purchased his contract on October 26, 2007. He is currently hitting .344 with one home run and seven RBI in nine games played with Lancaster (A) of the California League.

 

The JackHammers currently have full season seats, mini-plan packages, group outings and individual tickets on sale.  To invest in tickets, or for more information, please contact the JackHammers Ticket Department TODAY at 815.726.2255 (BALL), stop by the Silver Cross Field Box Office during normal business hours or visit the JackHammers website at www.jackhammerbaseball.com.

 

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