Former Panthers Find Success at Professional Level
9/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sept. 2, 2008
PITTSBURGH – Four former University of Pittsburgh baseball players have found success during the 2008 season. Ben Copeland, Jim Negrych and Kyle Landis have all received an in-season promotion after producing early on while Paul Nardozzi continues to lead West Michigan Whitecaps’ bullpen.
Ben Copeland started the 2008 season with the Connecticut Defenders (AA) before being called up to San Francisco’s Triple-A affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies. In 21 games as the Fresno right-fielder, Copeland is batting .337 with a .415 on-base percentage. In 103 games with the Defenders, Copeland tallied 35 extra-base hits and 42 RBI.
Since joining the Altoona Curve (AA), Jim Negrych has picked up where he left off while playing for the Lynchburg Hilcats in the Class-A Carolina League. Negrych led the Carolina League in batting average (.370), hits (143), doubles (36), on-base percentage (.448) and runs scored (77). In the past 10 games with Pittsburgh’s Double-A affiliate as the starting third baseman, Negrych is batting .394 with five RBI, five runs scored and three walks.
Pitcher Paul Nardozzi is red-hot as of recent with the Single-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Primarily a relief pitcher, Nardozzi has compiled a 5-5 record with a 3.95 ERA in 93.1 innings pitched, striking out 76 batters for the West Michigan Whitecaps. In his last 10 appearances, he has a perfect 2-0 record with a 1.64 ERA in 22.0 innings of work. Also in that span, he has struck out 19 batters while walking just seven.
Kyle Landis started the 2008 season with the Cleveland Indians Single-A affiliate, the Lake County Captains. While pitching for the Captains, Landis carded a 2-1 record with a 1.97 ERA in 59.1 innings of relief. He struck out 73 batters while holding opponents to a meager .218 batting average. Since moving on to the Kinston Indians, Landis has totaled 9.1 innings of work, striking out eight.
