July 5, 2009

Lineup Card

Lineup Card is a new feature on CollegeBaseballInsider.com, highlighting notes from around college baseball.

July 1-5, 2009

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee head coach Scott Doffek has signed a new three-year contract. He just completed his third season with the Panthers. Doffek was named Horizon League Coach of the Year in 2009 after leading UWM to a second-place finish.

Six players from Kent State have signed professional contracts: Brad Stillings (left) with the Minnesota Twins, Jon Pokorny with the Milwaukee Brewers, Greg Rohan with the Chicago Cubs, Kyle Smith with the Cleveland Indians, Chris Tremblay with the San Diego Padres and Jason Patton with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Arkansas left-hander Stephen Richards has signed a contract with the Florida Marlins. Richards will join the Jamestown Jammers of the New York-Penn League. The Razorback closer had nine saves this season and 13 career saves. Richards fanned 52 in 2009 and 108 in his career.

Two Florida Atlantic pitchers have signed professional contracts. Chris Schmitt signed with the Baltimore Orioles and will report to their Gulf Coast League team. Schmitt spent two seasons with the Owls and made 29 relief appearances in 2009. Brandon Kloess pitched with an independent last summer before signing with the Chicago White Sox. He is with the Rookie League squad in Great Falls, Montana. Kloess was 8-2 at FAU as a sophomore in 2005 with 48 strikeouts in 58 innings.

Wake Forest right-hander Phil Negus has signed with the Chicago White Sox. He was drafted in the 18th round of the 2009 MLB draft. Negus is playing with the Bristol White Sox. He fanned 40 in 56.2 innings in 2009 for the Demon Deacons.

Seven UCLA players have signed professional contracts. Charles Brewer, 12th-round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks, will pitch for the Missoula Osprey in the Pioneer League. Gavin Brooks, a ninth-round selection of the New York Yankees, will hurl for the Staten Island Yankees in the New York-Penn League. Gabe Cohen, a 29th-round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays, will join the Hudson Valley Renegades of the New York-Penn League. Cody Decker, a 22nd-round selection of San Diego Padres, will play for the Arizona League Padres. Casey Haerther was a fifth-round choice of the Los Angeles Angels. Brendan Lafferty, an 18th-round pick of the Kansas City Royals, will go to the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Pioneer League. Jason Novak, a 48th-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, will pitch for the Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League.

Louisville third baseman Chris Dominguez, a third-round pick of San Francisco, has signed with the Giants. A native of Miami, Fla., Dominguez is currently with San Francisco’s rookie team in Arizona and is expected to go soon to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, the Giants’ Class A Short-Season affiliate in the Northwest League.

Louisville shortstop John Dao has signed a free agent contract with the Cincinnati Reds. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Dao is a member of the Billings Mustangs, the Reds’ Class A affiliate in the Pioneer League.

Tulane alum Jake Gautreau has been named an assistant coach at his alma mater. A third baseman for the Green Wave from 1999-2001, Gautreau will work with the infielders and assist with the hitters. He will also coach first base.

West Virginia right-hander Billy Gross has signed a free-agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He was 9-4 this past season with a 4.23 ERA. Gross fanned 58 in 87.1 innings with four complete games.

Kentucky pitcher Chris Rusin has signed with the Chicago Cubs. A fourth-round selection in the MLB draft, Rusin was 7-4 in 2009 with a 4.20 ERA. He authored four complete games. He will start with the Mesa Cubs.

(photo courtesy of Kent State Media Relations Office)