When Major League Baseball spring training officially commences next month, five former Georgia Southern Eagles will report to their respective parent clubs’ camp.
Four of those players are Rodney Hennon products, including outfielder Chris Walker (Chicago Cubs), relief pitchers Brian Rogers (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Dennis Dove (St. Louis Cardinals), and catcher Flint Wipke (Anaheim Angels). It will be the first major-league spring training for all four players. The fifth former Eagle headed to MLB camp is catcher Todd Greene (San Diego Padres), who played under former coach Jack Stallings.
“Anytime you hear news like that you are excited,” said Hennon, who is entering his eighth season at the helm. “Those guys have done a great job, and for them to have a chance to go to big-league camp is very exciting. We are obviously very proud of them.”
Walker spent last season with the Cubs’ Double-A affiliate, the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, where he hit .292 with 50 stolen bases in 131 games. The centerfielder, who received his invitation to big-league camp in mid-January, scored 70 runs and recorded 35 RBI. Cubs officials told Walker he’d be competing for a spot in the outfield. Chicago drafted Walker in 2002.
Rogers is vying for one of three open spots in the Pirates’ bullpen. Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2003, Rogers went to the Pirates at the trade deadline last year and spent the final month of the season with Pittsburgh. He threw 8.2 innings in 10 relief appearances and posted a 7/2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Dove finished the 2006 season with the Springfield Cardinals, the Double-A affiliate of World Series champion St. Louis. Drafted by the Cardinals in 2003, St. Louis added Dove to its 40-man roster in November 2006 to avoid losing him in the Rule 5 draft. He spent most of last season at advanced A Palm Beach where he was 3-3 with four saves and a 2.81 ERA in 41 games.
Wipke, taken in 2005 by the Angels, batted .236, scored 45 runs and drove in 34 with the Class-A Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2006. He also recorded 18 doubles, eight triples and six home runs.
Greene recently signed a minor-league deal with the Padres. An 11-year MLB veteran, Greene batted .289 in 61 games with the San Francisco Giants last year.
Alex Pellegrino can be reached at (912) 489-9413.
Four of those players are Rodney Hennon products, including outfielder Chris Walker (Chicago Cubs), relief pitchers Brian Rogers (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Dennis Dove (St. Louis Cardinals), and catcher Flint Wipke (Anaheim Angels). It will be the first major-league spring training for all four players. The fifth former Eagle headed to MLB camp is catcher Todd Greene (San Diego Padres), who played under former coach Jack Stallings.
“Anytime you hear news like that you are excited,” said Hennon, who is entering his eighth season at the helm. “Those guys have done a great job, and for them to have a chance to go to big-league camp is very exciting. We are obviously very proud of them.”
Walker spent last season with the Cubs’ Double-A affiliate, the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, where he hit .292 with 50 stolen bases in 131 games. The centerfielder, who received his invitation to big-league camp in mid-January, scored 70 runs and recorded 35 RBI. Cubs officials told Walker he’d be competing for a spot in the outfield. Chicago drafted Walker in 2002.
Rogers is vying for one of three open spots in the Pirates’ bullpen. Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2003, Rogers went to the Pirates at the trade deadline last year and spent the final month of the season with Pittsburgh. He threw 8.2 innings in 10 relief appearances and posted a 7/2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Dove finished the 2006 season with the Springfield Cardinals, the Double-A affiliate of World Series champion St. Louis. Drafted by the Cardinals in 2003, St. Louis added Dove to its 40-man roster in November 2006 to avoid losing him in the Rule 5 draft. He spent most of last season at advanced A Palm Beach where he was 3-3 with four saves and a 2.81 ERA in 41 games.
Wipke, taken in 2005 by the Angels, batted .236, scored 45 runs and drove in 34 with the Class-A Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2006. He also recorded 18 doubles, eight triples and six home runs.
Greene recently signed a minor-league deal with the Padres. An 11-year MLB veteran, Greene batted .289 in 61 games with the San Francisco Giants last year.
Alex Pellegrino can be reached at (912) 489-9413.
