Former Corban baseball player Rich Dorman could be the first Warrior ever to be promoted to the Major League this weekend. (Photo courtesy of Tacoma Rainiers)
Corban Spotlight: Warriors in the Pros
SALEM, Ore. – In the first-ever installment of Spotlight: Warriors in the Pros, Corban's Sports Information office, in conjunction with the athletic department, will take a look at the 2008 season so-far for former baseball players Rich Dorman (Medford, Ore.) and Jamie McGraw (Gaston, Ore.).
Since the reinstatement of baseball to a full-fledged intercollegiate sport at then-Western Baptist in 1988, only three players have been taken in the annual MLB first-year player draft.
Dorman, a 13th round selection of Tampa Bay in 2000, was the first of the trio before former Warriors Brian Nelson (2006) and McGraw (2008) were taken by the Texas Rangers in the 35th and 40th rounds, respectively, of their year's draft.
At the beginning of the '08 season, Dorman was signed as a free agent by the Seattle Mariners and then assigned to the Mariners' Double-A affiliate, the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.
In 14 games with the Diamond Jaxx, Dorman accumulated a win-loss record of 7-2 in 89.1 innings pitched. The right-hander struck out 79 batters, while registering an Earned Run Average (ERA) of 2.62 to rank in the top five in the Southern League. Following a 4-1 victory against Chattanooga on May 22nd, Dorman was named Southern League Pitcher of the Week after registering 10 K's.
After a spectacular opening portion of the season in Tennessee, Dorman was promoted to the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers. In two games so far with the Rainiers, Dorman is a perfect 2-0 with an ERA of 1.45. In 18.2 innings of work, Dorman has amassed 15 strikeouts compared to a mere three base-on-balls.
According to RotoWorld.com, Dorman would probably be the choice to join the Mariners if the team opted to make another change to its rotation in the near future after starting pitcher Felix Hernandez was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 1st.
Meanwhile, McGraw is in the midst of his first season of professional baseball after being taken in last month's draft.
The former Warrior lead-off hitter and starting center fielder has appeared in four games with the Arizona League Rangers and has registered a batting average of .273.
In McGraw's first-ever professional game, the fleet-footed outfielder went 2-for-3 before struggling through an 0-for-6 slump. Earlier today, McGraw broke out of his "funk" going 1-for-2 with a pair of runs scored and two walks en route to helping the AZL Rangers to a 8-1 victory over the AZL Athletics. Currently, McGraw is 3-for-11 at the plate with four runs scored, five walks, and two stolen bases.
To follow each players season, visit www.milb.com. Using the 'Player Search' option at the top of the page, type in their last name and click 'Go.'