Former Spartans Enjoy Professional Success
10/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Spartanburg, S.C. – Seven former USC Upstate baseball Spartans continue to enjoy success following their collegiate careers, as Matt Branham, Scott DeCecco, Brandon Lee, Gaither Bumgardner, Brody Greer, Chad Sobotka and David Roseboom all recently completed strong seasons in professional baseball.
Branham recently finished his fifth year in the San Diego Padres organization, playing the majority of the 2014 season with the AA San Antonio Missions of the Texas League. Branham was tied for fourth on the team with five wins and 74 strikeouts to go along with a 4.02 earned run average in 87.1 innings pitched.
DeCecco was a member of the High Desert Mavericks (Seattle Mariners organization) of the California League in 2014 and led the team with seven wins and 140.0 innings pitched. DeCecco also ranked third on the team with 97 strikeouts and ended the year with a 5.46 earned run average.
Playing with the State College Spikes in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, Lee was tied for third on the team with four wins with a 2.49 earned run average in 25.1 innings pitched. Additionally, Lee struck out 24 batters, walked only eight and surrendered just one home run all season.
Bumgardner completed his second year in the New York Mets organization, playing last season with the Brooklyn Cyclones of the New York-Pennsylvania League. In 31.1 innings pitcher, Bumgardner featured a 2.30 earned run average to go along with 27 strikeouts and two saves.
Greer played for the Missoula Osprey (Arizona Diamondbacks organization) of the Pioneer League in 2014 and served as the team's primary closer. He finished the season with a team-high 10 saves to go along with 37 strikeouts in 27.1 innings pitched.
After being drafted by the New York Mets last June, Roseboom put together a stellar first season in the pros playing for the Kingsport Mets of the Appalachian League. Roseboom was second on the team with 16 appearances and sixth on the team with 30 strikeouts in 22.2 innings on the hill. He was also second on the club with four saves to go along with a 1.59 earned run average.
Sobotka recently returned from a back injury that sidelined him last season for his final season at Upstate. He is completely healthy and just finished working in an instructional league within the Atlanta Braves organization.
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