Princeton In The Pros

A number of Princeton baseball players have gone on to professional careers after their time with the Tigers. That number has climbed in recent years as last season eight different players competed professionally, including, Chris Young '02, who made his Major League debut last August.

Chris Young starts 2005 as Texas' third starter.

Young started the season in a new organization, as he was traded from the Montreal Expos to the Texas Rangers in the off-season. He began the summer at Class AA Frisco and after a 6-5 record in 18 games in which he struck out 75, he was called up to Class AAA Oklahoma. He played in five games there and had a 3-0 record and a 1.48 ERA in 30.1 innings if work, which earned him the call up to Texas in late August. He made his Major League debut on August 25 against the Minnesota Twins. Young pitched 5.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits in the no-decision. Two starts later, he earned his first career win when his team topped eventual World Series champion Boston. Young finished the year 3-2 with a 4.71 ERA in seven starts. He pitched 36.1 innings and struck out 27 batters.

Young became the 23rd Princetonian to appear in a Major League Baseball game, which leads to an obvious question. With several more alumni playing minor league ball, who will become the 24th Princeton player to reach the Major Leagues.

Thomas Pauly '05 spent the entire 2004 season playing High A ball for the Potomac Cannons in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Pauly was a mid-second round pick in the 2003 draft and had an 8-7 record in Potomac. He pitched 121.1 innings and had an ERA of 2.97. He struck out 135 batters to just 26 walks. During the offseason he was named the Reds Minor League Pitcher of the Year and will likely move to Class AA ball in 2005.

When Pauly was selected, he had the distinction of being the highest Tiger ever chosen in the draft, but that distinction was taken away from him in 2004 when the Reds chose B.J. Szymanski '05 three spots earlier in the second round. After signing in June, Szymanski was assigned to Rookie League ball in Billings, Mont. In 22 games, he hit .259 with 17 RBIs. Nine of his 21 hits were for extra bases.

Ross Ohlendorf was chosen in the fourth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in last year's draft and he was assigned to short season A ball in Yakima, Wash. He made seven appearances there, with a 2-3 record and a 2.79 ERA in 29 innings pitched.

Tim Lahey who caught as a Tiger, is now a pitcher in the Twins organization.

Tim Lahey '04 and Steve Young '04 were also drafted last season and went on to play in the Minor Leagues. Lahey was chosen by Minnesota in the 20th round and played Rookie League ball for the Elizabethton Twins. In 26 games, he hit .202 with 11 RBIs and three home runs. Young was chosen in the 16th round by the Detroit Tigers and played a full season for the Tigers' Gulf Coast League team. In 42 games, he hit .281 and averaged over a hit per game. His 55 total bases was fourth on the team and he also led the team in on-base percentage.

Scott Hindman '03 and Pat Boran '02 battled through injuries in the 2004 season. Hindman, playing for the Anaheim Angels Class A affiliate in Cedar Rapids, got off to a strong start as a left-handed arm in the bullpen. He made 27 appearances for 34.2 innings and had a 1-1 record with a 6.75 ERA. Hindman was forced to retire in the offseason due to injury. Boran started the season in A ball in Sarasota for the Red Sox and played in 41 games, hitting .221 with 32 hits and 15 RBIs before being injured. He played seven games in Gulf Coast League later in the summer.

Princeton Baseball's 2005 Roster of Professionals
Pat Boran - Somerset Patriots - Atlantic League (Independent) - 2005 Stats
Tim Lahey - Elizabethton Twins (Rookie Affiliate of Minnesota) - 2005 Stats
Worth Lumry - ASL Mariners (Rookie Affiliate of Seattle) - 2005 Stats
Thomas Pauly - Out for the season following shoulder surgery (Cincinnati)
Ross Ohlendorf - South Bend Silver Hawks (A Affiliate of Arizona) - 2005 Stats
B.J. Szymanski - Dayton Dragons (A Affiliate of Cincinnati) - 2005 Stats
Will Venable - ASL Padres (Rookie Affiliate of San Diego) - 2005 Stats
Chris Young - Texas Rangers - 2005 Stats
Steve Young - West Michigan Whitecaps (A Affiliate of Detroit) - 2005 Stats

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