Press Release: For Immediate Use
For Further Information: Katy Ebersole (252) 482-4080
Monday, March 8, 2010
Edenton Steamers To Be Stout Behind the Plate
Edenton, NC – The Edenton Steamers announced today the signing of three players for 2010, all of whom have a catching background – Ian Tomkins, Ryan McChesney, and Tyler Hastings. All currently play for NCAA Division II institutions, two in the state of Florida. While pitching, specifically starting pitching, may be the most important component to consistent baseball success, catching should be revered as the backbone of the position player group. Their role on defense sets the tone on that side of the ball and also coincides with the overall success of the pitching staff.
Tomkins is a junior from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, where the Wildcats are the class of the Lone Star Conference and annual Division II World Series contenders. They are currently off to a 17-2 start and ranked in the Top 10 in the country. He is a transfer from Wake Forest University – Winston-Salem, North Carolina – from the renowned Atlantic Coast Conference, where he served as the backup catcher during his two underclass seasons. The Wilmette, Illinois native is 6’3”, 210 lbs., and bats/throws right-handed.
He shined last summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League for the Newport (Rhode Island) Gulls. Despite some high strikeout totals, Tomkins fashioned a .304 batting average and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .746; perhaps most impressively, though, he gunned down 40% of opposing base stealers.
Tomkins is the #1 catcher for Abilene this spring and has enjoyed a successful start at the plate with his new program. Through 10 games played, he is hitting .395 with 3 doubles, 2 homers, and only 4 strikeouts in 38 at bats.
2010 Steamers Head Coach, Marty Smith, exclaimed this when asked about Tomkins:
“Ian has all the ingredients you look for in a high-level summer collegiate backstop: he’s big and strong, can throw, has a chance to provide above average offense from his position, and is a confident, experienced player that can lead.”
McChesney is a sophomore at Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech), where he is a teammate of Randall Thompson (2009-2010 Steamer), and competes in the Sunshine State Conference. The Panthers #1 catcher and cleanup hitter stands 6’0”, 205 lbs., and comes from Lehigh Acres, Florida. He bats left-handed, throws right, and is also a pitcher, giving Edenton its first catcher/pitcher hybrid since Adam Honeycutt (2006-2007). Last spring he put together an impressive freshman campaign, playing mostly third base, when he led the team in hitting (.363), while also pounding out 14 doubles, 7 homers, and controlled the zone to the tune of 14 walks versus only 25 strikeouts. He coupled that with 10 innings in relief, tying for the team lead in saves (2), and permitting only 10 base runners for a WHIP of 1.00 even.
The dual threat slugger continued his development last summer in the Prospect League (covering various Midwest states) for the Butler (Indiana) Blue Sox. Concentrating, defensively, on catcher as a precursor to his 2010 role, McChesney posted impressive secondary production with 9 doubles, 4 homers (tied for the team lead with to-be announced 2010 Steamer, Brian Billigen), and 30 bases on balls. He also threw 4 innings in relief, fanning 4, and allowing only 3 hits.
So far this spring, he has settled into his new role, providing Tech a lot of value. Recently he earned a win in his only appearance on the mound, a sterling 6-inning pitching effort. And as a position player, hitting in the middle of the order and catching, he has 16 RBI in 16 games with a .948 OPS, is tied for the team lead with 3 home runs (also boasts 4 doubles), with 11 walks, 11 hit by pitches, and 14 strikeouts in 49 at bats. Defensively, he’s played error-free with only two passed balls to this point behind the plate.
“Ryan is such a rare piece to have for summer ball. Here’s a guy that’s only a sophomore, that we project can pitch, catch, and hit at our level. He’s another sturdily-built, strong-armed receiver, that hits from the left side, and can impact the lineup due to his power and ability to take a walk and get on base. The pitching component is a bonus because there are often times in the summer when you require some competitive innings outside the normal rotation of arms due to late arrivals, injuries, early departures, and scheduling quirks.”
Hastings is in his junior year of eligibility at the University of West Florida, a member of the Gulf South Athletic Conference. He has endured a bit of a slow start to 2010 and is currently nursing a mild sprain to his medial collateral ligament, which has landed him on the shelf. The Argos coaching staff, as well as those for Edenton, expects the 5’9” 180 lb. defensive specialist to be back in action soon, and fully recovered by May for the Coastal Plain League schedule. Hailing from Valparaiso, Florida, he is coming off a sophomore campaign in 2009 when he took a nice step forward, offensively, enjoying a .363 batting average, 11 doubles, and 18 walks to 12 strikeouts. He led the team in hitting, tied for the most doubles, and was one of only two regulars to walk more than he fanned. He also threw out an astounding 50% (20-40) of opponents trying to steal off him, easily one of the best figures in the country at any level.
Last summer, Hastings gained some good wood bat experience in the Ban Johnson League for Park City. There he hit .278 with a .725 OPS and walked as much as he struck out (6 apiece).
“Tyler is more reminiscent of the smaller, quicker receivers we’ve had in Edenton the past two summers. He’s smooth and compact back there, enabling him to move around well on balls in the dirt, as well as getting his throws out. But what distinguishes him from most other smaller college catchers, is that he combines that athleticism with a plus, accurate arm, leading to his 50% caught stealing figure last spring. And with the strides he made last year at the plate, we’re hoping he gets healthy quick and back on track.”
The Edenton coach finished with these words:
“Ian, Ryan, and Tyler should get us back to the level of catching that we’re accustomed to with the Steamers, following a bit of a down year in 2009. We boast perhaps the best tradition in the league at this spot going back to Thomas Berkery, Adam Witter, Dennis Blackmon, Jeff Kunkel, Bucky Strickland, Will Greenberg, and Ty Boyles. All of these names were either CPL All-Stars, made it to pro ball, or both. It’s just such an advantage to be strong at catcher. The CPL is a track league and you have to be able to stop the run to do well.”