April 21, 2006
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Indians announced on Friday morning that the club had recalled right-handed pitcher Brian Slocum from its Triple-A farm club, the Buffalo Bison. Slocum, a standout pitcher for the Wildcats from 2000-02, becomes the 54th former Villanova player to reach the major leagues, and just the sixth player since 1990.
Slocum is in his fourth professional season after being drafted in the second round by the Indians in the 2002 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Converted to the bullpen at the end of the 2005 season, he began this season in Triple-A and had a 1.93 ERA and one save over 9.1 innings in five appearances for the Bison. Opposing hitters were batting just .156 against him and he was tied for second on the team with 11 strikeouts.
During his collegiate career, Slocum appeared in 27 games with 25 starts for the Wildcats. He compiled a career record of 10-7 with a 3.28 ERA in 156.1 innings. He allowed only 135 hits in those innings and struck out 57 while walking 78. In his junior season, he went 4-2 with a 3.41 ERA in 12 appearances and owned a 28-to-65 walk-to-strikeout ratio. He also made 11 starts with four complete games as a freshman in 2000 and was 4-4 with a 2.62 ERA in 75.2 innings. Slocum earned Freshman All-America honors from Baseball America and Louisville Slugger in 2002, and was named to the Big East All-Rookie team.
Slocum has steadily progressed through the Cleveland minor-league system since signing with the team on June 21, 2002. He began his pro career with Mahoning Valley that summer and moved to Kinston in the Carolina League the next year. He spent two seasons at Kinston and led the Carolina League in victories with 15 in 2004. Slocum enjoyed a successful season at Double-A Akron in 2005 and then pitched to a 0.75 ERA in 12 innings during the Eastern League playoffs. He pitched in the prestigious Arizona Fall League following the season and was 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA in 11 relief outings, allowing opponents just a .192 batting average in 20.0 innings.
Slocum's ascent to the major leagues began during this past off season, as the Indians added him to the 40-man roster in December. This spring, Slocum appeared in three games and pitched 3.0 innings in major league exhibition games, allowing one run and two hits while walking five and striking out four.
Slocum becomes the 54th former Villanova player to reach the major leagues, and just the sixth player since 1990. He is the first Villanovan in the major leagues since Mike Porzio appeared for the Chicago White Sox in 2003. Porzio made three starts for the White Sox that season, going 1-1 with a 6.43 ERA and pitching in his final game on July 26. He spent the 2005 season pitching in the Atlanta Braves organization.
NOTES: The Indians recalled Slocum on Friday when they placed Rafael Betancourt on the disabled list ... Slocum will wear #54 with the parent club ... He was in uniform on Friday night, but did not pitch as Cleveland defeated the Kansas City Royals 6-5 ... The other former Villanova players to play in the major leagues since 1990 are Rafael Novoa (San Francisco Giants, 1990 and Milwaukee Brewers ,1993), Gary Scott (Chicago Cubs, 1991-92), Gene Schall (Philadelphia Phillies, 1995-96), Mike Neill (Oakland Athletics, 1998) and Porzio (Colorado Rockies, 1999 and Chicago White Sox, 2002-03) ... Slocum is the first Villanova player in the major leagues who played for current head coach Joe Godri.
