Bryan-College Station, TX (February 21, 2007) – The Brazos Valley Bombers announced today the addition of two more players to the team’s roster for the 2007 season. University of the Pacific pitcher Hunter Carnevale and Notre Dame center fielder Michael Wright, both freshmen, have signed to play with the Bombers this summer.
Despite being a freshman, Carnevale has quickly established himself with the Tigers pitching staff. After a season-opening relief appearance, he has settled in as a strong weekend starter for head coach Ed Sprague. The righthander sports a 2-1 record with 11 strikeouts in 16.1 innings pitched, leading the Pacific staff in wins and K’s. His 2.20 ERA is tops among Tigers starters and is tied for seventh-best in the Big West Conference.
Carnevale’s best start of the young season may have been his first, a February 4 outing against Cal State University-Northridge. Carnevale delivered six innings of shutout ball, giving up just four hits, walking none, and striking out four, leading the Tigers to a 12-0 whitewash. He’ll need to summon a similar performance this weekend, when Pacific makes a cross-country trip to face #2 Clemson.
As a prep player with Granite Bay (Calif.) High School, Carnevale established not only his dominance but his versatility. He served as the team’s closer as a junior, putting up a perfect 0.00 ERA while striking out nearly two batters per inning. A year later he anchored the team’s starting rotation, garnering a 7-3 record with a 1.70 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 50 innings.
Wright has made a name for himself with the Fighting Irish as well, making some history in the process. In Notre Dame’s season-opening win against Prairie View A&M on February 17, Wright capped a four-run second inning with a solo home run to right field. He joined teammate A.J. Pollock, who also homered in the second, as the only freshmen in Notre Dame baseball history to register a home run in their first official college at-bats. The freshman capped his historic performance by going 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored. After just three games with the Irish, Wright is hitting .286 with a .500 on-base percentage, and he is tied for the team lead with three runs.
After Wright’s prep success, it should come as no surprise that he would have an immediate impact. As a senior at Lockhart (Texas) High School, Wright batted .500 with an .818 slugging percentage on his way to being named district MVP and honorable mention all-state. That success was built upon a junior year that saw him hit .508 with a .597 on-base percentage and 16 stolen bases from the leadoff spot. He also participated in the 2006 Austin Area All-Star Game and the 2005 Perfect Game South Top Prospect Showcase, where he was named to the top prospect list.
The Bombers are members of the nine-team Texas Collegiate League, one of the nation’s premier summer collegiate circuits. Teams like the Bombers bring minor league baseball-style entertainment to communities throughout the country, giving some of the best college players a chance to further their careers in wood bat leagues in front of Major League scouts. The Bombers begin their 48-game inaugural season on June 5 against the Coppell Copperheads. The team’s historic home opener will take place on June 8 when the Bombers welcome the Duncanville Deputies to Travis Field. For more information and to purchase ticket packages, visit the Bombers’ official web site at www.bvbombers.com.