Bucknell University Athletics
Pair of Former Bison to Square Off in New York-Penn League Opener Tonight
6/17/2008 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 17, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Two former Bucknell baseball standouts, Kyle Walter and Jason Buursma, who were teammates as members of the Bison squad, will meet again--this time as opponents--when the short season single-A New York-Penn League opens its schedule tonight, Tuesday, June 17. Walter is entering his second season as a member of the Auburn Doubledays, an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, while Buursma, who was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the Major League Baseball Draft less than two weeks ago, will begin his professional career on the Batavia Muckdogs' roster. Batavia and Auburn play at 7:05 this evening in Auburn, the first of three straight contests between the clubs.
Walter was taken in the 18th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. The four-time All-Patriot League honoree spent the majority of his career with the Bison as the team's centerfielder, but was drafted by the Blue Jays as a pitcher with the 540th overall pick and started his professional career with the Pulaski Blue Jays of the rookie level Appalachian League.
After making one start for Pulaski in 2007, Walter was promoted to the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League. With the Doubledays, Walter started 15 games for a total of 63 innings. He was 1-5 with a 6.00 ERA and recorded 49 strikeouts, helping Auburn capture the 2007 New York-Penn League championship.
One of the top two-way players in Bison history, Buursma was drafted in the 25th round by the Cardinals as a pitcher with the 755th overall pick. Buursma enjoyed his finest season of his Bucknell career this spring as a senior. On the mound, he broke the program wins record with a 9-3 mark and posted a 2.58 earned-run average in 83.2 innings. He totaled just 10 walks and 78 strikeouts, while opposing hitters batted only .226 against him. He also hit a team-best .367 with 58 hits, 37 runs scored, seven doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 37 RBI and a slugging percentage of .671.
Buursma set a new Patriot League record for career ERA, finishing with a 2.13 in 181.2 innings of work. This spring, he broke the school record for home runs against Lehigh on Apr. 27 when he hit his 22nd of his career. After four years with the Orange and Blue, Buursma etched his name into the program's single season top-10 lists 14 times and appears on 17 of Bucknell's career top-10 lists. In the League's record book, Buursma ranks in the top-10 for five single season categories and three career categories.
In addition to being the only five-time All-Patriot League selection in school history, Buursma was tabbed an All-American by three different organizations this spring, was named a First Team Academic All-American, the NCBWA District I Player of the Year, the Patriot League Player of the Year and the Patriot League Tournament MVP.
Two more former Bison who are currently playing professionally are already well into their respective seasons as 1999 graduate Eric Junge is with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball and 2004 graduate Matt Daley is enjoying a highly successful campaign as a member of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the Triple-A Affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.
Daley has the chance to become an all-star this season as he is on the ballot to represent the Pacific Coast League against the top players from the International League in the Triple-A All-Star Game on July 16 in Louisville, Ky. To vote for Daley, click here and proceed to the Pacific Coast League Ballot where Daley is listed in the Relief Pitcher section. Votes may be cast up to 25 times a day between now and June 27.
