Bucknell University Athletics
Update on Bucknell Baseball Alumni Playing Professionally
7/1/2010 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
July 1, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Four former Bucknell baseball players are currently on the roster of a Major League Baseball team or a Minor League Baseball squad. Below are brief updates on each of the quartet of former Bison.
Jason Buursma '08
Team: Springfield Cardinals (Double-A Texas League)
Buursma started the 2010 season with the Palm Beach Cardinals in the Florida State League, but was quickly promoted to Springfield after going 1-0 with a 2.51 ERA in seven relief appearances. The sidearmer has been just as effective with Springfield, posting a 2-0 mark with a 2.93 ERA in 30.2 innings over 13 appearances.
Springfield is currently 39-36 on the season and is in second place in its division in the Texas League.
Buursma, who was drafted in the 25th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, recently did not allow a run for five consecutive appearances, logging at least two innings in four of those five outings.
At Bucknell, Buursma was a five-time All-Patriot League player who set the Patriot League record for career ERA. He also held the Bison career home run mark (24) until it was broken by Andrew Brouse and Doug Shribman this past spring.
Matt Daley '04
Team: Colorado Rockies (National League)
Daley, Bucknell's only current Major Leaguer, is currently on the disabled list with the Colorado Rockies due to shoulder inflammation. He was placed on the DL on June 16, retroactive to June 11. In his second year with Colorado, Daley is 0-1 with a 3.74 ERA in 26 relief appearances this season. He has yielded just 24 hits and three walks in 21.2 innings.
Daley had allowed only two earned runs in his final seven appearances (6.0 IP) before going on the DL.
Daley was signed by the Rockies as a free agent in 2004 and steadily worked his way through their farm system. He made his Major League debut in 2009 and went 1-1 with a 4.24 ERA on a playoff-bound team. He pitched one scoreless inning of relief in the National League Division Series.
While at Bucknell, Daley was part of two Patriot League Champion and NCAA teams. He posted a 30-inning stretch without allowing an earned run as a senior.
Eric Junge '99
Team: Salt Lake Bees (Triple-A Pacific Coast League)
Junge signed with the Salt Lake Bees this week after pitching with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for the last month. While with the Barnstormers the right-hander was 2-1 with a 3.08 ERA in four starts.
The Bees are the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Junge is expected to make his first start Thursday against Colorado Springs Sky Sox.
Junge was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 11th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his Major League debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2002, becoming the first former Bison in 44 years to play in the Majors.
Junge was a co-captain on the 1999 Bison squad that tied for the Patriot League regular-season title. He was 16-15 with 12 saves during his Bucknell career.
B.J. LaRosa '10
Team: AZL Dodgers (Rookie Arizona League)
Bucknell's newest alum playing in the minor leagues is recent graduate B.J. LaRosa. The starting catcher on the team that won the 2010 Patriot League Tournament and played in the NCAA Regionals against eventual national champion South Carolina, LaRosa made his professional debut last week. He is currently hitting .400 (4-for-10) in three games. He was 3-for-4 with a double and a walk in his second career professional contest against the Indians.
LaRosa was picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 23rd round of last month's Major League Baseball Draft. It marked the fifth consecutive year a Bison player had been chosen.
A two-time All-Patriot League catcher, LaRosa hit .371 with five home runs, 36 runs batted in, 75 hits and 43 runs scored, all career highs, this past spring.
