Former Red Matt Meisenheimer signs with Texas Rangers
After a couple of weeks of intense negotiations, former Red River Red, Matt Meisenheimer of Greenville signed with the Texas Rangers for a reported six figure bonus plus the funds for Matt's college education. Matt began playing for the Reds 4 years ago when he was 15 years old. He is now often clocked at 94 MPH, averages in the low 90's and has a great splitter. Matt has just begun pitching with the Rangers' farm club in the Florida Gulf Coast League.
Former Red Sean Henn
Signs with N. Y. Yankees for $1,700,000
1999 Reds graduate, starting pitcher Sean Henn, has signed to play baseball with the New York Yankees. Sean was a leading pitcher for the RR Reds, where he & Mark worked on building velocity while smoothing out his form. A hard throwing left hander, Sean is highly sought after, being drafted in the 7th round by the Yankees in 1999 and again by the Yankees in the 26th round of the 2000 draft as a "Draft & Follow" while playing for McClennan JC. Sean had already signed to play for the LSU Tigers, but the when the Yankees got to the $1,700,000 mark, he changed his mind and decided to begin his pro career. He is presently playing at the Yankee's
Class A team at Staten Island, where he pitched 6 innings of no-hit ball in his second outing.
Former Red, Bryan Jones Has Another Knockout Season!
Bryan Jones, '99 RR Reds grad, had another top year playing for Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX.
Bryan went 8-1 pitching with a 2.21 ERA and hit .358 with 55 RBIs and led the Pirates to the NCAA playoffs again in 2001. Bryan was also selected to the All West Region Team and has a good chance to make All American in his junior year before the professional draft next year.
1999 Red Grads Make it Big in College Baseball!
Several of Meisenheimer's former Reds team mates made a strong showing during their freshman years playing college baseball. Former Red Bryan Jones from L.D. Bell H.S., made the All Conference team as a pitcher/first baseman at Southwestern University in Georgetown. Another former Red, Ryan Roberts made the Texas JUCO all conference team at 3rd base while playing for Galveston Community College. Another freshman, catcher Sam Struthers of Allen, has taken over the starting job at the same position for Tarleton State University. Left handed pitcher Sean Henn of Aledo and first baseman Tyson Hanish of McKinney were both starters and leaders for McClennan Community College as freshman. Sean was drafted again this spring by the New York Yankees, making the second year running that the Yankees have drafted him, but Sean will play and study another year before entertaining any ideas about professional baseball. Marshall Williams of Richland Hills not only played well on the nationally ranked Abilene Christian College baseball team, but is also in a battle for the starting QB job for the Wildcat football team.
Ryan Roberts 4th Former Red
to Make All American
1999 Reds Grad, Ryan Roberts, sophomore at Eastfield CC has been chosen to the First Team NJCAA All American Team for 2001. Ryan and another former Red, 200 Grad, freshman Michael Browning were instrumental in the Eastfield Harvesters winning the NJCAA National Championship. Next time you see Ryan or Michael, ask to see their Championship Rings. Ryan will play for University of Texas at Arlington
next spring.
Hawpe 3rd Former RED to make All-American, Signs with Colorado Rockies
Former Red River Red first baseman Brad Hawpe, of the NCAA Division One National Champion LSU Tigers, has been selected to the College All American Baseball Team. Brad was named to the second team first base position. He is a left handed hitter that produced 3 series home runs and several other timely hits that helped LSU win the College World Series in June.
Brad was selected in the 11th round of the professional baseball draft by the Colorado Rockies. Brad signed with the Rockies & is hitting .369 with 5 HR's and a team leading 12 RBI's.
Brad is the third former Red to make All American along with pitcher Bobby Roe of UCLA and outfielder/catcher Jeremy Faltys of New Mexico State, who both made the Louisville Slugger Freshman All American team in 1998.
In 2001, Brad played at the Rockies Class A Clubl, Ashville, where he led in Home Runs, 22, Doubles, 22 and several other offensive categories.
Thomas Explodes at JUCO World Series
Another former Red who distinguished himself this spring with a national award was Adam Thomas. Playing for the repeating National JUCO Champion Grayson College Vikings, Adam was selected to the JUCO World Series All Tournament Team AND won the Big Stick Award for the tournament, while hitting .862, only 6 percentage points off former major leaguer Kirby Pucket's JUCO batting average record, set back in 1982.
Thomas Signs With Orioles
Adam Thomas, who played the 2000 college season at Abilene Cristian U., was drafted in the 29th round of the 2001 Amateur Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. Adam signed with the Orioles and is now playing at the Orioles short season A team in Bluefield, WV.
Adam led the Bluefield team in runs scored and stole 16 bases in the 2001 short season. He was named "Hitter of the week" in the Appalachian League in mid August and was voted co-MVP by his teammates.
Former Red, Hubbard Shines in Goodwill Games
Former 18Y Red River Red, Rhett Hubbard, of Sanger played well for the United States Baseball Team in the Goodwill Games held in Tokyo, Japan in late June. Rhett was particularly instrumental in one U.S. victory, going 3 for 3 and scoring 3 runs to lead the team to a win. Rhett had a very good time while in Japan, and could be a testimonial for Japanese food as a diet possibility, as he lost 9 pounds while there.
