8 MLB promotions cap busy May for NECBL

From the NECBL headquarters:

Adams', Egbert's, Carlin's Promotion Cap Busy May for NECBL   By Don Leypoldt May 27th, 2012   It's been a dizzying three weeks for the NECBL. Multiple alumni were feted with promotions, debuts and honors further validating the League's exceptional quality of play. Here is a summary of alumni highlights.   Things started on May 7th when Graham Godfrey was named the International League (AAA) Pitcher of the Week. Godfrey gave up just two extra base hits in 13 innings as he went 2-0 with 0.00 ERA and one walk in his starts. The 2004 Manchester Silkworm (now Laconia Muskrats) had a 2.66 ERA in 14 NECBL appearances.   Two days later, the Colorado Rockies recalled LHP Christian Friedrich.  Friedrich, a first round pick of the Rockies in the 2008 Draft, won the 2006 NECBL Rookie of the Year award as a Vermont Mountaineer. Friedrich became the 79th NECBL alumnus to make his Major League Debut, and the third this season. He has struck out over a batter per inning in his four starts.   The next day, another Mountaineer got promoted. OF Darin Mastroianni stole 28 bases as a member of the '04-'05 Vermont squad. Since May 10th, Mastroianni has served as the Twins' regular left fielder.   An eight day quiet period gave the NECBL time to catch their breath...until catcher Blake Lalli became the third Mountaineer to get a call up in nine days. The Cubs recalled Lalli on May 18th; the '04 Vermonter became the 80th NECBL alum to make his Major League debut.   The same day, Arizona sent OF A.J. Pollock down to Triple-A. Pollock, a fourth Mountaineer, led the NECBL with 15 doubles in 2007. The move was made to clear space for standout Chris Young, who was coming off of the Disabled List. Nonetheless, Pollock made an incredible impression, hitting .308 in the month of May and guaranteeing that his time in Triple-A will be short lived.   On May 20th, the Cardinals recalled 1B Matt Adams. Adams, the NECBL's 2008 MVP as a member of the Pittsfield Dukes (now Mystic Schooners), had never slugged below .541 in his four Minor League seasons. Adams was hitting .318 in his first six Big League games.   The same day, the Rockies' recalled RHP Adam Ottavino, a former first round draft pick and member of the 2004 Danbury Westerners. Ottavino had a 0.00 ERA in his first six Major League games in 2012.   Not all of the NECBL's news was in the pro ranks. On May 21st, Southern New Hampshire LHP Tim Flight was announced as one of the six finalists for the Tino Martinez Award. The award is given to the National Division II Player of the Year. Flight, who helped pitch the Keene Swamp Bats to a 2011 NECBL title, "posted an 8-1 record and a 1.22 earned run average in 14 starts this season to date while racking up a single-season program record 131 strikeouts in 85.2 innings."  He won the Northeast 10 Conference Player of the Year.   A semi-finalist for the Martinez Award, and also winner of his conference Player of the Year, was West Chester 2B Joe Wendle. Wendle, a 2010 All-Star for Sanford, hit .401 and slugged .790 this regular season.   On May 22nd, the A's recalled Godfrey. One day later, 3B Chris Burke, who led the 2011 Laconia Muskrats in homers, was named the MAAC Player of the Year. The Iona product "contended for both overall and conference triple crown this season hitting .351 with 11 home runs and 50 RBI in 53 games played."   On May 25th, the Mets recalled RHP Jack Egbert, who put up a 2.73 ERA in six starts for the 2002 Danbury Westerners. It was Egbert's first Major League action since a 2009 cup of coffee with the White Sox. One day later, the Indians recalled catcher Luke Carlin, a 2000 Keene Swamp Bat. It marked Carlin's return to the Bigs for the first time since 2010.   Not all of the news involved transactions. Through May 26th:   -       2001 Swamp Bat Andre Ethier was second in Major League Baseball with 40 RBI. He was hitting .319 and slugging .577, both good enough for the top 15 in the Majors. The Dodger outfielder seems on his way to his third All-Star game.   -       The Cubs' "risky" decision to start 2002 Keene Swamp Bat power source Bryan LaHair as their Opening Day first baseman has paid enormous dividends. LaHair has belted 10 homers, and is sixth in the Majors in slugging with a .594 percentage   -       Toronto OF Rajai Davis' eight steals ranked in the Major League's top 20. Davis suited up for the 2001 Middletown Giants.   -       Arizona LHP Craig Breslow played for Middletown two years prior to Davis. The Yale southpaw has a 2.31 ERA in 21 games   -       2007 Torrington Twister (now New Bedford Bay Sox) Stephen Strasburg continues to validate his first overall pick of the Draft status. Strasburg is the ace of the first place Washington Nationals, thanks to a 4-1 record, 2.21 ERA and 64 strikeouts. His ERA and strikeouts both rank in the Major's top 10.   -       Joe Nathan, a shortstop for the 1994 Fairfield Stallions, had 10 saves for the first place Texas Rangers. Nathan is baseball's fifth all-time active saves leader.   The NECBL opens it's 19th season on June 7th.  This summer is a terrific chance to see baseball's stars of tomorrow, play today.

About New England Collegiate Baseball League The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat college summer league that fields teams in all six New England states.  Partially funded by Major League Baseball, the NECBL started play in 1994 and has sent over 80 alumni to the Major Leagues.