Saarloos Earns Promotion to Triple-A New Orleans June 12, 2002 – Fullerton, Calif.
Former Titan All-American pitcher Kirk Saarloos was promoted to New Orleans,
the triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, after notching his 10th
consecutive win for the Double-A Round Rock (Texas) Express on Tuesday
night.
The Minor League Player of the Year candidate posted a 10-1 record and
1.40 ERA in 13 outings for the Express. Saarloos gave up nine runs in
the second inning of his first start, but ran off a 0.45 ERA and an opponent
batting average of .151 over his last 79 1/3 frames. In a 5-2 win over
Shreveport on Tuesday night, Saarloos had his streak of not allowing an
earned run snapped at 48.1 innings.
Saarloos, the Texas League Player of the Month for May, was also named
a league all-star, but will have to forego the game in his home stadium
next week for a pair of reasons – his promotion to New Orleans and
his wedding to Kristen Roberts on Sunday in Seattle.
The former Titan (1998-2001) capped a fantastic collegiate career by posting
a 15-2 record and 2.18 ERA in 2001 while leading the Titans to their 11th
College World Series, where they finished tied for third. He was selected
by Houston in the third round of the 2001 draft.
Saarloos is currently listed as the top prospect in all of Minor League
Baseball by Baseball
America and is also featured in a Q&A at minorleaguebaseball.com.
