Wednesday morning finds a couple of Creighton baseball updates:
Future Jay
An article this morning in the Springfield State Journal-Register features future Bluejay outfielder Clay Cuno, who is hitting .242 with 6 home runs and 23 RBI for the Springfield Sliders this summer.
Local baseball fans might recognize the name; Cuno was Nebraska’s opening day leftfielder in 2008 as a sophomore, after playing his freshman year at Fort Scott (KS) Community College. But Cuno tore his labrum diving for a ball, and decided after rehabbing to transfer to Hutchinson (KS) Community College.
While at Hutchinson in 2009, Cuno hit .370, slugged .630, had an on-base percentage of .462, and led the Blue Dragons with 9 home runs. According to the article, while spending this summer with the Sliders in the Prospect League (formerly known as the Central Illinois Collegiate League, a wooden bat summer league), Cuno’s been working on his hitting with manager Jack Clark, a four-time MLB All-Star who hit .267 with 340 home runs and 1,180 RBI during his professional career.
“Having coach Clark this year, he (stresses) seeing the fastball and hitting the fastball,” Cuno said. “A big guy in the middle of the lineup, you might see your pitch just a couple of times a game. It’s what you do with them that matters. He’s big on hitting the fastball. He’s taught me a lot.”
Going Pro
The good folks in the Creighton Sports Information Department have an update on the career choices for two recent CU baseball contributors.
According to GoCreighton.com, Kirk Clark has signed with the Houston Astros organization. He leaves the Hilltop following his junior (and only) year pitching for Ed Servais and Rob Smith.
And Jeremy Hauer has signed with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the Northern League. Hauer went 2-6 for the Jays with a 3.78 ERA (best on the 2009 team), limiting opponents to a .270 batting average in a team-high 81 innings of work.
Click here for more info about other Bluejays in the minor leagues, including Darin Ruf, Zach Daeges, Chris Gradoville, Eric Wordekemper, and everyone’s favorite ambidextrous hurler, Pat Venditte.