Oct. 11, 2005
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech had nine alumni who were on Major League rosters during the 2005 season, including All-Stars Mark Teixeira of the Texas Rangers and Jason Varitek of the Boston Red Sox.
Other former Yellow Jackets playing in the Major Leagues were Kevin Brown (New York Yankees), Marlon Byrd (Washington Nationals), Doug Creek (Detroit Tigers), Nomar Garciaparra (Chicago Cubs), Matt Murton (Chicago Cubs), David Newhan (Baltimore Orioles) and Jay Payton (Oakland Athletics).
Teixeira was elected to start at first base for the American League in the 2005 Major League All-Star Game in Detroit. He finished the season hitting .301 with 43 home runs and 144 RBI, establishing a MLB record for most RBI by a switch-hitter. The third baseman hit his 100th career home run on Sept. 6, joining Joe DiMaggio, Ralph Kiner, Eddie Mathews and Albert Pujols as the only players in history to hit 100 home runs in their first three Major League seasons.
Varitek was elected to the All-Star Game for the second time in his career in 2005. As Boston’s team captain, he hit .281 with 22 home runs and 70 RBI in leading Red Sox to the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Murton, who played at Georgia Tech from 2001-03, made his Major League debut with the Cubs on July 8. He played in 51 games, batting .321 with seven home runs and 14 RBI.
Payton began the season with the Boston Red Sxo before being traded to Oakland midway through the season. In 124 games with both teams, he hit .267 with 18 home runs and 63 RBI.
Injuries limited Garciaparra to just 62 games with the Cubs, where he hit .283 with nine home runs and 30 RBI. Brown also suffered an injury-plagued season with the Yankees. He made 13 starts, posting a 4-7 record and a 6.50 ERA.
Creek made 20 appearances out of the Tigers’ bullpen, posting a 6.85 ERA in 22.3 innings. Byrd played in 79 games with the Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies, hitting .266. Newhan played in 96 games with the Orioles, hitting .202 in 218 at bats.
QUICK HITS FROM THE MINORS
Eric Patterson (Chicago Cubs organization) was named to the Midwest League post-season All-Star Team. Patterson led the league in batting (.333), was second in slugging (.535), third in triples, fifth in stolen bases and sixth in runs scored. He also posted the best fielding percentage by a second baseman in the league.
Murton has been named the No. 12 prospect in the Southern League by Baseball America. Patterson was named the No. 16 prospect in the Midwest League. Tyler Greene (St. Louis Cardinals) was named the No. 10 prospect in the New York-Penn League.
Jason Perry (Oakland A’s) was selected as the DH on the Texas League post-season All-Star team.
Patterson, Murton, Mike Nickeas (Texas Rangers) and Andy Mitchell (Baltimore Orioles) have all been invited to play in the Arizona Fall League. Jordan Crews (Chicago Cubs) and Brandon Boggs (Texas Rangers) are participating in the Instructional League in Arizona.
Manager Riccardo Ingram led the Class A Fort Myers Miracle to a 74-59 record in the Florida State League.
