Cleveland Indians Sign Former Rutgers Standout Casey Gaynor
Jun 18 | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (June 15, 2010) – Former Rutgers standout pitcher Casey Gaynor (Toms River, N.J.) has signed a professional contract with Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians.
The Scarlet Knight agreed to terms with the club Wednesday evening and will head to the Indians’ Class A affiliate Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the New York Penn League in Niles, Ohio. Gaynor is on the roster when the Scrappers open the season this evening at the Jamestown Jammers in Jamestown, N.Y.
“We are very happy for Casey, he has shown he can dominate on the mound,” said Rutgers head baseball coach Fred Hill. “He was very strong for us during his career here. We wish him well with the Indians and will follow his professional career.”
Gaynor enjoyed a standout career “On the Banks” and leaves RU as one of the best pitchers in school history. The all-time starts leader with 52 also owns the all-time record for innings pitched with 317.0 and finished second in school history in career strikeouts with 227. He posted an 8-5 record as a senior this past spring and won six of his last 10 starts. His eight victories in 2010 tied him for sixth on the RU all-time list for wins in a season. His 97.1 innings as a senior are fifth-best in a season in school history. Gaynor made 15 starts this past spring which is tied for the third-most in a season in school history. Gaynor compiled 16 career wins during his four seasons.
Gaynor is one of four Scarlet Knights picked up by Major League Baseball this month. Juniors Pat Biserta (Pt. Pleasant, N.J.) and Jaren Matthews (Teaneck, N.J.) and senior Jayson Hernandez (Belmar, N.J.) were selected in last week’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox, respectively. Biserta and Hernandez agreed to terms with their respective clubs.
Gaynor joins, Biserta, Hernandez and former Scarlet Knights David DeJesus (starting outfielder for the Kansas City Royals) and Jason Bergmann (Washington Nationals Triple-A affiliate Syracuse Chiefs), Jack Egbert (New York Mets Triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons), Jeff Frazier (Detroit Tigers Triple-A affiliate Toledo Mud Hens) and Todd Frazier (Cincinnati Reds Triple-A affiliate Louisville Bats) on Major League Baseball clubs.
Rutgers finished the 2010 season 30-26 overall and placed sixth in the BIG EAST. RU reached the semifinals of the conference tournament, earning wins against second-seeded Connecticut and third-seeded Pittsburgh along the way. The Scarlet Knights gave Hill his 1,000th career coaching victory in April of this past season.
