ATLANTIC CITY SURF BASEBALL CLUB

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 15, 2008

Contact: Hoffman Wolff, (609) 344-8873, hwolff@acsurf.com

 

SURF SIGN ATLANTA BRAVES’ FORMER FIRST-ROUND PICK, THREE OTHERS

 

            Atlantic City, N.J. – The Atlantic City Surf of the Can-Am League have announced the signing of outfielders Josh Burrus and Billy Hogan, and righthanded pitchers Derek Duclos and Mike Pasch.

 

            Burrus joins the Surf after spending seven seasons in the Atlanta Braves’ organization. The Marietta, Ga., native was chosen by the Braves in the first round (29th overall) of the 2001 amateur draft out of Wheeler (Ga.) High School.

            Last season, Burrus played at Double-A Mississippi, hitting .213 with 10 doubles and 32 RBI in 91 games. The 24-year-old spent most of 2006 in Double-A as well, and split 2005 between Mississippi, Triple-A Richmond, and Single-A Myrtle Beach, where he finished third in the Carolina League with 25 stolen bases to go along with 20 doubles. Burrus also had a productive 2004 season, hitting .272 with 30 doubles, 11 home runs and 30 stolen bases for Rome of the Single-A South Atlantic League, where he was named the club’s most valuable player.

           

            Hogan enters his fourth year of professional baseball. He split the 2007 season between Anderson and Charlotte County of the South Coast League, finishing seventh in the loop with a .312 average and playing under new Surf manager Cecil Fielder while with Charlotte County.

            It was his first pro season since 2004, when he hit 15 doubles with Fort Wayne of the Midwest League and Eugene of the Northwest League, both members of the San Diego Padres’ farm system. In 2003, the Dallas native hit .344 with 17 doubles in 45 games for Idaho Falls of the Pioneer League, earning him Baseball America short-season all-star honors. Hogan was originally chosen by the Padres in the fifth round of the 2003 draft out of Chandler-Gilbert (Ariz.) Community College.

 

            Duclos makes his way to South Jersey after splitting the 2007 season, his first as a professional, between Slippery Rock of the Frontier League and South Georgia of the South Coast League. With South Georgia, Duclos appeared in 8 games, assembling a 4.63 ERA and meriting no decisions.

            The Exton, Pa., native pitched collegiately at the University of Richmond (Va.), where he appeared in 58 games and earned eight victories and four saves. He was selected by the New York Yankees in the 28th round of the 2005 draft, but did not sign.
 

           

            Pasch starts his first professional season after playing collegiately at Division II St. Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.) College. The native of Montvale, N.J., appeared in 51 games over four seasons for the Spartans, striking out 155 in 214 innings of work while walking just 68. During his college career, Pasch assembled a 12-15 record and a 4.78 ERA.

 

GREG RUNSER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

 

            Atlantic City, N.J. – Surf righthanded relief pitcher Greg Runser has announced his retirement. Runser spent part of the 2007 season with Atlantic City, making 13 appearances and earning one save.

            The Hamilton, Ohio, native was originally a fifth-round pick by Texas in the 2000 draft out of the University of Houston, and spent three years in the Rangers’ organization. He led the Florida State League with 30 saves in 2001 and the Texas League with 25 saves in 2002. Runser also played with Pennsylvania of the Atlantic League in 2003, and split the 2004 season between Quebec of the Northeast (now Can-Am) League and Joliet of the Northern League.

 

CECIL FIELDER ON ESPN RADIO 1450

 

            Surf manager Cecil Fielder will be appearing weekly on ESPN Radio 1450’s “Mike Gill Show” to discuss the club throughout the season. Fielder’s first appearance will be Monday, May 19. He will then be on the show on Monday, May 26; Friday, May 30, and each subsequent Friday during the season. Each interview will take place at 3:25 p.m. The Mike Gill Show can also be heard online at www.1450espn.com.