Four members of the record-setting 2011 Edenton Steamers will rejoin the club for another run at the Petitt Cup Championship in 2012. After helping the Steamers set 13 franchise records, including six Coastal Plain League marks, and five straight weeks as the #1 ranked summer collegiate baseball team in the nation by Perfect Game CrossChecker, outfielder Nathan Burns, and pitchers Jordan Egan, Joshua Branstetter and David Teasley will don the teal and black for a second straight season. 

Burns, a junior outfielder at Florida International University in the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference will be a corner outfielder and provide a middle of the order bat for the Panthers in 2012. The North Richland Hills, TX native stands at 6’4”, 200 pounds, and provides juice to all fields from the left side of the plate. Last season in Edenton, Burns hit .263, had an on-base percentage of .356, and slugged .465, earning himself the ranking of the 21st-highest professional prospect in the CPL by Perfect Game CrossChecker. Burns added six doubles, five home runs, 26 RBIs, and went five for six in stolen base attempts in just over half a season with the Steamers. He has a chance to grade out average or better in all five tools with his power and arm already above average. He was a mid-summer signee for Edenton last season and after regaining his timing at the plate and adjusting to wooden bats and the pitching of the CPL, he became a key power presence during the Steamers record-setting 25-3 second half. Burns has shown he is just as likely to drive a pitch out of the park the other way as he is to pull the ball for a home run. He also has surprising speed and will look to be more involved in the Steamers’ aggressive running game this summer.

Egan, a 6’3”, 200-pound junior at Norfolk State University (VA) in the NCAA Division I Mid-eastern Athletic Conference will be a weekend starter for the Spartans this spring. Heading into the 2012 season, Egan was named the Baseball America MEAC Pitcher of the Year, the Baseball America number one prospect in the MEAC, and one of the most underrated pitchers in the MEAC according to conference coaches polled by College Baseball Insider. The right-handed pitcher from Virginia Beach, VA made 25 appearances, including one start, a season ago in a Steamer uniform. In 37.0 innings pitched, Egan logged a 1.95 ERA, he held opponents to a measly .177 batting average against, finished with a 1.08 WHIP, and added 36 strikeouts and one save. These numbers earned Egan a 2011 CPL midseason all-star selection. For the 2011 Steamers Egan was an integral component to one of the best bullpens in the league as the primary 8th-inning setup man and he acted as a real stabilizer during Edenton’s transition from season-opening closer Ryan Turner, who signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, to eventual 2011 stopper Ethan Cole. Egan has starting experience as an underclassman and looks to complete that transition this season. He has the stuff to succeed with a fastball that runs in the high eighties to low nineties, a hard slurve, and a changeup. He will need to pitch down in the zone more consistently and with better control to maximize his potential.

Branstetter, a Delta State University (MS) junior in the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference, projects to be the returning ace of the Statesmen pitching staff in 2012. The 5’11”, 185-pound right-handed pitcher made the 2012 Tino Martínez Division II Player of the Year Watch List and was named a preseason Gulf South Conference first team pitcher. The Pensacola, FL native made six appearances, all as a starter, for the Steamers a season ago and posted a 4-1 record in 33.2 innings pitched. His 1.34 ERA, .203 batting average against, 1.07 WHIP and 28 strikeouts earned him a 2011 CPL midseason all-star selection. “Branny” teamed with Brooks Fiala to form one of the best one-two starting rotation punches in the league before a freak foot injury ended his summer early in the second half of play. He can attack the strike zone with any combination of four pitches that he commands in any count and he has the ability to pitch inside with great effectiveness. Depending on the timing of Delta State’s postseason, he has the opportunity to become the first pitcher in Steamers franchise history to draw a second opening-night assignment. Branstetter made his 2012 spring debut this past weekend and went six frames, permitting only four hits, no earned runs, no walks, and he fanned six.

Teasley, a tall, wiry junior at Mercer University (GA) in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Sun Conference will be a primary setup man for the Bears this spring. The 6’2”, 160-pound right-handed pitcher calls Elberton, GA home. In 2011 Teasley made 26 appearances on the mound for the Steamers. In his 23.0 innings pitched, he posted a 1.96 ERA, coupled with a .163 batting average against and a 0.87 WHIP. The batting average against and WHIP numbers led all qualifying Steamer relievers in those categories. Teasley is a stingy submarine-style reliever that was a quality weapon all summer for Steamer skipper Dirk Kinney, as he created match-up problems and was able to nail down big outs out of the bullpen in middle relief. His delivery and movement are a nightmare on right-handed batters but he was impressive with his overall effectiveness against lefties as well last summer. Teasley is a multi-faceted relief pitcher, who is a coach’s luxury due to the ability to pitch successfully on consecutive days, as well as in a specialist or multi-inning role.

The Edenton organization is also proud to announce some more past and future Steamers were decorated recently with preseason conference accolades by various media outlets.

2010 right-handed pitcher Lincoln Rassi (University of Toledo) was picked as the number eight prospect in the Mid-American Conference by Baseball America.

2010 left-handed pitcher Charlie McCready (Charleston Southern University) was named the most underrated pitcher in the Big South Conference by its coaches polled by College Baseball Insider.

2010 outfielder Brian Billigen (Cornell University) was called the best outfield arm in the Ivy League by its coaches in a poll by College Baseball Insider.

2010 Steamer Ryan McChesney (Florida Tech) and 2011 Steamers Joe Wendle (West Chester University) and Ryan Porter (Rockhurst University) were also named to the 2012 Tino Martínez Division II Player of the Year Watch List. Wendle was also rated the number nine prospect in the NCAA Division II by Perfect Game CrossChecker with Porter slotting number 29 on the same list.

2010/2011 utility man Brian Blasik (University of Dayton) was regarded as one of the two best defensive infielders and amongst the best pure hitters in the Atlantic Ten according to A-10 coaches polled by College Baseball Insider.

2011 Edenton shortstop Tim Saunders (Marietta College) was named the number one prospect in all of NCAA Division III baseball by Perfect Game CrossChecker.

2011 outfielder Ryan Brenner (Miami University-Ohio), who established Edenton single-season franchise records last summer for stolen bases and putouts by an outfielder, was named the best defensive outfielder and best base runner in the Mid-American Conference by coaches polled in College Baseball Insider.

2011 third baseman Vinnie Mejia (University of Texas-Pan American) rated as one of the top three power hitters in the Great West Conference by its coaches polled by College Baseball Insider.

2011 right-handed pitcher Esteban Guzmán (San Jose State University) was named the Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and the number nine prospect in that conference by Baseball America.

2011 Steamer Bo Bigham from the University of Arkansas was recently recognized by Baseball America as the best defensive second baseman in the Southeastern Conference.

2011 third baseman Mitch Wells (Central Connecticut State University) was voted one of the top three pure hitters in the Northeast Conference by its coaches polled in College Baseball Insider.

2011 right-handed pitcher Mike Hernández (Butler University) rated the number four prospect in the Horizon League by Baseball America and was also identified as one of the top three pitchers in the Horizon League according to coaches polled by College Baseball Insider.

2012 signee Kyle McGowin, a sophomore right-handed pitcher from Savannah State University, was named the number six prospect in the Mid-eastern Athletic Conference by Baseball America despite not being draft-eligible until next year.

2012 signee Casey Shiver, a junior right-handed pitcher at Southern Polytechnic State University in Georgia was ranked the number 42 prospect in all of NAIA by Perfect Game CrossChecker.

2012 signee Ray Ortega was named the best defensive catcher and the top catching arm in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference by College Baseball Insider’s coaches’ poll.

The Edenton Steamers are a proud member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 16th season in 2012, the CPL features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 930 alumni drafted and 46 alums make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at http://www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at http://www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as cpleague).

Chip Pruden

(252) 482-4080