Former Baseball Standout, Casey Brown, Signs With Philadelphia Phillies

Former Central Connecticut baseball standout, Casey Brown signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies it was announced Thursday. With Brown's signing, the Blue Devils have five players in Major League Baseball organizations.

Brown logged a team-high 86.0 innings as a senior and posted a career-best 3.98 earned run average in 11 starts and 15 games overall. He finished his career with 10 wins, one save and 158 strikeouts over 253.1 innings in 46 career appearances at CCSU.

After graduating from Central, Brown joined Top Speed Baseball of the Golden State Collegiate Baseball League. In nine appearances he posted a league-best 7-0 record and ranked second in the league with 60 strikeouts and a 1.60 ERA over 50.1 innings. He then signed professionally with the Normal CornBelters of the independent Frontier League. Brown threw in 16 games after joining the CornBelters and in 21.0 innings of work, he allowed just nine runs for a 3.85 earned run average. He allowed just 24 hits, while piling up 18 strikeouts with a 1-0 record and one save.

Brown joins four other former Blue Devils in major league organizations

Evan Scribner (Seattle Mariners) - Scribner was nearly untouchable out of the Mariners' bullpen. In 12 appearances over 14.0 innings, he allowed just five hits and no runs. He struck out 15 batters and walked just three batters, one intentionally. After he started the season on the disabled list, Scribner joined the Seattle bullpen September 1 and helped the team remain in the postseason hunt until the final days of the season.

J.P. Sportman (Midland RockHounds - Oakland A's Class AA) - Sportman helped the RockHounds become the first team in 91 years to win three straight Texas League championships. He appeared in 120 games and batted .267 with five homeruns, 59 runs batted in and 63 runs scored. He also stole 18 bases. Sportman hit a team-high five triples and was also among the team leaders with 29 doubles and 129 total hits.

Nick Neumann (Bradenton Marauders - Pittsburgh Pirates Class A-Advanced) - Neumann helped the Marauders defeat the Tampa Yankees and win the Florida State League championship. Neumann had a strong season pitching out of the bullpen. He appeared in 29 games, throwing 42.1 innings. He went 1-0 with a 2.98 earned run average with six saves and a 33 strikeouts against just nine walks.

Connor Fitzsimons (AZL Angels - LA Angels of Anaheim Rookie) - Fitzsimons played in 11 games after signing with the Angels' organization. He collected three hits, scored a run and drove in another. Defensively, he caught three runners stealing and posted a .962 fielding percentage.