St. John's University Athletics
Minnesota Twins Call Delaney Up To Major Leagues
9/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sept. 3, 2010
QUEENS, N.Y. - Former St. John's baseball standout Rob Delaney has been called up by the Minnesota Twins to the Major Leagues. Delaney has been with the Rochester Red Wings of the Triple-A International League since being promoted in 2009 from the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats.
Delaney is the second St. John's player to reach the Major Leagues after playing for head coach Ed Blankmeyer. Craig Hansen, a first round pick in 2005, has made 95 relief appearances and is 4-9 with three saves in a combined four Major League seasons with the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates.
"We are very proud of Rob and want to congratulate him and his family," said St. John's pitching coach Scott Brown. "Rob has excelled at every level in the Twins' organization since being signed as a non-drafted free agent and it is great to see him get this opportunity."
In 61 appearances this season for the Red Wings, the reliever is 7-9 with a 4.73 ERA and four saves. Delaney has racked up 92 strikeouts in 80.0 innings of work, while issuing just 23 walks and limiting the opposition to a .264 average.
Named to the 40-man MLB roster in November, the righty has had an impressive career in the minor leagues since being signed as a free agent by the Twins in 2006.
After going a combined 3-0 with a 1.03 ERA and 35 saves for the Beloit Snappers of the Midwest League and the Fort Myers Miracle of the Florida State League, Delaney was named the MLB.com Class-A Relief Pitcher of the Year and was both a Midwest League Midseason and Postseason All-Star.
Delaney was named the MLB.com Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year in 2008 after combining for a 3-3 record with a 1.23 ERA and 18 saves in stints with the Miracle and the Rock Cats. The reliever was also an Arizona Fall League Rising Star after going 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA in 11 appearances for the Phoenix Desert Dogs.
After opening 2009 with a 1-1 record and a 2.00 ERA in 26 appearances with the Rock Cats, Delaney was promoted and went 7-3 with seven saves in 36 appearances for the Red Wings.