Register Staff Report
RICHMOND —
Just when it looked like Christian Friedrich was starting to get on track, he suffered a setback.
After picking up his first two wins of the season, the former Eastern Kentucky University standout was injured during a loss to Arkansas on July 18. The left-hander, who pitches for the Class AA Tulsa Drillers, allowed the first four batters to reach base, then was hit on his left elbow. He was knocked out of the game and he has not pitched since.
The injury is not considered severe, but it is not known when he will return to the lineup.
Arkansas went on to win the game, 6-1.
With the loss, Friedrich’s record falls to 2-6 on the season. The former Colonel has a 5.20 earned run average in 14 starts this season. He has allowed 80 hits in 71 innings and has 69 strikeouts.
In his first season at the Class AA level, Friedrich lost his first five decisions. He did not pick up a win until July 1 when he pitched six innings in a victory over Corpus Christi. In his next start, he allowed just one hit in seven innings in another win over Corpus Christi.
Friedrich was the OVC Pitcher of the Year and was drafted in the first round (25h pick) of the 2008 First-Year Major League Draft by the Colorado Rockies.
Friedrich is in his third season of professional baseball. He pitched in Class A in 2008 and 2009 before being promoted to the Class AA Texas League at the start of this season.
Sellers shining
Former EKU standout Neil Sellers is putting together a solid season for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
In 94 games, Sellers is hitting .262 with 20 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 28 RBIs. The third baseman has appeared in 94 games for the IronPigs, the Class AAA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Anderson back in Braves system
After being released by the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers, former Colonel Josh Anderson is back in the Atlanta Braves organization.
The Somerset native is currently on the disabled list with the Class AAA Gwinnett Braves. In 19 games with Gwinnett, Anderson has a .189 batting average.
Earlier this year, Anderson played in 17 games at Louisville (Cincinnati’s Class AAA affiliate) and had a .125 batting average. He also played in 17 games with Nashville (Milwaukee’s Class AAA affiliated), where he batted .245.
Anderson was in the Braves’ organization in 2008 and 2009.
