Ball State University Athletics
Two Former BSU Baseball Stars Called Up To Big Leagues
September 04, 2007 | Baseball
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Former Ball State pitcher Bryan Bullington was called up Monday to the Major League Pittsburgh Pirates from the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.
Bullington was the second former Ball State player to be called up over Labor Day weekend, following outfielder Brad Snyder, who was recalled Friday by the Cleveland Indians from the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
Bullington was 11-9 with a 4.00 ERA in 26 starts for Indianapolis in 2007. He struck out 89 batters and walked 59. In July, he was selected to start the Triple-A All-Star Game and earned the win.
A standout at Ball State from 2000-02, Bullington set the school's career records for wins with 29 and strikeouts with 357. The Pirates selected him with the first pick in the 2002 draft, making him the first Ball State player ever to be taken as the No. 1 overall selection.
This stint at the major league level will be the second of Bullington's career. The Pirates called him up late in 2005, and he appeared in one game before suffering an injury that would eventually require surgery. The injury kept Bullington out the entire 2006 season.
Snyder joined the Indians' 40-man roster Friday and was immediately placed on the 15-day disabled list. When he comes off the list, he will be eligible to play for Cleveland.
Snyder played at Ball State from 2001-03. His .378 career batting average ranks second all-time at Ball State, as does his .688 career slugging percentage. His .470 career on-base percentage ranks first in school annals.
In 86 games with Buffalo in 2007, Snyder hit .263 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI. He was also called up by the Indians and placed on their 40-man roster late in 2006.
