June 23, 2010
NORMAL, Ill. - Former Illinois State pitcher Ryan Copeland made his professional baseball debut Tuesday night for the Johnson City Cardinals, which is the rookie-advanced league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Copeland threw three scoreless innings of relief for Johnson City after he entered the game in the fifth inning, and he allowed just two hits. The Cardinals went on to lose their season opener 8-5 to Kingsport.
Copeland, who posted a 3-1 record with a 2.09 ERA in 24 appearances as a reliever for Illinois State during the 2010 season, was named First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference along with bullpen teammate Kenny Long. As a reliever, Copeland limited opposing batters to a .175 average and fanned 53 in 43 innings.
After Copeland helped lead the Redbirds to their first-ever Valley regular-season title and first State Farm MVC Tournament championship since 1994, the Des Plaines, Ill., native was selected in the 32nd round of the 2010 Major League Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, June 9. He was later assigned to play in the Rookie Appalachian League for the Cardinals of Johnson City, Tenn.
Copeland is the first Illinois State baseball player to be drafted since 2008, and he is one of five former Redbirds currently playing professionally.
