June 20, 2011
NORMAL, Ill. -
Former Illinois State third baseman Ryan Court and former Redbird pitcher Corey Maines each made their professional baseball debuts Monday night. Court is playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks' advanced rookie league team, the Missoula Osprey in Missoula, Mont., while Maines is pitching for the New York Yankees' short-season A league team, the Staten Island Yankees in Staten Island, N.Y.
Court earned the start at third base in Missoula's season-opening, 12-inning, 6-5, loss at the Helena Brewers in Helena, Mont. The Sleepy Hollow, Ill., native went 1-for-6, with his first pro hit coming on a fifth-inning single to right field. Meanwhile, Maines appeared for the first time in an 8-3 Yankees' victory over the Hudson Valley Renegades at Fishkill, N.Y. The Houston, Texas native was called from the bullpen in the fifth inning. Maines pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs on three hits.
Court and Maines were both taken in the 23rd round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft June 7. Court was selected by Arizona with the 694th overall pick of the draft, while Maines was chosen by New York with the 719th overall selection.
Court started 159-consecutive games during his final three seasons at Illinois State. During his senior year, the Redbird third baseman hit .323 with a team-best 15 doubles and four triples, along with six home runs. He was also 7-for-7 in stolen bases, and for his efforts, Court was named to the 2011 All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team.
Maines, who is the winningest pitcher in the history of ISU baseball, finished his four-year Redbird career with a 24-17 record. The right-hander notched a career-high nine wins during his senior season, which tied for second on the ISU single-season wins list. Maines finished 2011 with a 9-4 record and a 2.87 ERA. He also ranked fourth in single-season games started with 15 and earned All-MVC Honorable Mention honors.
Court and the Osprey continue their series at Helena on Tuesday, while Maines and the Yankees return home to host Hudson Valley, also on Tuesday. The two rookies are among seven former Redbirds currently playing professional baseball.
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