08/27/2009 – Turks Tidbits
Ryan Wood (’07 Harrisonburg Turks/East Carolina U.) hit his first not one but two professional home runs on Tuesday night for the Class A Burlington Bees (Burlington, Iowa). Wood led the Bees going 3-4, with two runs and five RBIs. Ryan was drafted in the 11th Round by the Kansas City Royals.
Wood started out the 2009 season playing for the Rookie Burlington Royals, of the Appalachain League in Burlington, NC and is now playing short stop for the Class A Bees in the Midwest League.
Wood is currently posting totals of .207 BA in 52 games, 169 AB, scoring 32 runs, with 35 hits. He’s hit 9 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs with 15 RBIs, 27 walks for 52 total bases, 30 strike outs and 5 stolen bases for the season.
Congratulations Ryan and keep those bombs coming!
Proving that even the baseball world is a small world, one of Ryans’ team mates is another 2007 Harrisonburg Turk alumni, Patrick Norris (Oklahoma City U.).
Even though Patrick’s stay in Harrisonburg was a brief one since he signed a few weeks after arriving, he definitely left a “speedy” impression on our fans.
Patrick was selected in the 2007 Draft 16th round by the Kansas City Royals. Norris made his professional debut on June 19th after leaving the Harrisonburg Turks of the Valley Baseball League, and spent the rest of the season with in the Rookie level with the Burlington Royals of the Appalachian League. Patrick hit .294 (67-for-228) in 60 games, with six doubles, two triples, 11 RBIs, 30 stolen bases and 55 runs scored…finished second in the league in walks (39) and stolen bases, and fourth in runs scored.
Patrick spent the entire 2008 season with the Idaho Falls Chukars of the (Rookie-level) Pioneer League, where he hit .263 (68-for-259) in 67 games, with 13 doubles, two triples, one home run, 18 RBIs, 33 stolen bases and 58 runs scored…led the league in stolen bases, ranked second in walks (44) and fifth in runs scored. He had 18 multiple hit games.
Patrick has played the 2009 season along side of Ryan Wood with the Class A Burlington Bees. He’s posted a .245 BA, in 108 games, 363 AB, scoring 52 runs with 89 hits. He’s hit three doubles, four triples, gathering 21 RBIs, 30 walks, with 100 TB, 76 strike outs, and an amazing 42 stolen bases.
The Harrisonburg Turks are very proud of these two alumni. We wish them continued success in their professional careers !!