From left to right: Jonathan Papelbon; Brett Cecil (Photo courtesy of Toronto Blue Jays); Adam Mills; Bobby St. Pierre

TBOLTS IN THE PROS
At the end of the 2009 season, there were eight former Thunderbolts in the pros. Here is a brief summary of their seasons:

MAJOR LEAGUES
Right-hander JONATHAN PAPELBON (Tbolts 2000) completed his fifth season as a closer with the Boston Red Sox with a record of 1-1, 38 saves (6th in the American League) and an ERA of 1.85 over 68 innings pitched. His Major League record for most consecutive scoreless innings to start a postseason career ended at 26 in the final game of the American League Division Series against the Angels when he gave up 3 runs in the 9th to take the loss. He was the winning pitcher of the 2009 MLB All Star game.

Left-hander BRETT CECIL (Tbolts 2004-2005) made his major league debut with the Toronto Blue Jays on May 5, 2009. He started against the Cleveland Indians, pitching six innings, giving up two runs (one earned) and six hits but was credited with a no decision in a game Toronto eventually won. His first major league win came in his next start on May 10 against the Oakland Athletics, pitching 8 scoreless innings. He was sent back to the Triple A Pacific Coast League minors in late May, but because of injuries to Blue Jays pitchers, returned on June 18. On June 20 he pitched in D.C. against the Washington Nationals, going seven innings in a no-decision. He stayed in the Jays starting rotation the remainder of the season, ending with a record of 7-4 over 17 starts, with 93 1/3 innings pitched and an ERA of 5.30.

MINOR LEAGUES
Harold Baines, Jr. (Tbolts 2007) was an outfielder with the Bristol White Sox in the Appalachian League (Rookie League level). He hit .147 in 25 games with 5 RBI.

Zach Clark (Tbolts 2003, 2005) pitched for four teams in the Baltimore Orioles organization last summer. He was in the Gulf Coast League (Rookie League) for two weeks, moved onto the Bowie Bay Sox in the Eastern League (AA) for a month and a half, then to the Frederick Keys of the Carolina League (High A) for two weeks and finally to the Norfolk Tides of the International League (AAA) for the last month of the season. In all leagues combined, Zach was 2-1, mostly as a reliever, with a 3.35 ERA in 48 1/3 innings pitched.

Mike Epping (Tbolts 2003-2004) was an outfielder in 2009 for the Travers City (Michigan) Beach Bums in the Frontier League (an independent, Class A level League). He hit .241 in 93 games with 10 home runs, 49 RBI and 42 stolen bases (2nd in the League). Mike has been playing professionally since 2006 when he was drafted in the 13th round by the San Diego Padres. In 2007 he played for the Padres Class-AAA Portland Beavers. He is now considering a career in coaching.

Justin McClanahan (Tbolts 2003-2005) was an infielder in 2009 with the Lansing Lugnuts (in the Toronto Blue Jays organization) of the Midwest League (A). He hit .261 in 109 games with 13 home runs, 55 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. This was his second year in the minor leagues.

Adam Mills (Tbolts 2004) began 2009 with the Portland Sea Dogs (a Boston Red Sox affiliate) in the Eastern League (AA) where he had a record of 10-5 over 20 starts with a 4.24 ERA in 110 1/3 innings pitched. He moved up to the Triple A Pawtucket Red Sox in the International League towards the end of the season, started 6 games, and had a record of 2-2 with a 3.48 ERA over 31 innings pitched.

Mike Sheridan (Tbolts 2006-2007) was a first baseman with the Bowling Green Hot Rods (the Tampa Bay Rays' entry in the Single A Midwest League) in 2009. He hit .238 in 122 games with 14 home runs and 57 RBI. This was his second season playing professionally.