The University of Texas at Arlington The UTA baseball program was once again well represented in Major League Baseball during the 2009 season with eight former Mavericks either playing, coaching or managing in the big leagues.
FORMER UT ARLINGTON MAVERICKS
Trey Hillman, who is the only three-time All-SLC selection in UTA history, was named the 15th manager of the Kansas City Royals on Oct. 19, 2007. He completed his second year as Royals manager in 2009. Joining Hillman in the Royals dugout in 2009 was third-base coach Dave Owen, who was the first UTA player to make it to the major leagues as a player, making his debut on Sept. 6, 1983, with the Chicago Cubs. Mark Lowe, who climbed through the Mariners organization after playing his final season with the Mavs in 2004, finished his fourth season with Seattle in 2009.
IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
2010 Maverick Baseball
Adam Moore is the most recent former Maverick to make his major-league debut as he became the ninth former UTA player to make it to the big leagues on Sept. 17, 2009, with the Seattle Mariners. He wasted no time entering the MLB record book as he caught 14.0 innings in his debut, which is the most innings caught in a debut dating back to 1954.
Mark Lowe
Also in the American League is former Maverick John Lackey, who signed a five-year, $85 million contract in the off-season with the Boston Red Sox. Lackey completed his eighth season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2009. Three former Mavericks were playing and coaching in the Senior Circuit in 2009 as Hunter Pence (Houston Astros), Ryan Roberts (Arizona Diamondbacks) and Steve Foster (Florida Marlins) all represented the Mavericks. Former UTA All-American Ryan Roberts joined the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009 - after playing parts of three seasons with Toronto (2006-07) and Texas (2008) - and finished the season as the everyday second baseman. Pence had his most impressive big league season in 2009 as he was named to his first All-Star Team as an NL reserve outfielder. Pence marked career-highs in games played (159), base hits (165), walks (58), stolen bases (14) and tied his previous high with 25 home runs. Foster, who spent three seasons in the big leagues as a pitcher with the Cincinnati Reds (1991-93), joined the Marlins’ staff in 2007 as the bullpen coach and just this off-season joined the Royals as bullpen coach.
Trey Hillman
Adam Moore
Daniel Ortmeier
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