Baseball

Rakers' Statistics
Summers/Werth Statistics

Former Cougar Called Up by Orioles
        Former Southern Illinois University Edwardsville baseball standout Aaron Rakers (Trenton) has been called up to the major league club by the Baltimore Orioles.
        SIUE Coach Gary Collins said he received a phone call from his former player.
        “He called me to let me know he got called up - that he was on his way to Baltimore,” Collins said. “I’m glad he is getting his chance at the big leagues. He’s been successful at every level he has played.”
        Rakers most recently has played for the Ottawa Lynx, the AAA affiliate for the Orioles. Rakers has been playing in the minor leagues since leaving SIUE in 1999.
        At SIUE, Rakers posted a 16-7 record during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. His 192 strikeouts is fourth on SIUE’s all-time list. He became the first person in school history to record 100 or more strikeouts in a season when he fanned 109 in 1999. Dave Crouthers, who also is playing in the minor leagues with the Orioles, later broke the record with 118 in 2001.
        The Orioles officially listed Rakers in the major league transactions as having purchased his contract from Ottawa and transferring outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. to the 15-day disabled list.
        Rakers is the third player in school history to make a major league roster. Dennis Werth played four seasons with the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals from 1979 to 1982. Champ Summers came up with the Oakland Athletics in 1974 and went on to play for six different teams in an 11-year career.
                -siue cougars-