University of Georgia Athletics
2003 Georgia Bulldog Professional Baseball Review
September 30, 2003 | Baseball
Sept. 30, 2003
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In 2003, the University of Georgia was represented in the professional ranks by 13 players. Two of those players, Robby Hammock ('98) and Mark Watson ('96) made it to the major league level. Other standouts in their 2003 campaigns included Jeff Keppinger ('99-'01), Chaz Lytle (02), and Brandon Moorhead ('99, '01-'03). Here's some highlights of the top Bulldog performers in 2003.
Hammock Makes An Impact With the Diamondbacks
Robby Hammock worked his way up the ladder within the Arizona organization and was a key contributor for the big league club throughout the season. Hammock nearly made the majors out of spring training and was not at the team's triple-A affiliate in Tucson very much due to his versatility. A utility player for Arizona, he saw action in 65 games for the Diamondbacks including 28 starts at catcher, 11 at third base and 9 in the outfield. By the end of the year, Hammock was catching nearly every day for Arizona. He threw out 28 percent of would-be base-stealers. Offensively, he batted .283-8-28 with 29 runs scored.
Watson on the 40-Man Roster with Cincinnati, But Injured
Mark Watson, who spent the 1996 season with the Bulldogs, began the 2003 year as a member of the Louisville Bats, a class AAA affiliate of Cincinnati. While with the Bats, Watson went 4-4 in 53.2 IP with a 4.36 ERA striking out 46 and only walking 14. His performance with Louisville helped Watson fill a major league roster slot following a trade made by the organization. In two appearances for the Reds, Watson had an ERA of 4.50 and did not factor into a decision before landing on the 60-day DL with a kidney ailment. In addition to his stint with the Reds, Watson has spent time in the majors with Cleveland (2000) and Seattle (2002).
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