Aug. 13, 2008
HOUSTON, Texas -- Former Sooner third baseman Ryan Rohlinger (2004-06) was called up from Double-A Connecticut on Wednesday and will make his Major League debut for the San Francisco Giants against the Astros in Houston tonight. Rohlinger is scheduled to make the start at third base and bat second in the Giants' lineup according to the team's web site.
Since being called up to Double-A earlier this season, Rohlinger was hitting .296 for the Connecticut Defenders with six homers and 19 RBIs. Rohlinger will become the 13th Giant to make his MLB debut this season.
The West Bend, Wisc., native was a three-time All-Big 12 honoree at Oklahoma and an all-district performer in the classroom and on the field in 2006. That season was Rohlinger's best in a Sooner uniform when he slugged his way to the team's batting title with a .387 average and drove in a team-leading 67 RBIs. He was drafted in the sixth round by the Giants following the 2006 season, marking the third time in his career that he was picked in the MLB Draft.
His efforts helped lead OU into the 2006 Houston Super Regional where the Sooners were edged out by then-No. 1 Rice in the third and decisive game. Prior to the Sooners' first appearance in a Super Regional, Rohlinger was named the Most Valuable Player of the Norman Regional.
Rohlinger is the second Sooner this season to make his MLB debut. David Purcey, a first round draft pick in 2004, made his first appearance and start on the mound earlier this year on April 18 for the Toronto Blue Jays. He has started four games since and is 0-2 on the year.
Rohlinger and Purcey are two of the eight current Sooners currently at the Major League level joining Jason Bartlett (Tampa Bay), Rocky Cherry (Baltimore), Greg Dobbs (Philadelphia), Geoff Geary (Houston), Greg Norton (Atlanta) and Reggie Willits (Los Angeles/Anaheim).
