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BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Former Camel Matt Marksberry is getting another shot at the big leagues, while Matt Sergey is getting his first shot at affiliated ball.
Marksberry was recalled June 25 by the Atlanta Braves from AAA Gwinnett. Sergey was acquired by the Oakland Athletics organization Monday after a standout start with the independent Laredo (Texas) Lemurs of the American Association.
Sergey was dominant against American Association hitters in the 2016 season. The Campbell alumnus was 4-0 in seven starts and is second in the league with a 0.82 ERA. He also was first among all pitchers with 56 strikeouts in just 44 innings of work.
Since being acquired at last year's trade deadline, Sergey was nearly unhittable. He pitched in four starts in 2015 and didn't give up a single run in 26 innings of work. He dealt with an injury in the postseason but returned against Sioux City in the championship to help the Lemurs clinch the American Association title.
Sergey returned in 2016 and picked up where he left off throwing a six-inning shutout in his opening start. He threw two more quality innings in the next outing stretching his regular-season scoreless streak to 34 career innings with the Lemurs.
Selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 45th round of the 2007 draft out of South Plantation High School in Florida, Sergey instead chose to attend Campbell. He will play for an affiliated team for the first time in his career after playing since 2013 in the Independent Leagues.
On Aug. 24, 2014 as a member of the Washington Wild Things, Sergey registered the first perfect game in Frontier League history – striking out nine in a 6-0 win over the Gateway Grizzlies.
The Plantation, Fla. native pitched two seasons at Campbell in 2010 and 2012 after transferring from Broward College. Sergey was a First Team All-Big South pick in 2012, going 7-0 with a 3.38 ERA in 15 starts, helping Campbell to its first 40-win season in program history.
Marksberry is in his second stint with the Braves this year. He made an appearance against the New York Mets on April 23. The left-hander had a 2-2 record and a 2.84 ERA in 20 games with Gwinnett in 2016.
The Braves selected Marksberry in the 15th round of 2013's MLB Draft after he went 8-2 for the Camels that season, helping CU to a Big South Regular Season Championship, along with a school record 49 wins.
A native of Batavia, Ohio, Marksberry was 8-2 in 2013 with a 4.90 ERA in 14 appearances with 11 starts, pitching 68 innings with 73 strikeouts for the Camels. He finished his career ranked among Campbell's top-10 in career appearances and strikeouts. In 2015, Marksberry became the first Camel to reach the majors since Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry in 1983.
Seven former Camels are now playing affiliated pro baseball. Jake Smith (Richmond, Va. |San Francisco Giants) and Ryan Thompson (Corpus Christi, Texas | Houston Astros) are in Double-A ball. Cedric Mullins (Delmarva, Md. | Baltimore Orioles) is in Single-A, while Heath Bowers (Vermont | Oakland A's) and Steven Leonard (Grand Junction, Colo. | Colorado Rockies) are in short-season leagues.
