FORMER COUGAR STEPHEN PRYOR VISITS WITH TEAM

Former Cleveland State and current Seattle Mariner pitcher Stephen Pryor recently visited a Cleveland State practice and spoke to the baseball team.  Stephen spoke about how Cleveland State played a part in his development on and off the field.

His message to the team was that players not only had to work hard, but also to know the difference in working smart. He spoke also about the ability to have a short term memory, and never get too high or too low during the season as well as overcoming adversity.

Pryor attended Cleveland State in 2008 and 2009.  As a freshman in 2008, he won seven games while striking out 81 in 65 innings pitched.  He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 22nd round of the 2008 player draft, but decided to return to the Cougars for his sophomore season.  That year, he pitched in 13  games with one win.

After his sophomore season, Stephen transferred to Tennessee Tech University.  While working out of the Golden Eagle bullpen, he continued to improve as the year progressed.  As a closer, his fastball velocity jumped to the mid-nineties which attracted interest from many major league ball clubs.  At the conclusion of his junior year, he was drafted in the fourth round by the Seattle Mariners.

He progressed through the minor leagues quickly, making his major league debut on June 2, 2012 in Chicago against the White Sox.

Cougar coach Mike Policastro commented that he appreciated Stephen's comments and that they should be well recieved by the team.  "It means a lot to our program to have former players return to speak with guys, because they were in the same position a few years earlier."