Aug. 28, 2006

LAS VEGAS - Former UNLV pitcher Derek Rodriguez, who is currently pitching in the Chicago White Sox organization, was promoted from the Kannapolis Intimidators to the Winston-Salem Warthogs of the advanced single-A.

Rodriguez was 6-11 with the Intimidators before being promoted and he was leading staff starters in ERA (4.64), innings pitched (147.1), strikeouts (109) and games started (25). He has made one start thus far with the Warthogs.

Rodriguez pitched one season for the Rebels, finishing the 2005 campaign at 5-5 with a 5.15 ERA as he led the Rebel staff in strikeouts with 76 and innings pitched with 108.1. He helped UNLV advance to the 2005 Tempe Regional.

Rodriguez is one of six former Rebels currently playing in the minor leagues. Ryan Ludwick and Brian Boehringer are currently playing for the Toledo Mud Hens, the triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers and Ludwick has hit 27 home runs to go along with 77 RBI. Fernando Valenzuela Jr. is a teammate of Rodriguez' at Kannapolis and he has hit nine home runs with the squad. Wayne Foltin has 17 saves for the Augusta Green Jackets (A), the affiliate of the San Francisco Giants and David Seccombe is 5-4 with the Charleston RiverDogs (A) in the New York Yankees farm system.