9 DANS ALUM PREPARE FOR SPRING TRAINING

Jon Papelbon (2001) will be one of 9 former Danville Dans (CICL) headed to Major League spring training camps this month. The 27 year old finished the 2007 season boasting , among all qualifying major league relievers, the A.L.’s lowest opponents batting average (.146) and highest strikeouts/9 innings ratio (12.96). As a member of the World Champion Red Sox, Jon finished the 2007 World Series with 3 saves and a zero ERA.

Eric Stultz 2001 (Dodgers), Jon Knott 1999 Minnesota, and Shane Youman 2000 (Minnesota) are also on 40 man rosters each having major league experience. Additional Dans on 40 man rosters and non-roster invitees include: Wes Roemer 2005(Diamondbacks), Randy Ruiz 1999 (Minnesota), Danny Worth 2005 (Detroit), Matt Tolbert 2001 (Minnesota), and Chris Coglan 2004 (Marlins).

TWINS PROMOTE TOLBERT TO 40-MAN ROSTER

The Minnesota Twins added Matt Tolbert (Dans 2001 - Ole' Miss) to their 40-man roster on Tuesday. Tolbert, 25, batted .293 with 24 doubles and seven triples in 121games for Rochester last season. The infielder was also selected as the Twin's representative for the 2007 MBL Futures game and also participated in the Triple-A-All Star Game. Drafted in the 16th round of the 2004 First Year Player Draft, Matt has a career .280 average in four Minor League seasons. Seven players from the 34-16-0 Dans team have, or are, playing professional baseball. Those include David Coffey (Georgia), Tim Hutting (Long Beach), Nick Conte (St. Mary's), Edgar Varella (Long Beach), Dustin Scheffel (Sac City), Jon Papelbon (Mississippi State - Boston Red Sox) and Eric Stultz (Bethel College - Los Angeles Dodgers. The 2001 Dans were coached by Bill Ferrari.