Brooks Hatch Blog: Knights Add OSU Pitcher Dakota Donovan

Happy Thursday, everyone, from the world-wide headquarters (WWHQ) of the Corvallis Knights, your 2016 West Coast League champions!

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We have bolstered our pitching staff with the addition of Oregon State’s Dakota Donovan, a 6-foot-6 right-hander. He redshirted this past season after earning all-state honors three times at Pine View High School in Washington, Utah. He will join us for the upcoming Bellingham series.

A four-year letterman, he was ranked as the No. 222 high school player in the nation by Perfect Game following his senior year. He was a three-time all-state selection, a two-time MVP, and helped Pine View win two Utah 3A state titles.

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The Knights host North Division powerhouse Bellingham in a rematch of the 2014 and 2016 West Coast League Championship Series this Friday through Sunday. The Bells won the final two games of the series to prevail 2-1 in 2014; the Knights turned the tables on the Bells in 2016 and took Game 1 and Game 3 for the crown.

Friday night is Big League Chew Youth Baseball and Softball Night. The first 250 fans will receive a pouch of Big League Chew and a sheet of Knights trading cards. All kids 18 and under who wear their team’s youth jersey will be admitted free.

Saturday night is Samaritan Health Services Fireworks Night, with a special 7:15 p.m. start time.

The Bells are a charter franchise in the WCL. The Knights won 2 of 3 at Bellingham on June 9-10, own a 45-30 all-time series edge, and are 22-8 vs. the Bells at Goss Stadium.

Bellingham features outfielder Shane Hanon, the WCL’s leading hitter (.331) and an all-WCL selection in 2016, and outfielder Austin Shenton, the WCL Player of the Week for June 12-18. Hanon plays at Marshall; Shenton is headed to Florida International this fall.

The series begins an eight-game, seven-night homestand. Corvallis hosts Victoria on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, then finishes the homestand with a nonleague doubleheader against the Perth Heat Colts and the Mid-Valley Southpaws American Legion team on Thursday.

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Knights’ alum Slater Lee (2015), a right-handed pitcher from Cal Poly, has signed with Oakland. He was taken by the A’s in the 24^th round of the MLB draft last week.

Slater was 2-1, 2.56 in nine games with the Knights, with 37 strikeouts in 45.2 innings. He earned honorable mention all-WCL honors, and was ranked as the WCL’s No. 30 pro prospect by Perfect Game.

Congrats to Slater. We’ll update the whereabouts of his pro destination when he gets assigned.

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Some news of our Knights in the majors:

• The Los Angeles Angels placed RHP Bud Norris (2005) on the 10-day disabled list with an inflamed knee, retroactive to June 19.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have activated catcher Chris Stewart (2001), on the DL since May 30 with a strained hamstring.

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Charlotte (AAA International, White Sox) first baseman Danny Hayes (2010) was 1-for-2 with a double and two walks in a 4-3 win over Gwinnett on Wednesday to earn Corvallis Knights Minor League Player of the Day honors. He played at Oregon State.

Honorable mention goes to:

• San Antonio (AA Texas, Padres) outfielder Nick Torres (2012) was 1-for-4 with a run in a 7-4 win over Corpus Christi. He played at Cal Poly.

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That’s all for today. See you on Friday.