HarbourCats sign power-hitter Greg Fettes

The HarbourCats have signed catcher Greg Fettes from the University of Kentucky. The red shirt freshman is a 6-2, 225 lb. power hitter from Madison Heights, Michigan who was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 43rd round of the 2011 draft.

Fettes has been Kentucky's backup catcher this year and has posted a .250 batting average with three homers and 9 RBI in 60 at-bats. He has also shown exceptional strike zone judgement, posting a .365 on-base percentage to go along with a solid .483 slugging percentage. Fettes' power is something to behold: He holds the Lamphere High School single-season records for homers (11) and RBI (49) in addition to the career record for homers (27). It's not difficult to understand what the Tigers saw in this young man when they drafted him out of high school.

Fettes played part of last summer in the Northwoods League, the second-best college wood bat league out there. In 29 at-bats with the Willmar Stingers, he hit .138 with a pair of RBI. You can expect Fettes to improve on those numbers significantly this summer and don't be surprised if he is one of the first HarbourCats to deliver a "Pembroke Poke". Of course, he'll have plenty of competition on the team. With guys like Alex Real, Anthony Hermelyn, Chris Lewis, Robby Nesovic and David Schuknecht swinging the bat, it's starting to look like the HarbourCats are assembling their own version of Murderers' Row.

The signing of Fettes wasn't the only recent roster move, as the HarbourCats released catcher Casey Schroeder. Schroeder has been the third-string catcher for the University of Kentucky this season and has only received six at-bats.

HarbourCatNip

• The University of Oklahoma won the Big 12 Baseball Championship on Sunday and our Anthony Hermelyn played a big part in the Sooners' victory. "Herm" went two-for-three with an RBI in the championship game after driving in a pair of runs the night before to help propel the team into the final. He was also named to the All-Tournament team. The championship win gives Oklahoma an automatic entry in the 64-team NCAA tournament.
• The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship bracket will be announced on Monday May 27th at 9 AM PST.
• Cal State Fullerton (home to HarbourCats Bryan Conant and Joe Navilhon) and UCLA (Brett Urabe) will both host one of the 16 Regionals (May 31st to June 3rd).
• Four teams participate in each Regional with the winner advancing to one of the eight Super Regionals (June 7th-10th). The Super Regionals consist of a best-of-three series, with the winner advancing to the College World Series (June 15th-26th).