Drafted Skyhawk already with GCL Nats

Less than two weeks after Trey Karlen was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft, the former University of Tennessee at Martin star is in uniform with the Gulf Coast League Nationals
The team opened its season on Monday against the GCL Mets, downing New York’s farm team via a 5-3 margin.
Karlen — who Washington selected in the 33rd round with the 997th pick in the draft — smacked his first professional hit in that game as he entered in as a substitute at third base.
The UT Martin product got the starting nod on Tuesday evening against the GCL Marlins. Karlen was 0-for-3 at the plate in that game. The Nats fell 7-5 in said contest.
The Nationals had Wednesday off and returned to action today at 11 a.m. against the GCL Cardinals.
Wearing uniform No. 5, Karlen is one of nine infielders and 35 players listed on the roster of the Nationals, who are coached by Bobby Williams and play their home games at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla. The GCL Nationals will play a 56-game slate that is set to conclude on Aug. 27.
Despite playing for the Skyhawks for only two seasons, Karlen appears in the program’s career and single-season top-10 list an astonishing 24 times and is the all-time single-season record holder for doubles (22) and total bases (145), both set in 2010.
Overall, the Rowlett, Texas native hit .326 with 41 doubles, 23 home runs, 91 RBI and 116 runs scored in 109 games.
He boasted a .591 slugging percentage, .414 on-base percentage and swiped 51 stolen bases, becoming the first player in UT Martin history to hit 20 or more homers and steal 50 or more bases.
This season UT Martin finished the year with a 20-36 overall record and 10-13 mark in the OVC.
That placed the Skyhawks sixth in the conference which qualified the team to make the OVC Tournament for only the second time since joining the league.
UTM went on to win its first-ever OVC Tournament game during the postseason event, which was held at Pringles Park in Jackson.
Karlen was one of nine Ohio Valley Conference players selected in the 2011 Major League Baseball Amateur draft.
Though Karlen was the first UTM player to be drafted since the 1998 season, he isn’t the only one in the Minor League Baseball ranks at this time.
With his debut, Karlen joined former teammate Wes Alsup on the list of UT Martin alums currently playing in the professional baseball ranks.
Alsup, who played from 2009-10 and set a Skyhawk single-season record with seven saves in 2010, signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Braves last October and is currently pitching for the Rome Braves, Atlanta’s Class A affiliate.
Rome just finished the first half of its schedule and will resume play today. He has made nine relief appearances and is 1-2 on the campaign. Alsup’s earned run average through just over 14 of work innings is 8.79.
To follow the progress of Karlen or Alsup throughout the season, go to www.minorleague baseball.com.

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