Metcalf Collects First Major League Hit

June 15, 2007

PITTSBURGH –

Former Jayhawk Travis Metcalf recorded his first major league hit Thursday night, a sixth-inning home run off Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting pitcher Tom Gorzelanny, who also played at KU.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Metcalf and Gorzelanny are two of three former Jayhawks currently on major league rosters. Philadelphia Phillies’ pitcher Mike Zagurski also played at KU from 2004-05.

For Metcalf, the first major league hit came in his second stint with the Rangers. The former KU third baseman was called up in mid-May and made his debut on May 19. He was optioned back to AA Frisco on May 22, before being recalled on Saturday. His sixth-inning home run, a solo shot, was one of three hit by <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Texas in its 6-0 triumph.

“That was exciting,” Metcalf told mlb.com.

“I’m glad that’s out of the way. I’ve only been up here a couple of days, but it seems like it has been a couple of months. It’s good to get that one out of the way; now I can work on getting some base hits.”