March 6, 2005

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Former Furman pitcher Danny Rueckel hurled two innings of scorless relief in the Washington Nationals 9-4 exhibition game victory over the Houston Astros Sunday afternoon.

Making his first appearance in a major league game since having his contract purchased in the offseason from AAA Edmonton, Rueckel, a member of the Nationals' 40-man roster, yielded a hit and walk and recorded one strikeout while working the eighth and ninth innings. He is the first Furman player to appear in a major league game since 1984.

Rueckel, 25, went a combined 7-5 with nine saves and a 2.18 ERA in 49 appearances for Double-A Harrisburg and Edmonton in 2004. He posted a 2.75/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio at the two levels. He was also selected as an Eastern League All-Star this past summer. The Dunwoody, Ga., product compiled a 12-10 record with a 3.01 ERA and 26 saves in three seasons of professional ball (2002-04). He was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 12th round of the 2002 Major League Draft. A four-year starter for Furman as a shortstop where he batted .282 with 17 home runs and 118 career RBI, Rueckel didn't make his first mound appearance for the Paladins until his junior year. In two seasons of work, primarily as a reliever, he posted an 11-9 record and 4.64 ERA, helping Furman to a then school best 30-25 record in 2001. He graduated in 2002.