Former University of Maine All-America East first team pitcher Cody Laweryson, who recently threw five relief outings for the American League’s Minnesota Twins, will be signing autographs at a meet-and-greet at his high school alma mater, Upper Kennebec Valley High School in Bingham, on Saturday afternoon.
It will be from 1 to 3 p.m.
Laweryson is from the town of Moscow.
Laweryson, a 14th-round draft pick of the Twins and the 419th overall selection in 2019, was called up to the Major League team from the AAA St. Paul Saints on Sept. 12.
In his five appearances covering 7 2/3 innings, he gave up just four hits and one earned run. He struck out seven and didn’t walk anybody. Opponents hit just .167 against him.
He had an 0-1 record.
The 27-year-old Laweryson pitched against the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians, Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies. The Yankees, Guardians and Phillies qualified for the playoffs and the Rangers and Diamondbacks were playoff contenders until late in the season.
He threw 95 pitches, 71 for strikes.
Three of the four hits and the only earned run he allowed came during a two-inning stint against the Yankees.
University of Maine baseball coach Nick Derba said it didn’t surprise him that Laweryson reached the Major Leagues.
“Throwing strikes still matters,” said Derba, who added that Laweryson has a good, live fastball and he knows how to pitch.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Laweryson is in the last year of his contract with the Twins.
He began the season with Wichita of the AA Texas League before being promoted to St. Paul in the AAA International League. Between the two teams, he compiled a 2-4 record with a 2.86 earned-run average over 34 appearances.
He converted six of seven save opportunities and had two holds. He allowed 42 hits in 44 innings with 45 strikeouts and 14 walks. Opponents hit .251 against him.
His former UMaine teammate, shortstop Jeremy Pena, had his best season for the Houston Astros despite suffering a pair of injuries that limited him to 125 games in the 162-game campaign. Pena missed the last six games of the season due to an oblique strain and, earlier in the season, he was hit by a pitch on June 27 which fractured his rib.
The 28-year-old Pena finished the season hitting .304 which was the fifth-best average in all of the Major Leagues.
He had 150 hits in 493 at-bats including 17 homers, 30 doubles and two triples. He drove in 62 runs, scored 68 and stole 20 bases.
He drew 35 walks, he struck out 93 times and had an on-base percentage of .363, a slugging percentage of .477 and an OPS (On-base-plus-slugging) of .840.
Defensively, the slick-fielding Pena made just nine errors in 432 chances and turned in 51 double plays. His fielding percentage was .979.
In 2022, Pena became just the ninth player and second rookie to be named the League Championship Series and World Series Most Valuable Player in the same season.
He was also the first rookie shortstop to win the Golden Glove Award for his fielding prowess.
Former UMaine and Brewer High standout pitcher Matt Pushard had a good season for the AAA Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp but never got called up by the Miami Marlins even though they weren’t a playoff contender.
The 27-year-old Pushard went 4-5 with a 3.61 ERA. He made 49 appearances including one start and allowed 49 hits in 62 ⅓ innings. He struck out 73 and walked 23. He had five holds and went four-for-four in save opportunities.
Opponents hit just .214 against him.
