Aug. 27, 2008

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - Former Union (Ky.) College baseball players Marty Popham and Kevin Ramos are really making a name for themselves in professional baseball.

Popham, who helped the Bulldogs to the 2008 NAIA World Series, was drafted in the 20th round of this year's Major League Baseball First-Year Players' Draft by the Cleveland Indians and has been pitching for the Indians' Gulf Coast League team in Winter Haven, Fla. Meanwhile, Ramos, who signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2007, is currently a member of the Angels' Arizona League squad in Tempe, Ariz.

"It's a dream come true," Ramos said of playing professionally. "Since I was a little kid, I always wanted to play pro ball, and now because of my hard work, I'm doing it."

Making the jump from the collegiate ranks to pro ball is not necessarily an easy one. More often than not, there is little time to acclimate yourself to the new surroundings. For example, Popham went from pitching in the NAIA World Series to being drafted to hurling for the Indians in Florida in a matter of weeks.

"Playing pro ball is different compared to college," said Popham. "Starting out as a rookie, I didn't know what to expect at first, but now that I've got a little time under my belt, I've found that everyone is out for themselves. Everyone wants to win, but when we lose it's not a big deal. It's kind of hard to get used to since I came from a team-oriented team."

In their first full seasons as professionals, both Ramos and Popham are showing they can hold their own.

Through Aug. 25, Ramos has played in 37 of the Angels 52 games and ranks 12th in the league with a .323 batting average. He also has one home run, seven doubles, seven triples, 32 RBIs and 34 runs scored.

Not bad for a guy who began the season on the bench before becoming the starting shortstop.

"Honestly, I never thought that I was going to do this good," admitted Ramos, who calls Panama City, Panama, home. "I'm really happy for the numbers I'm putting up this year. I worked really hard for this and it's paying off."

Ramos spent just one season at Union, setting the single-season record for hits with 98 in 2007. He batted .407 with eight home runs and 71 RBIs in earning First Team All-Appalachian Athletic Conference honors and helping the Bulldogs to a 46-17 record and the 2007 NAIA Region XII Championship.

Popham has not seen a great deal of action with the Indians. After tossing 123 innings with the Bulldogs during the spring, the Indians moved Popham to the bullpen this season so to not overuse him. Appearing in 14 games, the right-hander owns a 1-1 record with one save and a 0.78 earned-run average. Popham has struck out 25 batters and walked five in 23 innings of work.

"I feel my season is going very well," said the Louisville, Ky. native. "I have learned a lot in the past couple months and plan to continue getting better."

Popham spent two seasons with the Bulldogs, setting the career marks for shutouts (4) and winning percentage (.852 with a 23-4 record).

The 2008 season was one for the record books as Popham put together arguably the best season of any Bulldog to ever take the mound. He led the NAIA in wins with a 17-1 overall record. The right-hander posted a 2.27 earned-run average and set seven single-season records. The marks Popham set were for wins (17), games started (18), complete games (12), shutouts (3), innings pitched (123.0), strikeouts (133) and winning percentage (.944 with a 17-1 record).

Popham racked up the accolades in 2008 as well, earning NAIA All-American First Team, All-NAIA Region XII First Team, All-Appalachian Athletic Conference First Team and AAC Pitcher of the Year honors.

During the two seasons Popham was at Union, the Bulldogs posted a 94-35 overall record, won back-to-back NAIA Region XII Championships and advanced to the NAIA World Series for the first time in program history.

As the season begins to wind down for Ramos and Popham, both plan to use the offseason to prepare for next year.

"I'm going to try to go back home and relax for a week or two," said Ramos. "Then I'll be going to the Colombian League to play for almost two months."

Popham noted he will return to Louisville following the season and remain there until spring training gets underway in mid-February.

"I plan on giving pitching lessons in the winter and will be working out every day. In February, I will report to spring training in Arizona and will be placed on a team at that point."