Redbirds in the MLB
Redbirds in the MLB
David Freese
Redbirds Player 1997-2001
David Freese was a member of Redbirds from 1996 to 2001 when graduating High School. Freese was a member of the Historic 2001 18u team that posted a 54-3 record, along with a 22-0 league record, David was named league MVP.
He began his MLB career with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he was a key player during the 2011 postseason, batting.545 with 12 hits in the 2011 National League Championship Series (NLCS). He also set an MLB postseason record of 21 runs batted in(RBIs), earning the NLCS MVP Award and World Series MVP Award. In addition, Freese won the Babe Ruth Award, naming him the MVP of the 2011 MLB postseason.
A star high school player, Freese declined a college baseball scholarship from the University of Missouri. Needing a break from baseball, he sat out his freshman year of college before feeling a renewed urge to play the game. He transferred to St. Louis Community College–Meramec, a junior college, where he played for one season before transferring to the University of South Alabama. The San Diego Padresselected Freese in the ninth round of the 2006 MLB draft.
The Cardinals acquired Freese before the 2008 season. He made his MLB debut on Opening Day 2009 due to an injury to starting third baseman Troy Glaus. Despite suffering his own injuries in the minor leagues and in his first two MLB seasons, Freese batted .297 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs during the Cardinals' 2011 World Series championship season. The next season, he batted .293 with 20 home runs and was selected to his first MLB All-Star Game. Freese authored a 20-game hitting streak in 2013, but back injuries limited his effectiveness, and the Cardinals traded him to the Angels following the season. He played for the Angels for two seasons before signing with the Pirates in March 2016, before finishing his amazing MLB career with the LA Dodgers.
Ryan Howard
Redbirds Player 1995-1999
Ryan howard was a member of the Redbirds Organization from 1995-1999. While a member of the Redbirds Howard played on some of the best teams in organization history and ranks top 5 all time in numerous offensive categories. Ryan was inducted into the Redbird Hall of Fame inaugural class of 2005
Currently a player from the Atlanta Braves, Howard previously played for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2004 to 2016. Howard stands 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 240 pounds . He bats and throws left-handed. Howard holds numerous MLB and Phillies' franchise records.
Howard made his MLB debut in 2004. He won the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year Award in 2005 and the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 2006. He is a three-time NL All-Star (2006, 2009, 2010), and has won the Silver Slugger Award, Hank Aaron Award, and the NL Championship Series MVP Award in 2009. Known for his power, Howard is a member of the 50 home run club. He is a two-time NL home run champion (2006, 2008), and became the fastest player to reach both the 100 and 200 home run milestones in MLB history, passing the marks in 2007 and 2009, respectively.
Luke Voit
Redbirds Player 1995-2009
Luke Voit was a member of the St Louis Redbirds from the age of 5 until he graduated High School at 18 years old. Voit was a member of the 2017 Redbirds Hall of Fame class as well as making his major league debut with the St Louis Cardinals.
Voit attended Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Missouri. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 32nd round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign and attended Missouri State University, where he played college baseball. After his senior year, he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 22nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft.
Voit started his career as a catcher and made his professional debut with the State College Spikes. He moved to first base in 2014 and played that season and 2015 with the Palm Beach Cardinals. Voit spent 2016 with the Springfield Cardinals, where he posted a .297 batting average with 19 home runs and 74 RBI's. Voit started 2017 with the Memphis Redbirds. On June 25, 2017, the Cardinals promoted Voit to the major leagues. He debuted on the same night of his call-up against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he reached base after being hit by a pitch. Voit started the next day against the Cincinnati Reds and doubled off of Austin Brice for his first hit in an 8-2 win. On July 3, he hit his first major league home run.
Redbirds Player 1998-2002
Matt Buschmann
Matt Buschmann was a member of the Redbirds from 1997-2002. When graduating Buschmann was the all time winningest pitching in Redbirds history and a member of the 2006 Hall of Fame Class.
Buschmann attended Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Missouri, and then Vanderbilt University, where he played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores primarily as a relief pitcher his first three seasons. He was 5-2 with 5 saves and a 3.86 ERA as a freshman at Vanderbilt in 2003 and participated in a combined perfect game in May, then 8-1 with 2 saves and a 2.84 ERA as a sophomore in 2004. He helped lead the team to the 2004 Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament finals, though the club was beaten by South Carolina. In 2005, he was 4-3 with a 3.47 ERA and a save. In his senior year, 2006, Buschmann was 3-3 with a 4.27 ERA in 7 starts. Overall, he was 20-9 with a 3.50 ERA in 79 games (26 starts) in his four-year collegiate career. He helped lead Vanderbilt to the 2006 Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament, with the team losing to Ole Miss in the finals. He was also named to the SEC Baseball Good Works Team that year.
Buschmann was drafted in the 15th round of the 2006 amateur draft by the San Diego Padres, was signed by scout Ash Lawson, and began his professional career that year. He split the summer between the Eugene Emeralds and Lake Elsinore Storm, going a combined 4-4 with a 3.19 ERA in 17 games (12 starts). With the Storm again in 2007, he was 12-6 with a 2.89 ERA in 28 games (25 starts). He was California League Post-Season All-Star and earned two Pitcher of the Week honors that season. In 2008, he was 10-6 with a 2.98 ERA in 27 starts for the San Antonio Missions and earned a spot on the Texas League's Mid- and Post-Season All-Star squads. He was, according to The Baseball Cube, the best pitcher in the league that season.
He became a free agent following the season and signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for 2016. He earned an invitation to major league spring training.
On April 7, 2016, Buschmann was promoted to the major leagues for the first time after pitcher Kyle Drabek was designated for assignment.He made his major league debut on April 10, 2016, facing the Chicago Cubs. He pitched a scoreless top of the ninth inning.
Redbirds Player 1998-2002
Burt "Scarbourgh" Green
Redbirds Player 1989-1991
Scarborough Green was a member of the Redbirds from 1988-1991. While playing with the Redbirds Green earned multiple All Star nominations and won a league MVP.
Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 10th round of the 1992 MLB amateur draft, Green made his Major League Baseball debut with the St. Louis Cardinals on August 2, 1997, and he appeared in his final game on October 1, 2000.
Green was notable for his role as a replacement player during spring training prior to the 1995 season. Replacement players took over for professional baseball players when the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) went on strike. The strike was resolved at the end of spring training. Green returned to Major League Baseball with the Cardinals in 1997; however, he was blacklisted and not permitted to join the MLBPA.
Green set a Texas Rangers team record with 5 stolen bases in one game on September 28, 2000. The record stands to this day.
Following his career in baseball, Green pursued a collegiate football career at NCAA Division II Harding University. Green transferred to Division III McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, to play football.
While serving as the football team's punter, wide receiver, and in other positions, Green participated in track and field for McMurry. Green had a strong leg in the 2007 National Champion McMurry University 4x100 relay team, and he added to his All-American titles by running in the 4x400 relay.
Est. 1987
