SAVANNAH, Ga. - Former Savannah College of Art and Design pitcher
Richard Sullivan continues his climb in the Atlanta Braves organization as he was promoted to the Mississippi Braves of the Class AA Southern League.
Sullivan, a 6-foot-3 lefthander pitcher from Louisville, Ky., went 2-4 for the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Pelicans of the Class A Carolina League in nine starts with a 4.29 earned run average. Sullivan, who was the 12th overall selection taken by the Braves in the 2008 draft, had struck out 48 in 56 2/3 innings pitched with a complete game and a shutout while allowing batters to hit .239. For the season, the 2008 Florida Sun Conference and NAIA Region XIV Player of the Year and NAIA All-American has a 6-5 won-loss record in 2009 with a 4.10 ERA in 14 starts. Sullivan began the season with the Rome (Ga.) Braves of the Class A South Atlantic League.
Sullivan is expected to get the start for the Braves Thursday (June 25) when they face the Birmingham Barons for a 7:05 p.m. Central time contest in Pearl, Miss.
Sullivan is one of three SCAD players currently playing in the minor leagues. Ryan Pope, who was the first-ever SCAD player to be taken in the Major League Draft when he was selected in the third round in 2007 by the New York Yankees, is currently pitching for Class AA Trenton (N.J.) Thunder. Charlie Zink, who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Boston Red Sox in 2002, is currently pitching for the AAA Pawtucket (R.I.) Red Sox.