WEST CHESTER, PA – A quick spin around the minor leagues and independent ball reveals a trio of former West Chester University Golden Rams still chasing their dreams of pro ball. As the foliage changes, the nights become longer and temperatures drop, five former Golden Rams were still active in professional baseball when the summer began and three remain.
Nick Ward, Braeden Fausnaught and
Joe Sperone carry the torch for the Purple & Gold in professional ball.
Fausnaught is 8-6 with a 3.75 earned run average for two separate clubs within the Philadelphia Phillies organization this summer. Starting the season in High-A with Jersey Shore, the left-handed starting pitcher got the call-up to Double-A Reading Fightin' Phils in mid August.
"When the coach grabs you and says, 'Hey come see me', and he is in the manager's office, your heart starts pounding," Fausnaught said following his first Double-A start in late August. "Luckily, it was good news though."
Faus threw five innings, allowing one run on five hits and struck out five against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays organization) in his first start at Double-A on August 14. Fausnaught has gotten four starts for the Fightins' to date and has struck out 28 batters in 21 innings of work while walking just seven. He sports a 4.22 ERA over that span as well.
Nick Ward spent the summer at High-A Rome Emperors in the Atlanta Braves organization, which just ended its regular season on September 8. Their playoff begins later this month. He appeared in 80 games this season for Emperors playing primarily at shortstop. Ward climbed as high as Triple-A in 2018 while in the Oakland Athletics' organization. He is finishing up his fourth year in the minor leagues.
Joe Sperone was signed by Staten Island in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) for the last two weeks of its regular season. He did make one appearance in relief for the FerryHawks on Sep. 2.
