JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman alumnus Steve Cishek was traded from the Miami Marlins to the St. Louis Cardinals Friday afternoon in exchange for Double A pitcher Kyle Barraclough. Cishek, a six-year Major League Baseball veteran, had spent his entire career in the Marlins organization since being drafted by Miami in the fifth round of the 2007 Amateur Draft.
Carson-Newman has had 20 Major League Baseball draft selections in its history including four that have made it all the way to the big leagues. Cishek joins 10-year MLB veteran Clyde Wright as the only two former Eagles to be traded as a professional. Wright was traded twice in his career. First on October 22, 1973 from the Angels to the Brewers and once again a year later when the Brewers dealt the southpaw to the Rangers on December 5, 1974.
Cishek leaves the Marlins after appearing in 284 games with 94 saves and a 2.86 earned run average in his six-year career. The 94 saves are the third-most in Marlins franchise history, 14 behind Robb Nenn's 108. His 284 appearances in a Miami uniform rank fourth.
The righthander spent a brief time in the minors earlier this year after a dip in velocity. Since returning on June 14, Cishek has allowed just one earned run in 12.2 innings while striking out 11. His fastball has returned to an average of just above 91 miles per hour after sitting in the 89 mph range to start the season.
The 29-year old has never pitched in a postseason game but joins a Cardinals team with the best record in baseball at 61-34 that has a six-game lead on second place Pittsburgh in the National League Central standings.
Cishek was twice named the NL Player of the Week while the closer with the Marlins.
He is expected to join the Cardinals Friday night in St. Louis for the beginning of a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves.
