Mariners sign Bangor lefthander Tim Rall is first ‘Jack with major-league deal

ORONO – Lefthanded pitcher Tim Rall, one of the Northeast League’s leaders in earned run average, has been sold by the Bangor Lumberjacks to the Seattle Mariners organization.

Rall, 23, is the first player whose contract has been sold by the ‘Jacks to a major league organization since the team relocated to Bangor this spring. He is expected to be assigned to either the Mariners’ affiliate in the Midwest League, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, or the team’s California League affiliate, the Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernadino.

“It is always great to see a player move up to a major league organization,” said Bangor general manager Curt Jacey. “This is a great opportunity for Tim and we wish him all the best.”

A graduate of St. Andrews Presbyterian College in North Carolina, Rall went undrafted in last summer’s major league draft. He participated in the Northeast League’s open tryout in Florida in March and subsequently was drafted by Lumberjacks manager Kash Beauchamp with the seventh overall pick.

Rall compiled a 4-0 pitching record for Bangor this season, and his 1.81 ERA was fourth-best in the Northeast League. He struck out 58 batters in 59 2/3 innings and threw two complete-game shutouts during the last week to earn Northeast League Pitcher of the Week honors.

To replace Rall on the roster, the Lumberjacks signed infielder Steve O’Sullivan. Originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 23rd round of the 2002 draft out of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., O’Sullivan comes to the Lumberjacks from the Texas Rangers organization, from where he was released in June after seeing limited action.

In 2002, the Bronx, N.Y., native hit .333 with the Boise (Idaho) Hawks of the Northwest League.

The Lumberjacks also have signed infielder Nick Saunders to fill the vacancy left when outfielder Barry Paulk was placed on the disabled list.

Saunders is a 2003 graduate of Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla. He won the Red River Athletic Conference triple crown as a senior, hitting .408 with 16 home runs and 64 RBIs.