Sun Conference Athletics

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Former Savannah College of Art and Design baseball player Stephen Shackleford has continues his climb in the San Francisco Giants organization as he was promoted to the Salem-Kaiser (Ore.) Volcanoes of the short season Class A Northwest League.

Shackleford, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed pitcher from Louisville, Ky., went 1-1 with one save in 12 relief appearances for the Giants in the Arizona Summer League. Shackleford compiled a 1.89 earned run average in his rookie league stint. In his 19 innings of work, he allowed just 11 hits while striking out 26 with five walks.

Shackleford went 12-3 with a 2.50 ERA in 2010 for the Bees as he became the program’s third NAIA All-American in the past four seasons. The first-team All-The Sun Conference performer appeared in 20 games – 17 starts – as he threw 12 complete games and had a save. In 100 2/3 innings this season, he limited the opponents to just 91 hits (.239 batting average) and struck out 108.

Shackleford, who was the 1,068th overall selection in the 2010 draft, was the university’s third pick in the MLB draft in the program's 20-year history. Ryan Pope was drafted in the third round by the New York Yankees in 2007 while Richard Sullivan was selected in the 11th round by the Atlanta Braves in 2008.

Shackleford, who taken in the 35th round by the Giants in the draft, is also be fourth SCAD player - all pitchers - currently playing professional baseball. Pope is currently playing for the Class AA Trenton (N.J.) Thunder while Sullivan is pitching for Class AA Mississippi Braves. Charlie Zink, who signed a free-agent contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2002, is now pitching for the Rochester (N.Y.) Red Wings, the Class AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.