FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University baseball head coach Jeff Waggoner recently announced the hiring of Nick McCurdy to serve as the volunteer assistant coach for the upcoming 2011 Thundering Herd season.
“I’m very excited to have someone join our staff who has competed at one of the highest levels in professional baseball,” Waggoner said. “He brings a great wealth of knowledge of the game and competed not only in the minor leagues but for Oklahoma State as well. His playing experience will be very beneficial to the program here at Marshall.”
McCurdy, originally from Thomasville, Ala., started off his collegiate playing career at Jefferson Davis C.C. in Brewton, Ala. On the Warhawks pitching staff for two seasons, McCurdy earned first team all-conference honors and was drafted by the Colorado Rockies as both a freshman and sophomore in the 45th and 33rd rounds, respectively.
After pitching at Jefferson Davis C.C., the righthander declined playing professionally and opted to play in the Big 12, where he pitched two seasons at Oklahoma State. In two years on the hill for the Cowboys, McCurdy sported a 12-6 record and a 3.91 ERA. Following his senior season, McCurdy was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 35th round in 2002.
McCurdy pitched in the Orioles system for 2002-08, playing at Class A, AA and AAA. He was used primarily as a reliever and made 63 appearances in 2004 in the Carolina League for the Frederick Keys of Class A+, logging 90 innings and finishing with a 6-3 record and 3.77 ERA.
His numbers were even more impressive in 2007 for the Bowie Baysox of AA. There he appeared in 28 games, 27 in relief, and finished with a 2-4 record and 1.66 ERA. He recorded 45 strikeouts in 48 innings and tallied a 1.05 WHIP.
In 2008 McCurdy pitched in the Atlantic League for the York Revolution at the independent level. In 37 total appearances, he registered a 1-2 record, 2.04 ERA and collected eight saves. He totaled 53 innings on the bump with 60 strikeouts and was named to the Atlantic League All-Star Game. In the mid-summer classic, McCurdy recorded the save in his team’s victory.
Following the year with the York Revolution, McCurdy was signed by the Florida Marlins at the end of the 2008 season. He pitched at all three levels for the Marlins before ending the season in the Pacific Coast League for the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Class AAA affiliate.
He was invited back to spring training the following season but suffered an arm injury requiring Tommy John surgery. After rehabbing for the 2009 season, McCurdy returned to the York Revolution and played for the 2010 season.
He finished his professional career with a 28-34 record, 3.89 ERA, 250 appearances, 43 starts, 551 innings and 426 strikeouts.
