Etherton bouncing back

Looks like another member of the Fleet is setting sail for affiliated ball. This time pitcher Seth Etherton (fight on) is joining the Arizona Diamondbacks system. The former major leaguer was a key cog for the Armada's late season charge into the playoffs. Here's the story from the league's website...

Long Beach Pitcher Seth Etherton Acquired by Arizona Diamondbacks
5th Armada Player Acquired This Season By An MLB Club

(Dublin, CA. December 14, 2008) The Golden Baseball League (GBL) announced today that Long Beach Armada pitcher Seth Etherton has had his contract acquired and been signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Etherton, 32, 6-1, 200 lbs is right handed pitcher who was drafted in the 1st round of the 1998 MLB Draft by the Anaheim Angels out of the University of Southern California. He was in the major leagues just two years later as the Angels called him up in mid-season and he went on to post a 5-1 record in 11 starts for the big league club. An elbow injury knocked him out for the next year and a half, but he was back in the majors with the Reds in 2003, the A's in 2005 and the Royals in 2006. Released by the Royals and still bothered by his elbow, he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2007 and joined the Long Beach Armada late in the season in 2008 as he was eager to show that he was back to 100%. He started two regular season games for the Armada and was spectacular as he went 1-0 in 9.1 innings pitched with a 1.93 E.R.A. and struck out 16 while walking only one batter. In his one playoff start he went seven innnings, giving up just three hits, no runs, and struck out 12.

Etherton is the fifth player off the powerful 2008 Long Beach Armada that is now with a major league organization. He is the 25th GBL player in 2008 to be acquired by a big league club.