Brown Promoted, Will Begin Season In Burlington

BURLINGTON – After registering a head-turning summer as a member of the Arizona League (AZL) Royals last summer, former UNCP reliever Rudy Brown will make a move much closer to home this summer as a member of the Burlington Royals.

Brown, a Salisbury native, makes the move following a short season last summer that watched him tally a 2-1 record and a 2.52 ERA in 39-1/3 innings with 40 strikeouts and just 10 walks. The 6-4 left-hander held opponents to just a .261 batting average in 15 appearances that included one start as well. He was named minor league pitcher of the month by the Kansas City Royals front office as well after recording a 1-1 record and a 2.08 ERA in the month of July.

Brown signed a free agent contract with the Royals last June after writing two standout seasons (2008-09) in the Black and Gold. He compiled a 7-5 record, a 4.00 earned run average and a pair of saves in two seasons in Pembroke and put an exclamation point on his short stay with the Braves as a senior when he registered a 4-3 mark with a 2.85 ERA as UNCP's primary set-up man, striking out 53 batters and walking just 15 in 41 innings of work.

Burlington, a Rookie League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, will open its three-month season on June 19 with a home exhibition against the Kernersville Bulldogs of the Carolina-Virginia Collegiate League. The Royals will open their Appalachian League schedule at Princeton on June 21 and will open the home portion of their league schedule on June 27 against Pulaski.

The Royals play all of their home games at the Burlington Athletic Stadium. For ticket information, visit the team's official website or call (336) 222-0223.