Today we have a match between two pitchers who went on to pro ball with the Tampa Bay Rays after college- Reece Karalus (Aldie 2014) and Chris Pike (Harrisonburg 2012).

  • Reece Karalus came a long way to join the Aldie Senators in 2014- he was attending Santa Clara- but he made the time worthwhile, as he was ATVL’s top reliever in the league that summer. Check it out- in 12 games and 15 2/3 innings, Karalus went 2-0, 0.57, with four saves, a 0.510 WHIP, 0.6 BB/9, and 14.9 K/9 (one walk vs 26 K’s). He led all relievers in WHIP, BB/9, and K/9. After his junior year at Santa Clara, Karalus was drafted in the 8th round of the June draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. He spent four seasons in the Rays’ minor league system, reaching Double-A in 2018. In 93 minor league games, Karalus went a combined 12-8, 3.71, with eight saves, a 1.30 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9, and 8.2 K/9 in 189 2/3 pro innings. After his release in 2018, he pitched for one season for the New Jersey Jackals in the Independent CanAm League. He has signed back with New Jersey for 2021.
  • Chris Pike was a sophomore at Fordham when he came to Harrisonburg in 2012. Even though he was a starter in school, he started only once for the Turks that summer. In eight games and 23 innings, he went 3-0, 1.57, with three saves, a 0.783 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9, and 14.5 K/9 (six walks, 37 K’s). He was ATVL’s third best reliever. After his junior season back at Fordham (in which he started 13 games), Pike transferred to NAIA Oklahoma City for his senior year in 2014. All he did there was go 10-3, 1.89, with 18 walks and 125 strikeouts in 90 2/3 innings. The Rays drafted him in the 9th round that summer, and he spent four seasons in the Rays’ system, reaching Triple-A Durham in 2017 for one game. After his release in early 2018, he made nine appearances for the Long Island Ducks in the Independent Atlantic League to finish out his career.

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  • Reece Karalus
  • Chris Pike