Charlie Culberson to Headline 2019 First Pitch Classic
11/26/2018 2:03:00 PM | Baseball
Mercer Baseball’s annual event is in its 11th year
MACON, Ga. – Mercer head baseball coach Craig Gibson announced Monday that Atlanta Braves infielder Charlie Culberson will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2019 First Pitch Classic on Thursday, Jan. 17 at Hawkins Arena.
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The annual First Pitch Classic event, sponsored by Macon Occupational Medicine and its Chief Executive Officer Leonard Bevill, is in its 11th year and will kick off the 2019 season as well as benefit the Mercer baseball program. An autograph session will open the night at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. For reservations or more information, please contact Ian Humphrey at (478) 301-2738, or by email at firstpitchclassic@mercer.edu.
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Culberson is one of many high-profile guests to headline the First Pitch Classic, including Gordon Beckham, Jose Canseco, Roger Clemens, Jeff Francoeur, Chipper Jones, Dale Murphy, Pete Rose, John Smoltz, Darryl Strawberry and Mark Teixeira.
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"We're really excited about having Charlie speak at our 11th annual First Pitch Classic event in January," Gibson said. "We recruited Charlie during his amateur career at Calhoun High School and have a long history with him and his family.
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"Charlie has already played in a World Series [in 2017 with the Los Angeles Dodgers] in his young career and I believe he is one of the Braves' most important building blocks for the future. We can't wait to have him in Macon for the event."
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Culberson, 29, earned the nickname "Charlie Clutch" in his first season with the Braves as he helped Atlanta surpass expectations by winning the National League East Division crown and advancing to the NL Division Series. The six-year pro and native of Rome, Ga., set career-highs in 2018 in games played (113), at bats (296), runs (47), hits (80), doubles (18), home runs (12), runs batted in (45) and slugging percentage (.466). It was Culberson's first season with the Braves after he was traded away from the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason.
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Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Baseball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerBaseball (Twitter), /MercerBaseball (Facebook) and @Mercer.Baseball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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The annual First Pitch Classic event, sponsored by Macon Occupational Medicine and its Chief Executive Officer Leonard Bevill, is in its 11th year and will kick off the 2019 season as well as benefit the Mercer baseball program. An autograph session will open the night at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. For reservations or more information, please contact Ian Humphrey at (478) 301-2738, or by email at firstpitchclassic@mercer.edu.
Â
Culberson is one of many high-profile guests to headline the First Pitch Classic, including Gordon Beckham, Jose Canseco, Roger Clemens, Jeff Francoeur, Chipper Jones, Dale Murphy, Pete Rose, John Smoltz, Darryl Strawberry and Mark Teixeira.
Â
"We're really excited about having Charlie speak at our 11th annual First Pitch Classic event in January," Gibson said. "We recruited Charlie during his amateur career at Calhoun High School and have a long history with him and his family.
Â
"Charlie has already played in a World Series [in 2017 with the Los Angeles Dodgers] in his young career and I believe he is one of the Braves' most important building blocks for the future. We can't wait to have him in Macon for the event."
Â
Culberson, 29, earned the nickname "Charlie Clutch" in his first season with the Braves as he helped Atlanta surpass expectations by winning the National League East Division crown and advancing to the NL Division Series. The six-year pro and native of Rome, Ga., set career-highs in 2018 in games played (113), at bats (296), runs (47), hits (80), doubles (18), home runs (12), runs batted in (45) and slugging percentage (.466). It was Culberson's first season with the Braves after he was traded away from the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason.
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Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Baseball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerBaseball (Twitter), /MercerBaseball (Facebook) and @Mercer.Baseball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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