Former Youngstown State Pitcher Makes Major League Debut

Aug. 10, 2004

San Francisco -- Former Youngstown State pitcher Brad Hennessey made his Major League debut Saturday for the San Francisco Giants as he squared off with four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux and the Chicago Cubs.

The former Penguin did not allow a run in his first three innings of work and recorded five strikeouts - including fanning Sammy Sosa twice - in 4.2 innings, but the Cubs scored two runs in the fourth and fifth innings off of Hennessey to lead Maddux to his 300th career victory in a 6-4 triumph.

Hennessey, the 21st overall pick in the 2001 draft by the Giants, split time between shortstop and the mound before moving strictly into a starter's role his junior season at YSU. As a junior, the right-hander was named the Mid-Continent Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year and garnered first-team all-league honors. He also set the school record for strikeouts in a season with 126, picking up six wins in 88.2 innings.

Hennessey had an impressive season in the minors as he was a combined 8-6 with a 3.25 ERA for Double-A Norwich ad Triple-A Fresno. He was 3-1 with a 2.17 ERA for Fresno before being called up to San Francisco.