April 2, 2007

Columbia, S.C. – Former South Carolina baseball player Jon Coutlangus has been named to the 2007 opening day roster with the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds open the 2007 season on Monday afternoon against the Chicago Cubs. Coutlangus, now a left-handed pitcher, is one of three former Gamecock players to be on active opening day rosters in Major League Baseball along with shortstop Adam Everett (Houston Astros) and second baseman Brian Roberts (Baltimore Orioles). Former Gamecock Marcus McBeth is also a member of the 40-man roster for the Oakland A’s and will start his season in triple-A with Sacramento.

Coutlangus was a member of the 2002 and 2003 Carolina baseball teams that reached the College World Series. A center fielder with the Gamecocks, Coutlangus played in 118 games in his two-year career at Carolina and batted a career .296 (105-for-355) with 14 doubles, five triples, four home runs and 35 RBI along with 22 stolen bases. Coutlangus moved from position player to pitcher after one season of minor league baseball with the San Francisco Giants organization.