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2006 Outlook
Richard O’Brien comes to Miami after being named to the NJCAA South Central All-District First Team and the Division I Region II All-Region First Team … attended Texas A&M University in the fall before joining the Hurricanes in January … will provide depth and compete for playing time at catcher with Eddy Rodriguez … two-time MLB Draft selection, picked twice in the 47th round by the Chicago White Sox (2003 and `04) … spent last summer playing for the Highland Park Blue Sox in the Texas Collegiate League.
Connors State JC
Played for Perry Keith at two-time conference champion Connors State JC in Oklahoma … team was ranked no. 1 in the nation during the regular season both years … named to the NJCAA South Central All-District First Team and the Division I Region II All-Region First Team. Sophomore (2005): Hit .260 with two home runs and 36 RBIs, playing the entire season with wooden bats. Freshman (2004): Knocked in 28 runs, hit four home runs and hit .292.
Catholic
O’Brien played for David Estes at Catholic High School … held a .400 career average and hit 24 home runs in four-year career at Catholic … two-time first-team all-state pick and helped lead team to four straight state tournaments … drafted in the 47th round by the Chicago White Sox as a senior. Senior (2003): First team all-conference and all-state pick … team MVP and all-star … hit .416 with eight home runs and 31 RBIs and compiled a 6-0 record and 0.45 ERA with four saves on the mound. Junior (2002): First team all-conference and all-state pick … team MVP … hit .464 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs. Sophomore (2001): Arkansas Democrat Gazette All-Sophomore Team … hit .333 with five home runs … first team all-conference pick. Freshman (2000): Hit .375 with two home runs.
Personal
Son of Rick and Paula O’Brien … has one sister, Ashley … majoring in … enjoys duck hunting and fishing in his spare time … was once ranked third in the state of Arkansas in tennis while in middle school.