PHOTO BY JOHN PAVONCELLO - THE YORK DISPATCH Nick McCurdy

Thomasville native Nick McCurdy saw his baseball odyssey take another turn on Sunday, August 3, when the Florida Marlins bought his contract from the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League. In signing him, the Marlins made him the fourth member of the Revolution squad to sign a contract with a Major League organization this season. Prior to his signing, pitchers Dave Gassner and Heath Totten had their contracts bought out by the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers respectively and infielder Kenny Perez was sold to the Colorado Rockies.

During his time with the Revolution this season McCurdy put up some outstanding numbers. In 37 appearances on the mound, all in relief, he logged 53 innings during which he gave up 46 hits, struck out 60 and walked only 11. Opposing hitters only managed a .231 batting average against him and he posted a 2.04 ERA. Starting the year as a late inning reliever by mid season he had cemented the closer role posting a 1 - 2 record and garnering eight saves.

For his efforts in the first half of the 2008 season, McCurdy was one of four Revolution players selected to play in the Atlantic League All-Star game hosted by the Somerset Patriots on July 16. Living up to his billing, he was called on to close the game for his Freedom Division team and responded by pitching a scoreless ninth inning to earn a save in his team's 8 - 6 win.

Prior to his stint in the Atlantic League this season McCurdy spent the previous six years in the Baltimore Orioles organization including pitching at both Double-A and Triple-A in the 2006 and 2007 seasons. During those six seasons he appeared in 240 games including 41 starts and posted a combined 3.93 ERA.

By joining the Marlins he will become the third person in the organization with Thomasville ties. Thomasville native and former Major League pitcher with the Marlins, Reid Cornelius is serving as the pitching coach for the Class A Jupiter Hammerheads, located in Jupiter, Florida while Josue Espada who has served as a Thomasville Winter Clinic instructor several times is the Minor League infield coordinator for the organization.

McCurdy was expected to report to the Marlins' Class A affiliate Greensboro Grasshoppers located in Greensboro, North Carolina initially but may find himself at another stop in the organization before the 2008 season is completed. Either way the Marlins have told him they expect him to go into the 2009 spring training competing for a job at one of the highest levels in the organization which suits the 28 year old right hander just fine.