Temple University Athletics
Arshwin Asjes Signs With Frontier League's Midwest Sliders
1.15.09 | Baseball
Jan. 15, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - Temple's Arshwin Asjes, who set a school record with 10 saves as a senior last season, has signed a professional baseball contract with the Midwest Sliders of the Frontier League. Asjes will report to Ypsilanti, MI when he completes his spring semester.
"It's always been my dream to play professional baseball," Asjes said. "I am grateful and excited for the opportunity and look forward to helping bring a championship to the city of Ypsilanti."
Asjes led the Atlantic 10 and set a new program record for saves last season. He struck out 32 batters in 36 innings, against just nine walks, during his first season as a closer. Asjes, who had a 4.00 ERA, also finished five games with a four-run lead.
"We're happy that Arshwin is continuing his dream of playing professional baseball," Temple head coach Rob Valli said.
The Willemstad, Curacao native is one of three Owls with ten or more career saves and ranks third all-time at Temple. He was named to the honorable mention All-Atlantic 10 team as a closer in May and earned All-Big 5 honors as a starter (2006) and reliever (2008).
Asjes was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 34th round (1,024 overall) of the 2005 Major League Draft after his freshman season at Gloucester County College. He transferred to Temple and was 5-7 with a 4.26 ERA as a sophomore for the Owls, which included a school record 26 inning scoreless streak from February 24 to March 31.
He is the second player from the 2008 team to sign with a Frontier League team, following Mike Mongiardini, who signed with the Kalamazoo Kings in July. The southpaw appeared in four games, pitching 8.2 innings for the Kings.
The Midwest Sliders will play their home games at Eastern Michigan University's Oestrike Stadium. The Frontier League is an independent professional baseball league with franchises in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.
