University of North Carolina Athletics
Bynum To Make Big League Debut On Saturday
August 16, 2002 | Baseball
Aug. 16, 2002
Former Tar Heel standout Mike Bynum will make his Major League Baseball debut on Saturday with the San Diego Padres when he starts at Montreal.
The 24-year-old combined to go 7-2 with a 2.31 ERA (19 ER/74.0 IP) for Portland and Double-A Mobile this year. He was 3-2 with a 3.51 ERA in seven starts for the Beavers at the time of the recall to the Padres. Bynum last pitched on Tuesday night at Nashville (Pirates), striking out two in 2.0 scoreless innings. His start was intentionally abbreviated with his Saturday debut in mind.
The 49th overall selection in the 1999 June Free Agent Draft, Bynum was rated as the No. 4 prospect in the Padres' organization in both 2000 and 2001 according to Baseball America. Bynum was tabbed by the same publication as the No. 14 prospect entering the 2002 campaign.
ynum lettered at Carolina from 1997-99 and was 7-1 with a 3.90 ERA as a junior. He struck out 276 batters in his collegiate career, the fourth most in UNC history.
