PORTLAND, Ore. — Former Marietta College All-America standout Mike DeMark '06 received a Christmas in July present Saturday (July 25) when he learned of his promotion within the San Diego Padres organization. DeMark, the 2008 San Diego Padres Minor League Pitcher of the Year, joined the Class AAA Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League after spending the last 12 months with the Class AA San Antonio Missions.

Portland entered Saturday's action with an overall record of 44-55. The Beavers sit in fourth place in the Pacific Coast League's Pacific Northern division.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to come up here and help in any way that I can," said DeMark, who joined the team in Salt Lake City on Saturday. "Portland was hit by a few injuries. I am not exactly sure what role I will fill but I will just pitch and see how things turn out."

DeMark, who signed a minor league contract with the Padres in 2007, had been the setup man for the Missions in 2009. The right-hander, who made the 2009 Texas League All-Star Team, was 1-3 with a 3.14 ERA in 46 appearances. DeMark had struck out 45 in 48 2/3 innings of relief and was holding opponents to a .224 batting average. Earlier this season, he had a streak of 26 2/3 innings in which he did not allow a run for San Antonio.

DeMark spent his first season of professional ball with the Florence Freedom of the Independent Frontier League in 2006. He went 1-4 with a 3.22 ERA out of the bullpen for the Freedom. In 64 innings, DeMark struck out 59 hitters and kept opposing batters to a .192 average. In 2007, DeMark was 2-1 while posting a 3.74 ERA in 44 games with the Padres Class A Lake Elsinore Storm. He struck out 70 in 53 innings.

He returned to the Storm to start the 2008 season and went 1-2 with a 2.17 ERA in 42 appearances. DeMark allowed 14 runs (12 earned) on 35 hits with 19 walks and 53 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings with Lake Elsinore. In late July, DeMark moved to the Missions and finished with a 0.76 earned run average, giving up 17 hits and just two runs in 23 2/3 innings. DeMark collected 24 strikeouts in 12 games with the Missions.

DeMark's combined numbers in 2008 led him to be named the San Diego Padres Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He went 1-2 with a 1.71 ERA in 54 appearances for the Padres farm system. In 73 1/3 innings, DeMark allowed 16 runs (14 earned) on 52 hits while striking out 77 and walking 24.

DeMark, an All-America pick as a sophomore, went 31-3 with a 2.53 ERA in his four-year career with the Etta Express. He accumulated 262 strikeouts, which tied him for fifth on Marietta's career strikeout list.

Four-time NCAA Division III National Champion (1981, 1983, 1986, 2006) Marietta College now has five former players currently active in professional baseball. Jim Tracy '78 is the Interim Manager of the Colorado Rockies. In addition, Matt DeSalvo '03 is pitching in his first season with the Durham Bulls, the Class AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, Chris Sidick '05 is in his fifth season with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League and Chris Stewart (Dublin/Dublin Coffman) '09 is in his first week with the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League.