Yankees sign UMO's Deshorn Lake

By UMO Sports Information
Published in Sports on July 3, 2014 1:48 PM

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UMO Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE -- University of Mount Olive baseball student-athlete Deshorn Lake has signed a free agent minor league contract with the New York Yankees.

Lake becomes the second Trojan this summer to sign with a Major League organization. Outfielder Jay Gonzalez was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft in early June.

A right-hander, Lake transferred to Mount Olive from Division I East Carolina University. The St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands native made eight appearances in 2014, one as a starter and seven in relief. He had an 0-1 record with 10 strikeouts in 81/3 innings pitched for an average of 10.80 strikeouts per nine innings.

Mount Olive won the Conference Carolinas regular-season and tournament championships, and advanced to the NCAADivision II Southeast Regional for the fifth consecutive year. The Trojans concluded the season 40-13 overall.

While pitching for the Fayetteville SwampDogs of the Coastal Plain League this summer, Lake was clocked at 95-98 miles per hour, drawing attention of Major League scouts. Prior to his signing with the Yankees, Lake had an 0-1 record with a 4.76 earned run average in six appearances, all in relief. He recorded eight strikeouts and only one walk in 52/3 innings pitched (12.71 strikeouts per nine innings).

Lake is one of three Trojans playing for Fayetteville this summer, along with outfielder Chase Edwards and pitcher Jordy Farthing.

Lake joins a group of former Trojans now playing for Major League Baseball organizations, led by Carter Capps with the Miami Marlins, Ryan Kussmaul with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights and Tom Layne with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox.