Today's Rattler Starter (5/18)

RHP PHILLPPE AUMONT: Selected by the Mariners in the first round (11th overall) in the 2007 draft out of Ecole Du Versant in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.

O, CANADA! Aumont pitched for Canada in the 2007 IABF World Cup and was named the 2007 Canadian Junior National MVP. Also pitched for Team Canada at the 2006 World Junior AAA Championships.

HIGHEST SINCE: Was the first Canadian selected in the first round of the baseball draft since 2002 and the first native of Quebec to be selected in the first round since 1997.

RATED: Baseball America ranks Aumont as the #2 prospect in the Seattle minor league system.

FIRST SINCE: Aumont is the first #1 pick to start the season after he was drafted with the Timber Rattlers since catcher Ryan Christianson in 2000. Jeff Clement, Seattle’s #1 pick in June, 2005 joined the Rattlers later in 2005. Adam Jones was a supplemental first round pick in 2003 before starting 2004 with the Rattlers.

FIRST PRO START: Aumont did not pitch professionally last season. His start in game one of the doubleheader at Quad Cities on April 5 was his first start as a professional.

LAST START: That game against the River Bandits was also the only start for Aumont before today. He pitched four hitless, scoreless innings with a walk and four strikeouts. Aumont got a no decision in Wisconsin’s 2-0 win.

LAST APPEARANCE: Aumont picked up the win against the Burlington Bees on May 13 at home. He entered the game with the Rattlers 4-2, but Mike Moustakas drove in the tying runs in the top of the eighth inning. Wisconsin rallied for a 6-4 win. Aumont allowed those two runs on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

FIRST: The runs scored by Burlington were the first earned runs allowed by Aumont this season. He did allow four unearned runs in a loss to Fort Wayne on April 14.

SAVINGS PLAN: Aumont is 2-for-3 in save opportunities. His other two saves were outings of three innings in length.

VS. KANE COUNTY: This is Aumont’s first appearance against the Cougars and against an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.

CAREER HIGHS:
INNINGS PITCHED: 4.0 (4/5 @ Quad Cities)
STRIKEOUTS: 5 (5/8 vs. Cedar Rapids)