Former Gamecocks in Professional Baseball in PDF Format
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June 21, 2007

Columbia, S.C. - Former South Carolina infielder Kevin Melillo has been called up to the Major Leagues and will join the Oakland Athletics as the team heads to New York for a weekend series with the Mets beginning on Friday night (June 22) at 7:10 pm ET. Melillo is now one of five former Gamecocks currently in Major League Baseball along with shortstop Adam Everett (Houston Astros), second baseman Brian Roberts (Baltimore Orioles) and pitchers Jon Coutlangus (Cincinnati Reds) and Marcus McBeth (Cincinnati Reds).

Melillo had been playing for the Sacramento River Cats in Triple-A with the A's organization. In 67 games, Melillo had a .267 batting average (73-for-273) with seven HR and 40 RBI as well as 21 doubles and 49 runs scored.

A three-year letter-winner for the Gamecocks, Melillo was a member of three consecutive College World Series teams from 2002-04 including a captain on the 2004 squad. Despite a wrist injury midway in his junior season, Melillo still started 49 games to help lead Carolina to the 2004 College World Series and batted .300 with nine HR and 36 RBI in that span. He also earned SEC Tournament Co-MVP honors as the Gamecocks went on to claim the SEC Tournament title. In 2003 as a sophomore, Melillo started 64 games and hit .317 with 12 HR and 43 RBI.