Former Northeastern catcher Carlin called up to Padres
May 10, 2008
Boston, MA

Former Northeastern University catcher and Aylmer, Que. native Luke Carlin was called up to the San Diego Padres on Friday. Carlin was called up from the Triple-A Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League, who he has played with since 2006. He was batting .387 with three home runs, 11 RBI and a .574 on-base percentage in 11 games with the Beavers this season before being called up to the Padres. He played at Northeastern from 2000-02.

Carlin is now one of two former Huskies currently active in the Major Leagues, joining reigning American League Comeback Player of the Year and Silver Slugger recipient Carlos Pena. Pena was a first-round (10th overall) selection of the Texas Rangers in 1998 after compiling a .324 batting average, 24 homers, 93 RBI and a Northeastern record .632 slugging percentage in two seasons (1997-98) with the Huskies.

Carlin was originally drafted in the 10th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft by the Detroit Tigers. On April 29, 2003, he signed a Minor League free agent contract with San Diego and is currently in his sixth season with the Padres organization.

A 5’11 switch hitter, Carlin batted .326 in three seasons at Northeastern, completing his college career with 15 home runs and 97 RBI in 148 games. He also showed considerable speed in his years with the Huskies, as he was 35-43 in stolen base attempts during his collegiate career. Carlin earned first team All-America East honors in 2002 after hitting a team-best .364 with a .472 on-base percentage. He was also an All-New England and All-Northeast Region selection in 2002.

A gifted defensive catcher with a powerful arm, Carlin threw out 20-of-42 (47.6 percent) of would-be base stealers in his final season with Northeastern in 2002, and in 2005 with Double-A Mobile, he threw out and eye-popping 36-of-75 (48 percent) of baserunners trying to steal, which was the third-best mark among Southern League catchers.

Carlin is part of a tradition at Northeastern of devoloping professional talent at the catcher position. Since Carlin was drafted in 2002, the Huskies’ have seen two more catchers drafted. Former Husky backstop Matt Morizio was drafted in the 17th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals and currently plays for its Class-A Advanced Wilmington Blue Rocks. The Huskies’ starting catcher from last season, Dan Milano, was selected in the 20th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox and played with the Lowell Spinners last summer. Keeping the tradition strong, this year’s Husky catcher, junior Frank Pesanello, just set the single-season home run mark at Northeastern with his 16th long ball of the year on Tuesday.