IRVINE, Calif. --- Former UC Irvine pitchers Christian Bergman and Wes Etheridge have been nominated for the MiLB's annual awards. Bergman, currently with the Tri-City Dust Devils, is a candidate for Short Season Starter of the Year while Etheridge, with the Dunedin Blue Jays, is one of six vying for the Best Class A Advanced Reliever title.
Fans are asked to cast their votes and can vote up to 25 times with the polls closing Oct. 25.
Bergman was 7-5 with a 2.29 ERA. The right-hander started 15 games, pitching 97 1/3 innings and hurling two complete-game shutouts. Bergman struck out 86 for the Dust Devils and held opposing teams to a .226 batting average. He walked just 11 while yielding 28 earned runs.
Bergman played at UC Irvine from 2007-2010, where he was 23-12 on the mound. Bergman hurled 281 1/3 innings and struck out 191. He posted identical 9-3 records his last two seasons at UCI and as a senior nearly pitched a perfect game, facing 27 batters in a dominant performance against UC Davis. Bergman gave up a single to the first Aggie he faced but saw the batter erased on a stolen base attempt and went on to retire 26 consecutive batters.
Bergman was a three-time All-Big West Conference performer and was voted to the American Baseball Coaches Association All-West Region Team in 2009. Bergman was a 24th-round draft pick by Colorado in 2010.
Etheridge recorded 32 saves for Dunedin this season. Owning a 1-1 with a 1.89 ERA, the right-hander fanned 38 in 47 2/3 innings. He is currently with the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats and has made eight appearances, registering a save while striking out seven in 16 innings.
Etheridge spent one season with the Anteaters in 2007. He logged a 12-4 win-loss record, striking out 112 batters in 132 2/3 innings and limited opposing batters to a .255 average while posting a 2.65 ERA.
He was an All-Big West second-team performer that year and was voted to the Austin Regional All-Tournament Team. Etheridge was a 12th-round selection by Milwaukee in 2007.
