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Detroit, Mich. - Former University of Nebraska standout Todd Sears is among seven players called up to the AL Central Division champion Minnesota Twins. Sears, an Ankeny, Iowa, native who played at Nebraska from 1995 to 1997, was recalled following Edmonton's Pacific Coast League championship series over the weekend. He will join the Twins Tuesday evening, as they open a three-game series in Detroit. <?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
Sears was instrumental in the Trappers' run to the PCL title, batting .310 with 20 homers, 100 RBIs and 36 doubles during the season, setting career bests in hits, homers, RBIs, doubles and runs scored (88). He was selected to the Triple A All-Star game in July and was tabbed by Baseball America as the Best Defensive First Baseman in the PCL. Edmonton finished with an 81-59 record before winning the PCL Championship series over Salt Lake City, 3-1.
As a Husker, Sears earned third-team All-America honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America and first-team All-Big 12 honors in 1997 after batting .421 with 17 homers and 79 RBIs in 62 contests. His .402 career average ranks fourth on NU charts, while he also ranks in the top-10 in six other categories, including slugging percentage (.743, third), RBIs (191, third), hits (244, fifth), doubles (46, third), homers (33, ninth), total bases (335, 10th). Sears was drafted in the third round by the Colorado Rockies following his junior season and was traded to the Twins organization in 2000.
He is the third player coached by current Husker Head Coach Mike Anderson to reach the major leagues, joining two-time Anaheim Angels All-Star Darin Erstad (1993-95) and Ken Harvey (1997-99), who made his major league debut with Kansas City in 2001. Sears is also the 18th former Husker to reach the majors.
The Twins clinched the American League Central Division title on Sunday and will be making their first postseason appearance since 1991, when they won the World Series.