The Southern Illinois Miners have announced that reliever Mike Damchuk will return for the 2010 season. Damchuk was 5-4 with a 2.63 ERA in 29 appearances and tied for the team lead with six saves with the Miners in 2009.
Damchuk, who will be 25 when the season begins, signed with the Miners three weeks into the 2009 campaign and immediately strengthened the bullpen, allowing just one earned run in his first seven appearances. The Canadian native was untouchable at Rent One Park. In 15 appearances in front of the home crowd, he was 4-0 with five saves and did not allow a single earned run in 22.1 innings, striking out 25 hitters and holding opponents to a .164 average.
