01/08/2007 1:58 PM - JOLIET, IL - The Joliet JackHammers have added catcher Kevin Sullivan from the Lincoln SaltDogs of the American Association in exchange for LHP Joe Brown, OF Seth Pietsch and a player to be named later. Sullivan spent the last three seasons with the SaltDogs, including last season where he hit .308 with five home runs and 47 RBI.

“Kevin is a very durable catcher,” said JackHammers manager Hal Lanier. “He’s caught a lot of games there and he’s going to make our club much better.”

Sullivan’s career in the Northern League dates back to 2001, when he won Rookie of the Year honors with the SaltDogs by hitting .333 with six home runs and 39 RBI in 83 games. In 2005, he hit a career-high ten home runs with Lincoln.

“(Ira Smith, the JackHammers hitting coach), worked with him when they were both in Lincoln,” said Lanier. “Hitting wise, I don’t see where there is going to be a drop off.”

The Stevens Point, WI native’s professional career began in 2000 when he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies out of Carthage (WI) College (NCAA Division III) in the 32nd round of the First Year Player Draft. After Sullivan’s 2001 season in Lincoln, the Colorado Rockies purchased his contract on January 21, 2002. He spent 2002 with Salem (A) and Carolina (AA) in the Rockies system before heading to Tulsa (AA) and Colorado Springs (AAA) in 2003. He returned to Lincoln in 2004.

Sullivan was selected as one of the representatives for the SaltDogs in the 2006 American Association All-Star game this past July in El Paso, Texas.