RICHMOND, Ky. - Former EKU baseball assistant coach Scott Pickens was recently hired as the bullpen catcher for major league baseball’s Detroit Tigers. He will report to spring training later this month at the Tigers' facility in Lakeland, Fla.

The Rosebush, Mich. native joined head coach Elvis Dominguez’s staff in 2005 and worked with the catchers in addition to organizing EKU’s baseball camps.

Pickens was a four-year starter at Central Michigan, graduating in 2002 with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. The catcher was named the team's most improved player at the end of his junior season and was elected team captain as a senior.

After graduation, Pickens joined the Central Michigan staff, working with the team's hitters, catchers and base runners for three seasons before leaving for Longwood College. He worked with the catchers, hitters and infielders in addition to overseeing the team’s strength and conditioning program and academics while at Longwood.

Pickens played professionally for the Chillicothe (Ohio) Paints in 2003 and 2004 and for the Florence (Ky.) Freedom last summer. In 2004, Pickens hit .240 with two home runs and 13 runs batted in 51 games for Chillicothe.