Derik Beauprez, a junior pitcher for Miami and product of Cherry Creek in Greenwood Village, was dismissed from the Hurricanes baseball program, the Miami Herald reported Monday.
Two other players were suspended, the Herald stated, and a school spokesman confirmed the information Monday afternoon, saying all three violated team rules.
Miami, which begins its season at home Friday with a three-game series against Rutgers, declined specific comments regarding any of the players.
At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, the loss of Beauprez (3-2 in 2015), a right-hander, is significant because he was projected as a factor in Miami’s bullpen, if not a midweek starter. Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 25th round as a Class 5A Bruin in Colorado, he had 19 appearances last season, with four starts. He pitched 32 innings, walking 21 and striking out 29. He finished the season with a 5.62 ERA.
The Hurricanes, ranked as high as No. 4 by Collegiate Baseball and No. 6 by Baseball America, were 50-17 last season, earning their first berth in the College World Series since 2008. They won one game in the CWS, but lost two, including the elimination game, to rival Flordia.
Beauprez was an All-Colorado selection by The Denver Post as a Bruin.
