Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics
November 19, 2021 | Baseball
Zack Burdi, Kyle Funkhouser, Corey Ray and Nick Solak will headline the event scheduled for Friday, Jan. 28, 2022 at 7 p.m. ET at The Galt House Hotel.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville baseball alumni Zack Burdi, Kyle Funkhouser, Corey Ray and Nick Solak will be the featured guests at the 2022 Leadoff Dinner presented by Republic Bank. The annual event is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 28, 2022 at The Galt House Hotel.
The annual dinner will begin at 7 p.m. ET in the Grand Ballroom at The Galt House Hotel. Tickets for the Leadoff Dinner are $65 each and can be purchased online here. More information about the event can be obtained by contacting Ronee Baxter at 502-852-2015 or at ronee@GoCards.com.
The 2022 Leadoff Dinner guests were among 11 Louisville baseball alumni to see MLB game action during the 2021 season and 43 former Cardinals assigned to professional teams at the conclusion of the year. Click here to see a complete list of Cardinals in MLB and MiLB.
Zack Burdi
RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Burdi was taken by the Chicago White Sox with the 26th overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft and made his Major League debut with the club on Aug. 8, 2020. The right-hander pitched in 14 games with the White Sox across the 2020 and 2021 seasons before closing out the 2021 campaign with the Baltimore Orioles. Following the 2021 regular season, Burdi was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Kyle Funkhouser
RHP, Detroit Tigers
Funkhouser was a fourth-round selection of the Detroit Tigers in 2016 and reached the big leagues during the 2020 season. The two-time All-American carved out a major role in the bullpen with the Tigers in 2021, appearing in 57 games with a 7-4 record and 3.42 ERA. Funkhouser struck out 63 in 68.1 innings and held opponents to a .229 batting average.
Corey Ray
OF, Milwaukee Brewers
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, Ray worked his way through the minor leagues and made his big league debut on April 24, 2021 in his hometown against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The 2016 Golden Spikes Award Finalist has consistently ranked among the top prospects in the Milwaukee organization.
Nick Solak
INF/OF, Texas Rangers
A second-round pick in 2016, Solak quickly ascended to the big leagues and made his Major League debut on Aug. 20, 2019. Across three seasons, he has played in 218 games with the Texas Rangers, tallying 201 hits, 34 doubles, 18 home runs and 103 runs scored. The versatile Solak has played six different positions during his time in Texas with a .984 fielding percentage.
ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE BASEBALL LEADOFF DINNER
Since its debut in 1996, the Louisville Baseball Leadoff Dinner helps launch the baseball season by bringing some of the biggest names in the game to the Derby City. Previous guests include Adam Duvall, Jose Bautista, Josh Hamilton, Andy Pettitte, Joe Girardi, Derek Jeter, Don Mattingly, Alex Rodriguez, Tino Martinez, Scott Rolen, Tommy Lasorda, Chad Green, Chris Coghlan, Jeff Francoeur, Sean Green, Nick Swisher, Adam Wainwright, Chris Burke, Chris Dominguez, Justin Marks, Trystan Magnuson, Zack Cozart, B.J. Rosenberg, Cody Ege, Matt Koch, Rick Sweet, Adam Engel, Kyle McGrath, Nick Burdi, Josh Rogers, Brendan McKay and Will Smith.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.
The annual dinner will begin at 7 p.m. ET in the Grand Ballroom at The Galt House Hotel. Tickets for the Leadoff Dinner are $65 each and can be purchased online here. More information about the event can be obtained by contacting Ronee Baxter at 502-852-2015 or at ronee@GoCards.com.
The 2022 Leadoff Dinner guests were among 11 Louisville baseball alumni to see MLB game action during the 2021 season and 43 former Cardinals assigned to professional teams at the conclusion of the year. Click here to see a complete list of Cardinals in MLB and MiLB.
Zack Burdi
RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Burdi was taken by the Chicago White Sox with the 26th overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft and made his Major League debut with the club on Aug. 8, 2020. The right-hander pitched in 14 games with the White Sox across the 2020 and 2021 seasons before closing out the 2021 campaign with the Baltimore Orioles. Following the 2021 regular season, Burdi was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Kyle Funkhouser
RHP, Detroit Tigers
Funkhouser was a fourth-round selection of the Detroit Tigers in 2016 and reached the big leagues during the 2020 season. The two-time All-American carved out a major role in the bullpen with the Tigers in 2021, appearing in 57 games with a 7-4 record and 3.42 ERA. Funkhouser struck out 63 in 68.1 innings and held opponents to a .229 batting average.
Corey Ray
OF, Milwaukee Brewers
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, Ray worked his way through the minor leagues and made his big league debut on April 24, 2021 in his hometown against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The 2016 Golden Spikes Award Finalist has consistently ranked among the top prospects in the Milwaukee organization.
Nick Solak
INF/OF, Texas Rangers
A second-round pick in 2016, Solak quickly ascended to the big leagues and made his Major League debut on Aug. 20, 2019. Across three seasons, he has played in 218 games with the Texas Rangers, tallying 201 hits, 34 doubles, 18 home runs and 103 runs scored. The versatile Solak has played six different positions during his time in Texas with a .984 fielding percentage.
ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE BASEBALL LEADOFF DINNER
Since its debut in 1996, the Louisville Baseball Leadoff Dinner helps launch the baseball season by bringing some of the biggest names in the game to the Derby City. Previous guests include Adam Duvall, Jose Bautista, Josh Hamilton, Andy Pettitte, Joe Girardi, Derek Jeter, Don Mattingly, Alex Rodriguez, Tino Martinez, Scott Rolen, Tommy Lasorda, Chad Green, Chris Coghlan, Jeff Francoeur, Sean Green, Nick Swisher, Adam Wainwright, Chris Burke, Chris Dominguez, Justin Marks, Trystan Magnuson, Zack Cozart, B.J. Rosenberg, Cody Ege, Matt Koch, Rick Sweet, Adam Engel, Kyle McGrath, Nick Burdi, Josh Rogers, Brendan McKay and Will Smith.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.
Friday, August 28
Friday, August 28
Saturday, May 16
Saturday, May 16
