A pair of Oxford Hills High School graduates have begun their minor league baseball careers

Eric Cavers and Aaron Easton made their pro debuts late last month after they were selected in the June Major League Baseball draft.

Easton, a 29th round selection of the Florida Marlins, is pitching for the GCL Marlins of the Gulf Coast League. Through Tuesday, he had appeared in three games, starting all three, with an 0-1 record.

The right-hander has surrendered just four hits and three earned runs in 11 innings (2.45 ERA), fanning nine of the 41 batters he has faced while walking four for the 8-6 Marlins.

“They have him on a pitch count, between 60 and 70 pitches, so he’s gone four innings, then three, then four,” said Chris Easton, Aaron’s father.

He last pitched Tuesday and gave up one hit in four innings with four strikeouts.

Like most teams at the Rookie level, the Marlins are overstocked with pitching, so innings are limited. Easton, who is from Waterford, still managed to stand out in the group, and not just because he’s 6-foot-10.

“They have 25 pitchers on the roster and they picked five to be starters and he was one of them,” said Chris Easton, who talks to his son nearly every day by phone.

The Gulf Coast League plays Monday through Saturday, with Sunday the only off day. Players are usually on the field from seven or eight in the morning until a little before sunset. Teams play home-and-home games back-to-back.

It’s a grueling schedule, but Easton said his son is adjusting nicely to life in the minors.

“He’s just loving it,” he said.

Cavers, a 10th round pick of the Houston Astros from Otisfield, is playing for the Greeneville Astros in the Single A level Appalachian League. One of four catchers on the 8-8 Astros’ roster, Cavers had played in six games through Tuesday and has caught in three. He has three hits (all singles) in 12 at bats (.250 average). He has struck out twice, walked once, scored one run and stolen a base.