Matt Lackner made his professional debut Saturday for the Washington Wild Things in the Frontier League.

PARKVILLE, Mo. – Three seniors from the 2010 Park University baseball team are continuing their baseball careers this summer with professional franchises, as pitchers Michael Barbosa and Matt Lackner have found homes with independent franchises, while Darian Sandford has gotten his career off to a good start in the Kansas City Royals organization.

Sandford is hitting .375 for the AZL Royals, a short-season single-A Royals affiliate, playing in two of the team’s five games in 2010.

Sandford has scored twice, including a run Saturday in a 2-for-4 outing against the AZL Indians, where he was in the lineup as the team’s designated hitter.

He also played left field for the Royals against the AZL Mariners on June 24. The Arizona League Royals resume their season tonight (June 28) at 7 p.m., taking on the AZL Cubs at 7 p.m.

Barbosa has also seen significant action for the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings of United League Baseball, where he has five saves in 14 appearances, posting a 1-1 record on the mound in 18.1 innings with 17 strike outs.

Lackner made his professional debut on Saturday, taking the mound in relief for the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League, going a third of an inning and facing five batters.

With the 2010 trio of professional players, Park has now had seven players appear in at least one game for a professional franchise since the 2008 season.

For more updates on Park baseball players professionally throughout the summer, log on to www.parkathletics.com.