Fort Zumwalt South Grad Tommy Layne Shining with San Diego Padres

The start of Tommy Layne's big league career has been nearly perfect. 

The 2003  graduate made the jump from AA ball to the big leagues and has been an effective left-handed reliever for the San Diego Padres. Since being called up on Aug. 14, Layne has tossed 4.1 scoreless innings. During his last outing, on Wednesday night, Layne recorded the final three outs to pick up his first big league save. 

Layne has appeared in five games for the Padres and has given up just one hit. He has struck out eight and walked one. 

Layne's big league debut  was quite a memorable game for the 27-year-old. In the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves on the day he was called up, Layne managed to strike out the side. He struck out two All Stars, Brian McCann and Dan Uggla in the process. After the game, Layne told reporters he had never struck out three batter in an inning before in his entire career.

The Zumwalt South alum was drafted by the Arizona Diamondback in 2007 out of Mount Olive College and has spent his time in the minors both starting and coming out of the bullpen. Layne bounced around the minors for four years before being dealt to the Padres organization this spring. The move helped get him to the big leagues.