American Association
LINCOLN, NEB. - With the start of the 2008 season less than two months away, the Lincoln Saltdogs have begun finalizing their spring training roster by re-signing one of the team's key veterans in Jarrett Gardner and adding three other players. The list of newcomers who will report in April includes pitchers RD Spiehs and Zach Cline and first baseman Dustin Yount, who is the son of Hall of Famer Robin Yount.
One of the most consistent pitchers in all of minor league baseball, RHP Jarrett Gardner emerged as the team's ace posting a 10-4 record with a 2.97 ERA that ranked second in the American Association. He also finished fourth in the league in wins and with 130.1 innings pitched. The Moore, Okla. native continued his remarkable strikeout to walks ratio recording 95 strikeouts while walking just 18 batters on the season. Over the course of his five professional seasons, Gardner has struck out 392 batters in 580.1 innings and walked just 65, an average of one base on balls per nine innings pitched. He's also shown impressive durability as a pro by working at least 100 innings in all but his shortened rookie season. The 27-year-old Gardner was originally drafted out of the University of Arkansas by Boston in 2003 and he spent three seasons in the Red Sox system before making his first stop with Lincoln in 2006. He left the Saltdogs in mid-season to join Fort Wayne (A) in the San Diego organization, where he finished 5-4 in 13 starts.
A Grand Island, Neb. native, RHP RD Spiehs pitched for NU from 1999-2001 winning 21 games in 63 appearances as both a starter and reliever. During his career with the Huskers, he was a part of the resurgence of Nebraska baseball helping the program win three Big 12 Tournament championships, the 2001 regular season title and secure NU's first-ever appearance in the College World Series. Spiehs was drafted after his junior season in the 33rd round by San Francisco and he went on to spend four seasons in the minor with the Giants, Seattle and San Diego organizations. During his six-year pro career, in which he has pitched exclusively as in relief, Spiehs spent four seasons at Double-A and he reached the Triple-A ranks in 2005 splitting time with Fresno and Portland. In 2007, he moved to the Independent ranks and made 55 appearances with Somerset in the Atlantic League and put together a 2-3 record with a 3.17 ERA with a career-high 23 saves. The 28-year-old Spiehs continues to make his home in Grand Island.
A Saltdog opponent last year, Dustin Yount joins Lincoln in 2008 as a first baseman-designated hitter. A ninth-round draft pick by Baltimore in 2001, he spent six seasons in the Orioles' organization, reaching Double-A with Bowie in 2006 before being released early last season. Yount then signed with St. Joe and hit .280 with six homeruns and 50 RBI in 82 games. At the conclusion of the American Association season, he finished up the year with New Jersey and hit .259 in seven games. The 25-year-old Yount, who now lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., grew up in Milwaukee where his father put together a Hall-of-Fame career with the Brewers and was a teammate of Lincoln manager Tim Johnson.
Also joining the Saltdogs' pitching staff is former Philadelphia farmhand LHP Zach Cline. Drafted by the Phillies in the 15th round in 2004, Cline split his first season as a reliever in Batavia and then as a starter Lakewood putting together a 7-1 record and a combined ERA fewer than three runs per game. He was unable to capitalize on his rookie success due to an injury, which forced him to miss the entire 2005 season. Cline returned to the game the following season and won seven games in two Single-A stops. Last year, he signed with Slippery Rock of the independent Frontier League and posted a 10-6 record with a 3.10 ERA in 19 games with 18 starts. He struck out 85 batters in 110.1 innings and posted two complete games with one shutout. The 6-3, 215-pound Cline, 24, lives in Union City, Pa.
The Saltdogs begin the 2008 season on May 8 at Pensacola with the home opener set for May 16 against the Pelicans. For team and ticket information, go to
saltdogs.com: Home.