NEWARK, NJ - March 2, 2007 - The Newark Bears Professional Baseball Club announced the signing of infielder Ramon Castro to a contract for the 2007 season. Castro will join his teammates during spring training in Newark beginning April 21.
Castro was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Atlanta Braves in 1996, and advanced to the major league level in 2004 with the Oakland Athletics. In nine career games with the A's, the Venezuelan native scored two runs, hit one double, drove in three runs, and reached base on a walk. A veteran of over 700 games in the minor leagues, all in affiliated ball, Castro has scored 366 runs, with 209 extra-base hits, and 310 RBI, and has played at least one game at all the infield positions.
"We are excited to add a player with the experience of Ramon to our roster," said Bears Assistant General Manager of Baseball Operations Jim Cerny. "He is coming off of a terrific Winter season in Venezuela; and we are looking forward to seeing what he will bring to the Bears in 2007."
The Newark Bears will begin their ninth season at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Tuesday, May 8 against the Bridgeport Bluefish. Fans attending all home games may park in the spacious parking garage located behind the wall in right field. For more information and up-to-date news on the Bears, log on to the team's official website Newark Bears or call 1-866-55-4BEAR.
(Central Islip, N.Y., March 2, 2007) - Long Island Ducks team officials today announced that Mike Solano has been named the team's new media relations coordinator.
Solano will be responsible for leading the club's day-to-day media relations activities, as well as contributing to other departments when needed. He joins the Ducks after serving as Media Relations Director for the Wilson Tobs, a summer collegiate baseball team in North Carolina. Mike has also worked for the Syracuse SkyChiefs (AAA, Blue Jays) and Syracuse University athletics.
"I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to become a member of this great organization," says Solano. "I look forward to contributing to the continued success of the Ducks on Long Island."
Solano received his Bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and is a native and current resident of Kings Park, N.Y.
The Long Island Ducks play their home games at Citibank Park and are entering their eighth season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. For further information, please visit Long Island Ducks Official Site or call (631) 940-3825.
NEWARK, NJ - March 5, 2007 - The Newark Bears Professional Baseball Club announced they have signed former New York Mets right-handed pitcher Edwin Almonte to a contract for the 2007 season.
Almonte, a former 26th round pick of the Chicago White Sox in the 1998 draft, is entering his ninth professional season. In 2003, after spending five seasons in the White Sox organization, the New York native was traded to the Mets in exchange for second baseman Roberto Alomar. After appearing in 16 games for Norfolk in the 2003 season, striking out 14 batters in 17.2 innings pitched, Almonte was called up to the big league club. He appeared in 12 games striking out seven batters in 11 innings at the major league level.
From 2001 through 2005, Almonte led his respective league in saves three times, including a career high 36 in 2001 with Birmingham of the Southern League. In 2005 with Erie of the Eastern League, he appeared in 52 games in relief leading the league in saves with 33, while striking out 50 batters in 50.2 innings pitched.
"Edwin provides an experienced arm for our bullpen; and he has a track record of proven success at the top levels of professional baseball," said Bears Assistant General Manager of Baseball Operations Jim Cerny. "We look for him to be a key contributor on the Bears pitching staff this season."
The Newark Bears will begin their ninth season at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Tuesday, May 8 against the Bridgeport Bluefish. Fans attending all home games may park in the spacious parking garage located behind the wall in right field. For more information and up-to-date news on the Bears, log on to the team's official website Newark Bears or call 1-866-55-4BEAR.
LANCASTER, Pa.-The Barnstormers have begun re-building their pitching staff following a remarkable turnaround in 2006. Lancaster has agreed to terms with starters Clayton Andrews and Brett Evert and relievers Derrick DePriest and James Lira, Barnstormers director of baseball operations Adam Gladstone announced today. Evert and Lira both saw action for Lancaster in 2006.
LHP Clayton Andrews was originally selected by Toronto in the third round of the 1996 draft. Andrews, 28, spent five years in the Blue Jays system, reaching the Major League club in 2000. The veteran left hander has also spent time in the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels organizations. In 66 games at the triple-A and Major League levels, Andrews is 19-21 with a 5.90 ERA.
"I know Lancaster fans have some high expectations," Andrews said. "But I'm ready to get rolling. I told (Barnstormers manager) Frank Klebe, I want to be on that mound on Opening Night and I'm going to work like crazy to get there."
RHP Brett Evert started one game for the Barnstormers last year before being signed by Boston and assigned to the Red Sox triple-A affiliate in Pawtucket. For his career, Evert, 26, has a strikeout to walk ratio better than 2:1.
RHP James Lira joined the Barnstormers in September last season and posted a 1.86 ERA with one save in seven appearances. Lira, 28, has spent time in the Devil Rays, Astros and Giants organizations and has a 3.09 ERA with 64 saves in his nine-year career.
RHP Derrick DePriest saved 14 games last season for Nashua and struck out 37 batters in only 28 innings pitched. In 2005, he led the Central Baseball League with a 1.93 ERA in 45 games. DePriest, 30, saved 13 games for El Paso and struck out 74 batters in 70 innings pitched that year.
"All of these guys have great experience and they've had success at different times in their careers," Klebe said. "There's some quality there and it's going to help our staff. Lira has proven he can close in our league and the other guys have proven they can win."
Opening Night for the defending Atlantic League Champion Barnstormers will be May 4, 2007 when they take on the Road Warriors at 7:05 p.m. Only season ticket holders can currently guarantee seats for Opening Day and the 2007 Atlantic League All-Star Game, to be held July 11 at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Single-game tickets for regular season home games will go on sale during the Barnstormers' FanFest, scheduled for Saturday, April 14.
NEWARK, NJ - March 6, 2007 - The Newark Bears Professional Baseball Club announced they have signed right-handed pitcher Jake Brooks to a contract for the 2007 season. Brooks was an All-Star pitcher for the Bears in 2005 before his contract was purchased by the Cleveland Indians.
Brooks appeared in a career high 36 games in 2005 posting a 4-1 record, striking out 34 batters in 40.1 innings pitched, while ranking fifth in the Atlantic League with 12 saves before signing with the Indians to play with their double-A affiliate in Akron. Before joining Akron, Brooks represented the Bears in the AL All-Star Game throwing one inning of no-hit ball, striking out two of the three batters he faced. The Sparta, NJ resident finished the 2005 campaign with a career high 45.2 innings pitched.
Originally drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 23rd round of the 1997 draft, Brooks spent the first three years of his career pitching in the Angels chain, reaching the double-A level in 2000 with Erie. In 2004, while splitting time between Winnipeg of the Northern League and Kalamazoo of the Frontier League, he set a career high in strikeouts with 59 and saves with 15.
"Jake has the experience and talent we are looking for in our pitching staff heading into the 2007 season," said Bears Assistant General Manager of Baseball Operations Jim Cerny. "We are very confident in his abilities and look forward to seeing him begin where he left off in 2005."
The Newark Bears will begin their ninth season at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium on Tuesday, May 8 against the Bridgeport Bluefish. Fans attending all home games may park in the spacious parking garage located behind the wall in right field. For more information and up-to-date news on the Bears, log on to the team's official website Newark Bears or call 1-866-55-4BEAR.
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