LANCASTER, Pa.-The Lancaster Barnstormers have signed 1B-OF Ian Bladergroen to a 2008 contract, club vice president of baseball operations Keith Lupton announced today.
The Barnstormers acquired the rights to Bladergroen last week from the expansion Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in exchange for a player to be named later.
The 25-year old resident of Albuquerque, N.M., batted .275 with 21 doubles, nine home runs and 51 RBIs while playing in 76 games for the Road Warriors last year, his first season in the Atlantic League. He previously spent two seasons each in the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox organizations.
He got off to an incredible start for the Capital City Bombers of the Class A South Atlantic League in 2004, driving in 34 runs in his first 20 games. He finished with a .342 average, 13 homers and 74 RBIs in 72 games before being shelved by an injury for the final two months of the season. Bladergroen spent the next two seasons in Wilmington, Del.
"Ian is someone we've wanted since day one," Lupton said. "If he gets 400 at bats, he should have an outstanding year. He's a good left-handed bat with gap-to-gap power, which should play well in our ballpark."
Bladergroen becomes the 18th player under contract with the Barnstormers in 2008. The club heads to spring training in Lakeland, Fla., on Monday, April 14 and will return the following week to open the season at home against the Bridgeport Bluefish on Friday, April 25.
Tickets to Opening Night will go on sale during the Barnstormers annual FanFest on Saturday, April 5. Single-game tickets to all other regular season games are ON SALE NOW during a special internet pre-sale on Monday, March 31.
CAMDEN, NJ- The Camden Riversharks are four players closer to completing an Opening Day roster. Today, the team announced the signings of outfielder Josh Rabe, infielder Richard Lewis, and righthanded pitchers Julio Guerrero and Buddy Hernandez.
Rabe, 29, has reached the Majors twice in his eight year career. He was an eleventh-round draft pick for the Minnesota Twins in 2000 and has played on the AAA and Major League teams since 2003. He holds a .277 career batting average in the Minor Leagues with 56 homeruns and 343 RBI. In 80 big league at-bats, Rabe hit .250.
Lewis, 27, was a first-round pick for the Atlanta Braves in 2001. After reaching Double-A Greenville, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs. He's since reached Triple-A with the Cubs and Kansas City Royals systems. Lewis is a versatile infielder and can fill in any of the four positions.
Guerrero, 26, has experience in the Atlantic League. In 2006 and 2007, he pitched for the Road Warriors. He spent the seven previous years in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Guerrero holds a career 4.17 ERA over 719 innings pitched.
Hernandez, 28, has played in the Braves system since 2000. In those seven seasons, he posted a 2.50 ERA and held opposing batters to a .213 batting average. He pitched for Triple-A Richmond from 2003 to 2007.
"The addition of these four players provides us with some new blood," Riversharks Director of Baseball Operations, David Keller, said. "We're continuing to pursue high-level talent to fill out the roster."
March 31, 2008, Evansville, IN - The Evansville Otters have announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Ricky Bauer (Kaneohe, HI) for the 2008 season. Bauer come to Evansville from the San Francisco Giants organization where he spent the three previous seasons compiling a career 4.45 ERA while pitching in 32 games, striking out 57 and walking 19. Bauer started 9 of his 15 appearances last season with Salem-Keizer, the single A affiliate of the Giants in the Northwest League, going 4-3 with a 4.34ERA. Bauer pitched four years at the University of Hawaii striking out 204 batters while walking just 50.
MARION, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Miners have signed right handed pitcher Ryan Bird for the 2008 season. Norton, 23, spent the 2007 season with the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
In 22 total relief appearances with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays and Auburn Doubledays, Bird went 5-3 with a 1.80 ERA. He struck out 43 and walked only 11 in 35.0 innings. Opposing hitter hit a paltry .172 against him.
"I had a chance to see Ryan throw last summer before he signed with Toronto," Miners Manager Mike Pinto said. "I liked his approach on the mound. He throws strikes and has a great out pitch in his breaking ball. This is a very nice addition to the Miners staff."
Prior to his year with the Jays, Bird played four years at the University of St. Louis where he was one of the most dominant pitchers in school history. A two-time All-Conference selection and an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American, Bird holds school records for career strikeouts (286), innings pitched (374.2) and games started (56). For his career, Bird posted a career 3.60 ERA with the Billikens, striking out 286 and walking only 133. He is second in SLU history in career ERA (3.48), fourth in wins (16), 10th in complete games (8) and 14th in appearances (58).
In 2007 Bird ranked 10th in the Atlantic 10 Conference with a 3.33 ERA. He was named Most Outstanding Player in the 2006 Atlantic 10 Tournament, delivering wins in the first and final games of the Billikens championship run.
"Mike wasn't kidding when he said he was going to go out and find some pitching," Miners General Manager Tim Arseneau said. "He's done a great job going out and signing some quality arms for the team."
The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit Southern Illinois Miners.
Washington, Pa -- The Washington Wild Things, presented by Washington Federal Savings Bank, announced Monday they have re-signed pitchers Ian Heisel, Ryan Davis, and Alex Sharick from last seasons Frontier League East Division Championship team.
In 2007, Heisel had a record of 1-1, with 6 saves and a 2.14 ERA in 18 games while being selected to the Frontier League All-Star game in Florence. He had a 1.75 ERA with 27 strikeouts while surrendering only 19 hits in 25.2 innings pitched at CONSOL Energy Park. Had saves in four consecutive appearances from June 24 to July 4 allowing four hits, one run while striking out nine batters in nine innings during that span.
"Ian was a major force in our bullpen last year before an arm injury shortened his season," said General Manager Ross Vecchio. "We are looking for a healthy return and a return to the form that made him one of the top pitchers in the league last season."
Heisel was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a non-drafted free agent in 2005 from California University of Pennsylvania. He joined the Wild Things after playing two seasons in the Pirates organization where he appeared in 52 games over that period of time with a record of 2-2, and a 2.84 ERA. He struck out 89 batters while surrendering only 28 walks and 68 hits in 82.2 innings pitched.
Ryan Davis joined the Wild Things in June after graduating from Kent State University in 2007. The southpaw recorded his first win July 19th at CONSOL Energy Park versus Chillicothe. Davis finished the year with a 2-0 record, and 25 strikeouts, in 21 games.
Right-hander Alex Sharick, a Pittsburgh native, signed with the Wild Things in June of 2007 after his senior season at Duquesne University. He posted a record of 0-1 and one save with a 3.38 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 18.2 innings pitched in 12 games in his professional debut. During the month of August he struck out 14 in 14.2 innings pitched and recorded his first save on August 31st against Slippery Rock.
"Alex and Ryan came in after the season began and each made solid contributions last year," said Vecchio. "Each will be given an opportunity to be part of our staff this season. We are excited to see them after they have some professional innings under their belts."
The Wild Things begin exhibition play on Thursday, May 15th against the U.S. Military All-Stars at CONSOL Energy Park. The Wild Things, who open the 2008 season on the road, will host the Traverse City Beach Bums for their home opener on May 24th. Season ticket packages are available at the CONSOL Energy Park box office.
The South Coast League of Professional Baseball announced today that on April 1st, the league will be suspending business operations and postpone the 2008 season indefinitely.
The league made its Inaugural Season debut in 2007 to six markets located in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Most recent plans called for the replacement of one team by a new addition to the league out of Jackson, Mississippi.
Recent developments within the company as well as lengthy discussions with the entire ownership group led to the decision that was handed down to league officials and the markets currently home to the league's teams.
Like many businesses caught in the economic downturn, the South Coast League has not been able to close on a sufficient amount of debt and equity financing to ensure a successful 2008 season.
The league owners have indicated that they will continue to plan for a possible restart in 2009, possibly under new ownership.
The South Coast League wants to thank the many fans, sponsors, and local leaders who made the 2007 season possible.
i didn't know where to say this but Im awaiting the start of the minor league season myself. After all I live in a city where there is no major league team and the closest is some 3+ hours away.
news 3/31
Barnstormers Sign Bladergroen
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