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St. Paul Saints

Saints Invite 53-year-old Knuckleballer into Camp

April 25, 2008 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (April 25, 2008) - The dream of pitching once again for a professional organization lives on for 53-year-old knuckleballer Jon Secrist. The St. Paul Saints invited him into their spring training camp on Friday. The Saints also invited into camp right-handed pitcher Mitch Wylie and signed former University of Minnesota right-handed pitcher Craig Molldrem and first baseman Tim Brown.

Despite two days of open tryouts being washed out, Secrist threw for manager George Tsamis and impressed him enough that he will have an opportunity to earn a spot on the club. He is scheduled to make his 2008 debut on Tuesday night in a 7:05 p.m. exhibition game against the Ibaraki Golden Golds from Japan.

Secrist pitched briefly for the Saints in 1999 and was 0-1 with a 9.34 ERA in two games. This invite gives Secrist the opportunity to once again pitch on the Midway Stadium mound.

"Jon will come into camp with us and will compete for a spot on our roster," said Saints manager George Tsamis. "He is excited about the opportunity."

The Saints signed two players, including the 26-year-old Molldrem. Last season he split time between Double-A Carolina and Triple-A Albuquerque, both affiliates of the Florida Marlins. He spent the majority of the season with Carolina where he went 5-4 with a 4.84 ERA in 47 games. In 61.1 innings pitched he walked 36 and struck out 49 while opponents hit .254 against him. Molldrem was an eighth round pick of the Marlins in 2004. He was Second Team All-Big Ten for the Gophers in 2004.

The 25-year-old Brown spent last season with the San Diego Padres organization where he played for Double-A San Antonio. He hit .274 with 13 homers and 50 RBI in 109 games. In 351 at bats he scored 56 runs, had 16 doubles, a slugging percentage of .430 and an on-base percentage of .357. Brown was drafted in the 12th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2001.

The Saints invited the 31-year-old Wylie into camp with an opportunity to make the team. Wylie was injured all of last season, but was with the New York Mets organization in 2006 and pitched at Triple-A Norfolk. He was 2-4 with a 2.96 ERA and one save in 27 games (two starts). In 48.2 innings pitched he walked 11 and struck out 53.

The Saints officially have 26 players coming into camp, 13 pitchers and 13 position players. During the first week of the season the Saints can carry 24 players and must trim it down to the maximum of 22 after that.

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