SHREVEPORT, La. - The Shreveport-Bossier Captains made two more roster moves in the last two days to cap four straight days of activity, signing veteran outfielder Rodney Medina and rookie infielder B.J. Wheeler to contracts. The duo takes the places of lefthanded pitcher Jorge Lugo, who was released, and infielder Aaron Cone, who was traded to the Rockford (Ill.) Riverhawks of the Frontier League for future considerations.
Medina, a 28-year-old from Maracaibo, Venezuela, started this season with Lancaster (Pa.) of the Atlantic League, where he was hitting .277 with no home runs and three RBIs in 14 games. Medina, who hits lefthanded but throws righthanded, made his Captains debut Wednesday night at home against Pensacola, where he went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
The veteran started his professional career in 1999 after being signed as a free agent by the Blue Jays organization. He spent his first two years in the Venezuelan Summer League, before coming to the United States in 2001. He made it as high as Class-A Advanced from 2003-05 in the Florida State League, before spending the last three years in independent ball. Medina played with Coastal Bend of the American Association and Edinburg of the United League in 2006, Edinburg again in '07, before spending last year in Taiwan. In his 99 games with Edinburg, where he often faced his current manager Ricky VanAsselberg, Medina hit .354 with 34 RBIs and 29 stolen bases. In his career, Medina is a .294 hitter in more than 700 minor league games, with 34 homers, 276 RBIs, and 89 stolen bases.
Wheeler, 24, was part of a dominant Oklahoma City University (NAIA) team that went 53-9 in 2009. The righty-swinging infielder hit .409 with 17 homers and 55 RBIs for OCU, and had a stellar .937 fielding percentage. He had 19 doubles and two triples as well. Originally from Abilene, Texas, but now living in Oklahoma City, Wheeler hit .346 as a junior, with nine homers and 42 RBIs as well. He also stole 11 bases that year, fourth on the team.
The Shreveport-Bossier Captains kick off a nine-game road trip to north division foes Sioux Falls, St. Paul and Sioux City. The Captains begin the trip Friday, June 5, at 7:05 p.m. visiting the Canaries. They return home on Monday, June 15 for a four-game set with Pensacola. The first game of that series is a buyout night with free tickets sponsored by local Dodge dealerships, who encourage fans to bring food donations for the Northwest Louisiana Food Bank that evening. It is also Jose Cuervo Presents Margarita Monday, with half-priced margaritas all night long. All games are broadcast on ESPN Radio, KRMD-1340 AM and streamed live on supertalk1340.com, with streaming video provided by NiftyTV on www.sbcaptains.com for all home games and select road games. For information on tickets, promotions, advertising, and other opportunities with the Captains, check out the team's Web site at www.sbcaptains.com, or call the Fair Grounds Field office at (318) 636-5555.
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