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Wilmington Blue Rocks

Top-10 Prospect Sent to Rangers in Two-For-One Deal

September 3, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - According to MLB.com, the Kansas City Royals have traded Wilmington Blue Rocks starting pitcher Danny Gutierrez to the Texas Rangers for a pair of fellow minor leaguers, catcher Manny Pina and outfielder Tim Smith. Gutierrez went 1-0 with a 1.65 ERA in eight games (four starts) with the Blue Rocks. He was scratched from a scheduled start on Wednesday night against Myrtle Beach.

The 22-year-old Riverside, CA product logged perhaps his best Wilmington outing in his last one. A 33rd-round draft choice of the Royals in 2005, Gutierrez hurled six scoreless innings for a win at Salem on August 28. He held the Carolina League to a .173 batting average during his month-long stay. He entered the season as the No. 7 prospect in the Kansas City system according to Baseball America, blessed with the chain's "Best Control" and "Best Curveball".

Pina, 22, was a starting catcher in the Texas League All-Star Game, and was hitting .259 with eight homers and 42 RBIs in 86 games for Double-A Frisco. A right-handed batter from Venezuela, the Royals have heaped praise upon his defensive abilities.

Smith, 23, hit .309 in 36 games for Frisco and .333 in 35 games for Advanced-A Bakersfield this season. For the two teams combined, the left-handed batter hit seven homers and had 51 RBIs. A seventh-round pick in 2007 from Arizona State, he is currently in training with Team Canada for the World Cup competition.

The Blue Rocks close out their regular season with a four-game series against the Frederick Keys (Baltimore Orioles). The set begins on Friday at 7:05 p.m., a post-game fireworks night at Frawley Stadium. The Blue Rocks invite our fans to "Sweat to the Oldies" and more on Richard Simmons Night at the park. REGGY!, the purple party dude, will be in attendance with his zany antics on a Family Friday with four reserved tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas for just $40. The USO will also be auctioning off Blue Rocks Camo Hats as well as other items throughout the game. For tickets call 302-888-BLUE (2583) or visit bluerocks.com.

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Carolina League Stories from September 3, 2009


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