(LANCASTER, CA) -Three former JetHawks made noise this week as the Major League season came to a close. On Wednesday evening Damaso Marte became the first former JetHawk to win two World Series Rings. Marte's first ring came with the White Sox in 2005 and now with the Yankees. The next day, Fernando Abad (2009 JetHawks) was placed on the Astros 40-Man Major League Roster and Hunter Jones (2007 JetHawks) was traded to the Florida Marlins.Damaso Marte celebrated winning the World Series for the second time in New York Wednesday night. He was the first JetHawks alumnus to win a championship in 2005 when he played for the Chicago White Sox. In that series he was the winning pitcher in the longest game in World Series history, beating the Houston Astros in a 5 hour 41 minute 14 inning marathon. This year he was a key contributor to the Yankees 27th World Championship, pitching in 4 games and striking out 5 batters in 2 and 1/3 innings, including back to back strike outs in game 6 while only throwing 6 pitches. Marte called Lancaster home in 1997, going 8-8 over 25 games with a 4.14 ERA as a member of the JetHawks.
The Houston Astros announced Thursday that Fernando Abad was added to their 40-man roster. The move keeps Abad from becoming a free agent next year and likely means he will be the Astros major league camp to start 2010.
Fernando pitched in 41 games for the JetHawks last season before being promoted to AA Corpus Christi on August 26th. Over that 41-game span Abad racked up 79 K's in just over 82 innings pitched. He left Lancaster with a record of 4-6 and a 4.14 ERA with 6 saves. In Corpus Christi Abad pitched in 3 games and ended the season with 0-1 with a 3.21 ERA in AA.
Former JetHawk Hunter Jones was traded from the Red Sox to the Marlins Thursday. Jones Pitched at the Hangar in 2007, going 4-1 with a 2.11 ERA over 24 games. Hunter made his Major League debut last season with the Red Sox and posted a 9.24 ERA over 11 games. With the trade Jones will join former JetHawks Dan Uggla and Emilio Bonifacio at Land Shark Stadium in Florida.
The 2010 season marks the 15th anniversary of professional baseball in the Antelope Valley, and since its inaugural game in 1996, The Hangar has produced more than 90 Major Leaguers and inducted 25 members into The JetHawks Hall of Fame. Don't miss out on your chance to be a part of 15 years of Hangar Heroes in 2010.
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