The new Yuma Scorpions of the Golden Baseball League have signed their first player for the 2010
season. Salomon Manriquez, the All-Star catcher in the Atlantic League in 2009 becomes the initial player to join manager Darryl Brinkley's roster. The former Montreal Expos farmhand had three full seasons of double-A experience before joining the Newark Bears last spring. He led Tim Raines' Bears in the 2009 season batting .311 with seven home runs, 57 RBI and a .444 slugging percentage.
"Just looking at his numbers and having watched the level of play in the GBL for the past three seasons I would have to say he could be one of the premiere players in the league", said Peter Young, Vice-President of Golden Glove Professional Baseball. Just a week ago the league announced that GGPB will run the Scorpions in 2010 with multi-year minor league all-star and Baseball America Player of the Year Brinkley as manager.
"I know this guy can flat out play', said Brinkley. "He'll be outstanding handling our pitching staff and is a great first step towards a very competitive roster".
Brinkley, who will manage a roster made up exclusively of Venezuelan players, is no stranger to baseball in the country. A former M.V.P. in the Series Caribe the slugging outfielder has also played for the Navegantes del Magallenas, the Tiburones de La Guaira, the Caribes de Anzoategui and the Bravos de Margarita.
Golden Glove Professional Baseball will oversee operations of the team and will initially be organizing evaluation camps in Venezuela to narrow down the group of players who will travel to Yuma for the regular GBL training camp starting on May 2, 2010. The Scorpions are expected to field a team comprised of numerous AAA and AA players as well as some promising younger pros.
GBL commissioner Kevin Outcalt and league president Dave Kaval will be travelling to Venezuela next week to complete arrangements for a new post-season tournament to be held in the South American country.
• Discuss this story on the Golden Baseball League message board...
• Digg this story
• Add to Del.icio.us
Golden Baseball League Stories from March 5, 2010
• Yuma Scorpions Make First 2010 Signing - Yuma ScorpionsThe opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.