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Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Jackals' Leonard Davis Sold to Washington Nationals

July 25, 2011 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Little Falls, N.J. - The New Jersey Jackals are pleased to announce that outfielder Leonard Davis has had his contract purchased by the Washington Nationals organization. Davis will report to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators.

"That's what we're here for for all of our players - the chance to get the opportunity to get with an organization and a chance to get to the major leagues," Jackals' manager Joe Calfapietra said. "Obviously we're very happy for him. The players are happy for him and so am I."

Through 52 games with the Jackals this season, Davis batted .317 with 36 RBIs and a team-leading nine home runs. Davis departs the Jackals as the Can-Am League leader with 46 runs scored. A versatile defender, the 27-year-old California native has played five different positions for New Jersey including all three outfield spots, third base, and second base.

Prior to joining the Jackals in May, Davis spent his first seven professional seasons in the Expos/Nationals minor league system after being drafted by the Montreal Expos in the eighth round in 2004. Davis began last season at Harrisburg, but spent the bulk of the season with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, combining to smash 20 home runs in 2010. He has connected on at least 16 home runs each of the past four seasons.

Davis is the 23rd player the Jackals have sold to an affiliated organization since 2006. The Jackals now boast eight alumni currently playing in affiliated baseball including two in the major leagues - pitchers Craig Breslow (Oakland) and Raul Valdes (St. Louis).

To fill Davis' roster spot, the Jackals have signed outfielder Sean Smith, who began the season with the Rockland Boulders. With Rockland, Smith batted .274 with four home runs, 28 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 46 games. The 28-year-old native of Joliet, Ill., was a 15th round draft pick out of high school by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2000. He advanced as high as Double-A in 2007, playing in 86 games for the Birmingham Barons that season in the White Sox' system. Smith has spent two seasons in New Jersey playing for the Atlantic League's Somerset Patriots, where he hit a career-high 15 home runs in 2008 and stole a career-best 52 bases in 2009. Ironically, Smith had his contract purchased by the Nationals from Somerset following the 2009 campaign.

The New Jersey Jackals, proud members of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, play their home games at Yogi Berra Stadium located on the campus of Montclair State University in Little Falls, NJ. 2011 single-game tickets, season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.jackals.com.

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