Major League Pitcher Liriano Joins Skeeters
February 17, 2012 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Sugar Land Space Cowboys News Release
Sugar Land, TEXAS - The Sugar Land Skeeters announced today the signing of major league pitcher Peddro Liriano and the appeal of playing in front of a home crowd is becoming more apparent as the Skeeters have also signed three Texas natives to the 2012 Skeeters roster, outfielder Bubba Bell, pitcher Eric Krebs and pitcher Trey Rackel.
"It is a very exciting time for the organization," said Gary Gaetti, Manager of the Sugar Land Skeeters. "As the first pieces of the club are starting to form, you can see the level of talent we are bringing to Sugar Land. The fact that many of them hang their boots in Texas is just an added bonus for the fans."
Liriano, a Dominican born right handed pitcher, is the second veteran major leaguer to join the Skeeters lineup. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Anaheim Angels in 1998. In 2004, he made his MLB debut as a reliever in 11 games for the Milwaukee Brewers. The following year he was picked up off of waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies and pitched in five games. In the minors he have career stats of 184 career games (141 starts), a 42-67 record with a 4.27 ERA, 6 saves, and 656 strikeouts over the course of 822 innings pitched.
Bell, who was born in Houston, Texas, returns to the area to play baseball. Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 2005 draft, he played last season with New York Mets Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons with fellow Skeeters outfielder, Jason Botts. The switch-hitting outfielder has minor league career stats of .287 batting average, 374 runs scored, 664 hits, 130 doubles, 61 home runs and 341 RBIs in 642 games played from 2005 through 2011.
Krebs, a right handed pitcher from Tomball, Texas, makes his way to Sugar Land for his sixth season of professional base- ball. After playing collegiate baseball down State Highway 6 at nearby Alvin Community College, he was drafted in the 2005 amateur draft by the Pittsburg Pirates. In 147 career games (23 starts), the 26-year-old owns an 11-17 record with a 4.29 ERA, 10 saves, and 293 strikeouts over the course of 277 innings pitched.
Rackel, a right handed pitcher from Houston, makes his way back home to throw for the Skeeters. The local boy went to college at Angelina College until being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2009 by the New York Mets.
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Atlantic League Stories from February 17, 2012
- Somerset Patriots Sign Outfielders Joe Holden, Jonathan Tucker, and John Drennen - Somerset Patriots
- Major League Pitcher Liriano Joins Skeeters - Sugar Land Space Cowboys
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