Blue Jays' Third-Rounder Liebel Joins Pheasants
Published on April 25, 2012 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
SIOUX FALLS - The Sioux Falls Pheasants signed former Toronto Blue Jays prospect Andrew Liebel on Wednesday, bringing their 2012 roster to near completion.
Liebel, 26, was a third-round draft choice of the Blue Jays in 2008. The right-hander spent four seasons in Toronto's system, progressing quickly to Double-A New Hampshire in 2009. Liebel split the 2011 season across three levels, going 4-4 with a 4.33 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched.
There will be at least two faces familiar to Liebel in his first venture into independent baseball; he reunites with Pheasants catcher Al Quintana, a former teammate in the Blue Jays system. Pheasants newly-signed pitcher Cody Evans was a college teammate with Liebel at Long Beach State, where Liebel was a 2008 National Pitcher of the Year Candidate and Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year.
Liebel is a native of Pomona, Calif, and has a league status of LS-3, which means a player has completed less than four full seasons.
The Pheasants roster now totals 24 players - 13 pitchers and 11 position players. Players report for spring training on Saturday, May 5. League rules allow for a maximum of 28 players under contract during the preseason.
The Sioux Falls Pheasants begin their 20th-anniversary season at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday, May 17 when they host the Sioux City Explorers. Information about season tickets and group outings is available by calling (605) 336-6060 or visiting www.sfpheasants.com.
American Association Stories from April 25, 2012
- Blue Jays' Third-Rounder Liebel Joins Pheasants - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Former Saint, Major Leaguer Kerry Ligtenberg New Saints Pitching Coach - St. Paul Saints
- X's Announce 2012 Coaching Staff & Spring Training Schedule - Sioux City Explorers
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