Normal CornBelters Set Spring Training Roster
Published on May 6, 2013 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
Normal, IL - The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, have signed outfielder David Medina, along with right-handed pitchers Alex Schmarzo, Casey Upperman and Keith Greer. Medina, Schmarzo and Upperman have all played affiliated professional baseball, while Greer is entering his first season in professional baseball. The CornBelters will play their first regular season home game of the 2013 season at The Corn Crib on Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. versus the Windy City Thunderbolts (CEFCU Opening Night).
From 2006-2012, Medina played for five different teams within the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Last season, he hit .241 with 104 hits, 72 RBI, 31 doubles and nine home runs in 120 games played for the Quad Cities River Bandits (Midwest League - Class A).
"David had the kind of numbers that attracted our attention immediately," said CornBelters Field Manager, Brooks Carey. "If he performs at that level during spring training, he'll be a nice late addition to our roster."
Schmarzo attended St. Mary's College of California (Moraga, CA) and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 48 th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball (MLB) June Amateur Draft. From 2010-2012, he played for two different teams within the Orioles organization. Splitting time last season between the Aberdeen IronBirds (New York-Pennsylvania League - Class Low A) and Delmarva Shorebirds (South Atlantic League - Class A), he was 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA, 32 strikeouts and two saves in 18 relief appearances.
"Alex came out of Nick Belomonte's [CornBelters Player Personnel Director] tryout camp in Texas, and we usually get the best pitchers out of his camp," said Carey. "We'll give him every opportunity to make the team during spring training."
Upperman was the No. 1 pick in the first round of Frontier League Tryout Camp draft on Tuesday, April 30 in Sauget, IL. He attended Yavapai College (Prescott, AZ) and was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 47 th round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft. That season, he split time between the Missoula Osprey (Pioneer League - Class Rookie) and Yakima Bears (Northwest League - Class Low A). He was 2-0 with a 5.96 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 17 appearances.
"I was hoping to select a pitcher with the first pick in the draft, and Casey was the best of the 160 pitchers I saw," said Carey. "He's hard throwing, and he has electric stuff."
Greer was the No. 1 pick in the second round of the Frontier League Tryout Camp draft. He played collegiately at South Suburban College (South Holland, IL) and University of Southern Indiana (Evansville, IN). Last season, he was 0-1 with a 6.29 ERA and nine strikeouts in nine appearances for the Screaming Eagles.
"Keith impressed me enough to call his name out at the draft," said Carey. "I think he has the potential as a rookie to come in and contribute for us."
THE NIBLET : The CornBelters are still seeking host families for the 2013 season. The "Host Family Program" provides players with a home away from home. It enables them to live with a family, couple or individual in the Bloomington-Normal area. It is derived from a variety of factors from a player's standpoint. Such factors include: the difficulty in finding a lease for just several months, the possibility of playing for the CornBelters for a limited time and/or the limited salaries that accompany professional baseball at this level of play. For more information, and a host family application, please visit http://www.normalbaseball.com/host-family/.
Frontier League Stories from May 6, 2013
- Normal CornBelters Set Spring Training Roster - Normal CornBelters
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