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 River City Rascals

2015 Position Preview: Outfield

April 15, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


The Rascals outfield will feature some familiar faces in 2015. Two key contributors are returning from last year's first place team, but the team must fill a void left after the retirement of one of River City's most consistent contributors.

Curran Redal is returning to captain the Rascal outfield this season after playing 69 games in center last year. The Liberty University alumnus is entering his fourth season in River City, playing primarily in centerfield in his first three years. The lefty can provide some speed at the top of the lineup after swiping 37 bases over the last two seasons. He does not provide much power, six career homeruns, but has shown an ability to reach base and set the table for the Rascals' big hitters with a .312 average and .352 on-base percentage last year.

Saxon Butler is another key contributor returning to River City this season. Butler, who played 76 combined games at catcher and first base last year, is expected to start in one of the corner outfield positions in 2015. The Rascals signed Butler prior to the 2014 season after he spent two seasons in the Yankees system. The big righty hit seven homers and .297/.382/.438 and led the team with 84 RBI and 96 games. He will most likely spend the bulk of the season batting in the middle of the lineup.

The Rascals will be without one of their most consistent hitters for the first time since 2010. Eric Williams retired this offseason and will transition to the Rascals hitting coach for 2015. Williams played 86 of his 90 games last year in left field while leading the team with 90 walks.

Brian Hansen is entering his second season with the Rascals. He played 48 games in the outfield last year, including 25 in center. The righty notched six homers, 18 RBI, and seven steals in just 141 at-bats last year.

After spending two years in the Mariners system, Brett Thomas joined the Rascals this offseason. Thomas provides another left-handed bat and can play all three outfield positions. In 63 professional games, he hit .232/.326/.289 over three different levels.

With two of the three 2014 starters returning to River City, the outfield looks to be another strength of this year's team. For a team whose offense led the Frontier League last season, it is a positive to bring back as many offensive pieces as possible from the previous year.


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The 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.

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