Goldeyes Strengthen Rotation
February 10, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release
WINNIPEG, MB - The Winnipeg Goldeyes signed veteran right-handed pitcher Mikey O'Brien on Wednesday morning.
O'Brien pitched in both the Tampa Bay Rays' and Baltimore Orioles' organizations last season, reaching Double-A with both clubs, and combining for a 6-8 record with a 3.45 ERA over 16 starts and 12 relief appearances. The Roanoke, Virginia native totaled 109.2 innings pitched, striking out 82, walking 35, and allowing just five home runs. In addition to posting an ERA below 4.25 for a fifth time in the last six years, O'Brien pitched a no-hitter for the High-A Carolina League's Frederick Keys (Baltimore) on August 20th at Lynchburg. O'Brien struck out nine, and accomplished the feat in front of family and friends visiting from Roanoke. Last year also marked the fifth consecutive season in which O'Brien worked at least 100 innings. O'Brien--who will be 26 on Opening Night--allowed three or fewer earned runs in 14 of his 16 starts in 2015.
"Mikey is what I consider to be a top-of-the-rotation starter," said Goldeyes' manager Rick Forney . "Mikey has spent the last four seasons at the Double-A level, and has been very successful. He logs a lot of innings, boasts an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio, and has allowed just 0.6 home runs per nine innings in his career."
In eight professional seasons, O'Brien is 43-44 with a 3.79 ERA over 163 contests, 128 of them as a starting pitcher. The 6-foot, 205-pound O'Brien was drafted by the New York Yankees in the ninth round in 2008 out of Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke. Throughout his time as a professional, O'Brien has thrived in clutch situations, holding the opposition to a .249 batting average with runners in scoring position, and a .205 clip with runners in scoring position and two outs. In 744.0 career innings, O'Brien has struck out 594 against 258 walks, and has yielded only 48 home runs. O'Brien reached Triple-A with the Cincinnati Reds' organization in 2014, and has four years of experience at the Double-A level. O'Brien has twice been selected in the minor league phase of Major League Baseball's annual Rule V Draft.
Notes: Since 2010, O'Brien has helped raise more than $5,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation through an annual baseball camp held at Hidden Valley High School...O'Brien has been part of a playoff team each of the last four years, including a Double-A Eastern League championship with the Trenton Thunder in 2013...on September 5th, 2013, O'Brien allowed one earned run in six innings to help Trenton win Game Three of the Eastern League Championship Series, providing the Thunder a 2-1 series lead...O'Brien is the fifth player the Goldeyes have signed for 2016 previously drafted in the top 10 rounds of Major League Baseball's amateur draft...the others are Josh Romanski (4th round, New York Yankees, 2008), Wes Darvill (5th round, Chicago Cubs, 2009), Casey Haerther (5th round, Los Angeles Angels, 2009), and Steven Gruver (7th round, Minnesota Twins, 2011)...O'Brien and Romanski were teammates in the Yankees' organization for three straight years from 2011-13
The Goldeyes now have 19 players under contract for the 2016 season. American Association clubs may carry up to 28 players during spring training, which begins May 7th.
2016 Winnipeg Goldeyes Signings
OF Reggie Abercrombie
LHP Chris Anderson
LHP Kyle Anderson
RHP Kevin Becker-Menditto
RHP Zach Dando
IF Wes Darvill
SS Maikol Gonzalez
IF Casio Grider
LHP Steven Gruver
1B Casey Haerther
OF Adam Heisler
IF Ridge Hoopii-Haslam
LHP Trevor Lubking
LHP Kevin McGovern
RHP Mikey O'Brien
OF Josh Romanski
RHP Brandon Shimo
LHP Conor Spink
C Carlton Tanabe
The Winnipeg Goldeyes open the 2016 season on May 19th at Joplin. Winnipeg's 2016 home opener is scheduled for Monday, May 30th versus the Sioux Falls Canaries. For information regarding Season Tickets, 10-Game Mini Packs, or group outings, call the Goldeyes' office at (204) 982-BASE, or visit the Goldeyes' official website at www.goldeyes.com.
• Discuss this story on the American Association message board...
American Association Stories from February 10, 2016
- Goldeyes Strengthen Rotation - Winnipeg Goldeyes
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.
