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AirHogs Make Two Big Moves for Playoff Run

August 13, 2011 - American Association (AA)
Grand Prairie AirHogs News Release


GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- With the clinching of the American Association South Division apparently imminent, the Grand Prairie AirHogs have begun to shore up their roster for the playoffs with two big moves finalized before Friday's 12-2 win against the El Paso Diablos.

First, the AirHogs signed infielder German Duran, a product of Paschal High School in Fort Worth as well as TCU and Weatherford College. The 27-year-old was drafted by the Rangers in the 6th round of the 2005 Major League Draft, and quickly earned his way up to the Major Leagues by 2008. The right-handed hitter played 60 games in "The Show," playing mostly third base and second base, as well as some outfield and shortstop.

Duran batted .231 with the Rangers with three home runs and 16 RBIs. Ironically, his first big league homer came against Oakland and former AirHog Greg Smith, who earlier this season wore the same number 27 that Duran wore for the first time Friday before being signed by the Yankees organization.

Born in Zacatecas, Mexico, Duran was claimed on waivers by the Astros in 2009, and spent the last two years mostly in double-A and triple-A with Houston. This season, Duran spent time with Yucatan and Acereros del Norte of the Mexican League before joining the AirHogs.

In his debut against El Paso, Duran hit a double on the first pitch he saw, finishing his day at shortstop by going 1-for-2 with a run scored and two knocked in.

Duran's younger brother Jose played for the AirHogs and the Fort Worth Cats last year, and finished the year with Wichita, where he has played all of this season.

The AirHogs' other big acquisition came on the mound in the person of righty Tim Brown, whom they received from Lincoln for two players to be named later. The St. Louis native was 8-6 with the Saltdogs this season, posting a 3.81 ERA in 18 starts. He was excellent in three starts against Grand Prairie, going a combined 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA, losing to a complete-game shutout by Smith in May, before beating the AirHogs two weeks ago at QuikTrip Park and getting a no-decision in a Grand Prairie comeback win last weekend in Lincoln.

Brown is expected to make his AirHogs debut on Monday at Fort Worth.

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The AirHogs continue their three-game series against the El Paso Diablos on Saturday, August 13. It is Veterans Appreciation Night, with a postgame concert featuring Ray Wylie Hubbard. The game begins at 6:05 p.m. All games are available with live, free streaming video on ustream.tv. Individual game tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling 972-504-9383 or by visiting www.airhogsbaseball.com.

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