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AtL Lancaster Stormers

Barnstormers Sign Former Minnesota Twin

March 23, 2015 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


The defending Atlantic League champion Lancaster Barnstormers continued to build their 2015 roster today with the signings of former Minnesota Twins infielder Luke Hughes and right-handed pitcher Adam Reifer, a veteran of five seasons at Class AAA, it was announced by manager Butch Hobson.

Hughes, 30, is the second Australian to have signed a Barnstormers' contract, though the first, Damian Moss, never appeared in a game. It is also the second time that Hughes has been acquired by Lancaster, but, he was signed by Toronto in 2012 while on his flight to Pennsylvania from the West Coast.

The Perth native was signed initially by Minnesota in 2002 and reached the Major Leagues in 2010. He homered off future Cy Young winner Max Scherzer of Detroit in his first big league at bat on April 28 of that season. He appeared in 96 games for the Twins in 2011, splitting his time among first, second and third base. The right-handed hitter batted .223 with seven home runs and 30 RBI. Three of those home runs came in a two-day span against Detroit, August 27 and 28. He also had two doubles and eight runs batted in during that stretch.

While coming up in the Minnesota system, Hughes had his best season in 2008, hitting Class AA and Class AAA pitching at a .309 clip with 18 home runs and 61 RBI. He played for former Barnstormers' hitting coach Stan Cliburn with Class AAA Rochester in 2008 and 2009.

Hughes last played in the United States in 2012, a season in which he appeared briefly for both Minnesota and Oakland and played in the Oakland and Toronto organizations, batting a composite .264. He has continued to play for his hometown Perth Heat in the Australian Winter League, finishing fourth in the circuit with a .352 average this past winter season.

"He's got some pop in his bat, especially to the opposite field," said Hobson. "I look at him to come in and solidify the infield."

Reifer, 28, first reached Class AAA Memphis late in the 2010 season after reeling off 17 saves at Class AA Springfield. He remained in Memphis for two more seasons before heading to New Orleans in 2013 and Fresno in 2014. While in Memphis in 2010 and 2011, the California native shared the bullpen with current Barnstormers pitching coach Rich Rundles.

His best Class AAA season was with New Orleans, posting a 1.32 ERA over 28 appearances. Reifer served as a closer his first three professional seasons, recording 60 saves. He had 22 of those in 32 appearances for Batavia in his first season after being drafted from UC-Riverside by the St. Louis Cardinals.

"Supposedly, he is a 90-94 guy who has some decent numbers," said Hobson. "He's a big, strong-bodied kid that we can use in the back end of the bullpen."

The Lancaster Barnstormers are entering their eleventh season as a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Home games are played at Clipper Magazine Stadium in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Please call 717.509.HITS (4487) or visit LancasterBarnstormers.com for more information.

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