AtL Lancaster Stormers

Barnstormers Sign Kielty & Williams

Published on March 17, 2014 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


Outfielder Bobby Kielty, who hit the decisive home run in the 2007 World Series, has signed a 2014 contract with the Lancaster Barnstormers, it was announced today by manager Butch Hobson.

In addition, the Barnstormers have brought back outfielder Jeremy Williams, who closed out the 2013 season in Lancaster.

Kielty, 37, was signed by the Boston Red Sox as a free agent in August, 2007 and finished out the season at Fenway Park. He went 2-for-5 in the ALCS against Cleveland then sat for the first three games of Boston's four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies. The switch hitter was brought off the bench to bat for Mike Timlin in the eighth inning. In the only World Series at bat of his career, he connected off Rockies left-hander Brian Fuentes, putting the Red Sox up, 4-1. The Rockies would come back to score twice in the bottom of the inning before Boston capped the sweep.

That home run turned out to be his last trip to the plate at the Major League level.

The University of Mississippi product signed with the Minnesota Twins in 1999. He advanced to the big leagues by the end of the 2001 season and played in 599 games with Minnesota, Oakland, Toronto and the Red Sox over the next seven years. Kielty has a career average of .254 in the Majors with 53 home runs.

Besides the 2007 post-season, he also appeared in the playoffs with Minnesota in 2002 and Oakland in 2006.

In 2008, Kielty returned to the Minnesota system where he played for current Barnstormers hitting coach Stan Cliburn. Over the last five years, the California native has been in the Mets and Padres organizations and also appeared in 19 games for York in 2012. He hit .221 for the Revs.

"Bobby gives us a veteran presence in the lineup," said Hobson. "He's a plus outfielder and a bat from both sides of the plate. He's healthy and wants to give it another go."

Williams, 26, was a 2011 draft choice of the Texas Rangers and batted .296 over two seasons in that system. Last year, the native of Alabama played for Maui Na Koa in the Pacific Association and batted .314, third in that circuit, and helped to lead his team to the league championship.

The right-handed hitter appeared in 10 games for the Barnstormers at the end of the season and hit .238.

"(Jeremy) has a lot of tools," said Hobson. "He has a very athletic body and, hopefully, he can find that consistent power that we know he has the ability to have."

The Lancaster Barnstormers are entering their tenth 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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