AtL Lancaster Stormers

Barnstormers Sign Slugger, Shortstop

Published on March 9, 2012 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


The Lancaster Barnstormers have continued to add to their 2012 lineup with the signings of slugging outfielder Ryan Harvey and shortstop Jesus Merchan.

Harvey, 27, was the sixth pick overall in the 2003 amateur draft as the first player selected by the Chicago Cubs. He had a pair of monstrous seasons in the Cubs system. In 2005, Harvey launched 24 homers and drove in 100 runs for Class A Peoria and followed that up with 20 more homers and 84 RBI the following year with Class A Daytona. The Florida native was named to his league's year-end All-Star team both seasons.

Most notably, Harvey performed the rare feat of hitting four home runs in the same game, July 28, 2006, against Clearwater. He was recognized as having the best single game performance in all of minor league baseball that season.

He joined the Colorado Rockies organization in 2009 and proceeded to belt 23 home runs and knock in 82 in 103 games for Class AA Tulsa. Harvey returned to Tulsa in 2010 and hit 11 more homers while playing only 63 games.

Last year, the Boston Red Sox looked to utilize Harvey's powerful outfield arm on the mound, but the conversion did not bear fruit.

"Harvey is a big, strong guy with some tools," said manager Butch Hobson. "He is a really fine athlete."

Merchan, who will turn 31 later this month, has a career .296 batting average over 13 professional seasons.

Signed originally by Minnesota in 1999, Merchan moved to the Philadelphia Phillies system in 2005 and spent a portion of three seasons in Reading. The right-handed batter swung at a .330 pace in 81 games for the R-Phils in 2007, earning his first promotion to Class AAA, a three-game stint for Ottawa that produced five hits in 13 at bats.

The native of Venezuela had his best season in 2008, batting .339 with four homers and driving in 72 runs for Class AAA Tucson, finishing fourth in the Pacific Coast League in batting.

Last year, Merchan split his season between New Orleans and Colorado Springs in the Pacific Coast League and hit .301 with a homer and 28 RBI.

"(Our sources) have told us that Merchan can really play," said Hobson. "He's a class act that a number of organizations view as a future coach."

The Lancaster Barnstormers are entering their eighth 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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