Bears Sign Former MLB Pitchers Cunnane And Baez
Published on April 1, 2008 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Newark Bears News Release
NEWARK, NJ, Apr. 1-The defending Atlantic League Champion Newark Bears Professional Baseball Club announced today that the team has signed former Major League right-handed pitcher Will Cunnane and former Major League left-hander Benito Baez to contracts for the 2008 season.
Will Cunnane enters his 15th season of professional baseball, and his first with the Newark Bears. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Florida Marlins in 1992, and he has pitched in the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, and St. Louis Cardinals organizations. Will first reached the Major Leagues with the Padres in 1997, appearing in a career-high 54 games at the big league level, posting a 6-3 record.
The 34 year-old Cunnane has 184 games of experience in the Major Leagues with the Padres, Brewers, Cubs, and Braves. While with Kane County in 1994, Cunnane led the Midwest League in shutouts with 4, was third in complete games with 3, and first in ERA with 1.43, which set a team record that he still holds today. He also posted an 11-3 record in 32 games with 16 starts and struck out 106 batters. In 2006, Cunnane pitched briefly with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League, where he won both of his starts before signing with the Cardinals.
Baez enters his 14th professional year in baseball and first with the Newark Bears. No stranger to the Atlantic League, Baez played with the Road Warriors in the 2006 and 2007 seasons as one of their relief pitchers. In 2007 Baez posted a 2-3 record, a 2.01 ERA in 42 games, had a career-high 10 saves, and struck out 46 batters in 44.2 innings of work. In 2006 with the Road Warriors, Baez appeared in 27 games, posted a 3-1 record, 1.27 ERA, and stuck out 28 batters in 28.1 innings. In two seasons pitching in the Atlantic League, Baez has surrendered only 1 home run over 73 innings of work.
During his career, Baez spent 4 seasons in Double-A and 2 seasons in Triple-A, and was called up to the Major League level in 2001. That season, Baez was brought up from the Triple-A Calgary team in the Pacific Coast League to play for the Florida Marlins, where he pitched in 9 games and struck out 14 batters in 9.1 innings of work. While with Calgary that same season, Baez had a 7-1 record and 3.03 ERA in 49 games.
The Bears open up defense of their 2007 Atlantic League Championship on Friday, April 25th against the Long Island Ducks before playing their home opener on Tuesday, April 29th at 7:05PM against the Bridgeport Bluefish at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium. Bears ticket information may be obtained by calling 1-866-55-4BEAR and by logging on to the team's official website, www.newarkbears.com.
Atlantic League Stories from April 1, 2008
- Bluefish Announce 2008 Promotion Schedule - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Barnstormers Annual Fanfest To Be Saturday, April 5 - Lancaster Stormers
- Riversharks And Mega 1310 Bring Latino Events To Campbell's Field - Camden Riversharks
- Bears Sign Former MLB Pitchers Cunnane And Baez - Newark Bears
- Barnstormers Sign Two Lefty Relievers - Lancaster Stormers
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