AtL Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

Blue Crabs Pick Up Two All-Stars

Published on March 23, 2009 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release


The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs have made the signing of All-Atlantic League catcher Lance Burkhart official today, after his rights were acquired in a trade last month from the Lancaster Barnstormers in exchange for the rights to former Blue Crabs catcher Adam Shorsher. Burkhart will be the Crabs starting catcher, backed up by new free-agent pick up Octavio Martinez, and returnee Anthony Perry. The club has also announced the signing of outfielder Steve Doetsch, and pitcher Matt Schweitzer and infielder Travis Garcia will both be returning in 2009.

Southern Maryland is Burkhart's second stop in the Atlantic League, and he comes with superb credentials. He became a fixture and fan favorite in Lancaster the last four seasons. Though injuries allowed him to play just 57 games in 2008, he still slugged 10 homers and drove in 28 runs. That followed seasons of 17 homers and 50 RBI in '07, 16 and 57 in '06, and 18 and 75 in '05. For the eight seasons prior, Burkhart played in the Montreal Expos, Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles organizations. The righty reached Triple-A with each of his first three teams, and spent 2004 with Double-A Bowie in the Orioles system before joining the Barnstormers. Entering his 13th professional season at the age of 34, Burkhart has stroked an impressive 142 home runs and 498 RBI in 854 games played. The St. Louis native played collegiately at Missouri State University, before being selected by Montreal in the 15th round of 1997 draft. To complete the deal, Shorsher has also signed with Lancaster.

Former Bridgeport Bluefish outfielder Steven Doetsch will also join the Crabs this season with prior ALPB experience. A former Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals farmhand, Doetsch was drafted by the Braves in the 15th round of the 2003 draft, and progressed to Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach in the Carolina League by 2007. After hitting the pavement with the "Pennsylvania" Road Warriors in 2007 in the Atlantic League, he began the 2008 season with the Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League before joining Bridgeport. Doetsch proved to be solid addition to Tommy John's club, hitting .298 in 42 games. He should continue to provide a solid right-handed bat for the Blue Crabs, with a .279 lifetime professional average, with 48 home runs and 252 RBI in six seasons.

Both Burkhart and Doetsch have been selected to the All-Atlantic League team in their careers. On to some familiar faces...

Bullpen stalwart Matt Schweitzer has been re-signed, on the heels of appearing in a team high 62 games for the Blue Crabs in 2008. The southpaw was one of the most effective relievers in the Atlantic League, allowing just 19 earned runs in 59 innings, for a 2.90 ERA. He struck out 61 batters while walking just 27, and nailed down seven saves. Schweitzer is relatively young at 30, entering his seventh professional season out of Olivet Nazarene University. The Chicago native has made previous stops with Richmond of the Frontier League from 2003-'05, and Schaumburg and Kansas City of the Northern League in '06 and '07 respectively. On the career, Schweitzer sports a 3.26 ERA in nearly 500 innings pitched, with almost 500 strikeouts and 23 professional saves.

Infielder Travis Garcia will also be returning to the Blue Crabs, after appearing in 19 games down the stretch last season, helping Southern Maryland tie for the regular season high in wins with 74. Garcia came to Waldorf after playing the entire Frontier League season with the Chillicothe Paints in Ohio, where he hit .289 with 15 home runs and 69 RBI in 92 games. He continued his great offensive season with the Crabs, going for a .306 average with three homers and 20 RBI in just 72 at bats. The New York City native was drafted by the New York Mets in 2003 after playing for Iona College. Garcia spent two years in that organization advancing as high as St. Lucie in the Florida State League in 2004 (A Advanced). 2005 saw him migrate to the Frontier League, playing that season with the Ohio Valley Redcoats before joining Chillicothe for the last three seasons. In six professional seasons, Garcia boasts an impressive .295 career average, with 70 home runs and 346 RBI in 505 games.

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs will open their second season of Atlantic League baseball at HOME on Thursday, April 23 at 7:05 p.m., against the Liberty Division rival Long Island Ducks. The Blue Crabs will play 70 home games this season at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf. A full promotional schedule featuring some of the best giveaways and most unique events in minor league baseball will be announced in the coming days.

Season tickets, group events and mini-plans are currently on sale for the 2009 season. The Blue Crabs can also help your group fundraise at no risk and no up-front costs, by helping you sell hundreds of tickets to exciting Atlantic League Baseball. Please call 301-638-9788 for more details and to save your seat at the ballpark today!

Check out the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Atlantic League Stories from March 23, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central