Building the Blue Crabs, Burkhart Signs Three More for 2014 Season
Published on March 4, 2014 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release
WALDORF, MD- Building the Blue Crabs 2014 roster, manager, Lance Burkhart, announced on Tuesday the addition of three players to his squad. Joining the Blue Crabs for the 2014 campaign will be left-handed pitchers, Charlie Manning and Jake Brown. The club also announced the signing of infielder, Jesus Merchan. It will be Merchan and Browns' first stint with the Blue Crabs. Manning will be entering his fourth season as a member of Crustacean Nation.
Lefty reliever Manning rejoins the team for his fourth straight year after leading all Blue Crabs Pitchers and finishing tops amongst all Atlantic League pitchers in appearances (74) during the 2013 season. His 74 games appeared in were a career high.
Manning, 34, finished last season with a 2-4 record and a 2.26 ERA in 59.2 innings of relief. His ERA was the third-best amongst all Blue Crabs pitchers.
Entering his 12th season of professional baseball, the Winter Haven, Fla., native was drafted by the New York Yankees in the ninth round of the June Amateur Draft in 2001. He made his Major League debut in 2008 as a member of the Washington Nationals. In 57 games with the Nationals, Manning totaled a 1-3 record with 37 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched.
Left-handed pitcher, Jake Brown joins the Blue Crabs after spending the 2013 season across two levels of the Oakland Athletics minor league system. In total, Brown finished with a 2-3 record with a 4.57 ERA in 61.0 innings pitched. He finished the season with Midland Rockhounds (AA) of the Texas League after starting the season with Stockton Ports (A+) of the California League.
Brown, 27, is entering his fifth season of professional baseball. In his career, Brown has amassed a 19-24 record in 107 innings pitched with 263 strikeouts. His best season came in 2011 as a member of the Burlington Bees (A) of the Midwest League. With the Bees he finished with a 1.62 ERA and a 4-0 record in 50 innings pitched before being promoted to High-A Stockton.
The Baltimore, MD., native was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 26th round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft after pitching for North Harford HS in Pylesville, Maryland and then later Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA.
Infielder, Jesus Merchan, comes to Southern Maryland for his first season in 2014 after spending the last two seasons with the Tucson Padres (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League. Last season, Merchan hit .254 with 18 RBIs and nine doubles in 70 games.
Merchan, 32, is entering his 15th season of professional baseball and his second stint as a member of the Atlantic League. In early 2012, Merchan appeared in 31 games as a member of the Lancaster Barnstormers. With Lancaster he hit .391 with 11 RBIs and 10 doubles. In his professional career, Merchan has accumulated 1,109 hits and a .301 batting average in over a thousand games.
The Maracay, Aragua, Venezuelan native began his career as a member of the Minnesota Twins organization in 2000. The infielder has played for nine different Major League organizations in his career (MIN, PHI, SEA, ARI, CLE, TOR, FLA, COL, SD). He has reached as high as Triple-A six times.
The Blue Crabs play 140 regular season games in the Atlantic League, considered the highest level of Minor League Baseball. Atlantic League players are "Major League ready" and in the last 15 years, over 600 players have graduated from Atlantic League clubs to Major League organizations, making the League a preferred route for experienced players to be scouted by Major League Baseball. The Blue Crabs play at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland. The franchise will look to open its 7th season on Thursday, April 24, 2014. Please call 301-638-9788 or visit www.SOMDbluecrabs.com for more information and to save your seat at the ballpark today!
Atlantic League Stories from March 4, 2014
- Somerset Patriots Bring Back Pitcher Mike Solbach - Somerset Patriots
- Building the Blue Crabs, Burkhart Signs Three More for 2014 Season - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Riversharks Announce Five Signings - Camden Riversharks
- Garceau Returns to Long Island - Long Island Ducks
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