PL Missoula PaddleHeads

Camacho, Perez, Bream Among Osprey Additions for 2012

Published on June 13, 2012 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


MISSOULA, MONT - The Missoula Osprey, in conjunction with the Arizona Diamondbacks, have announced more additions to the 2012 Osprey roster, including three highly-touted prospects and the son of a former Major Leaguer.

Within the D-backs organization, there is plenty of buzz around right-handed pitcher Yiomar Camacho, outfielder Socrates Brito and 2011 fifth-round draft pick, catcher Michael Perez. All three will be headed to Missoula to start the 2012 season with the Osprey.

"We are excited to be able to announce the addition of more talented players who will be coming to Missoula this season," said Osprey Executive Vice President Matt Ellis. "Camacho had a breakout season in 2011. In fact, we had heard so many good things about him that we were hoping to get him in our rotation last season. and the addition of Perez, and the power potential he brings to the table, should give us an exciting offense for fans to watch this summer."

Camacho, who hails from Santa Teresa del Tuy, Venezuela, had a stellar start to the 2010 season. In six starts in the Arizona Rookie League, Camacho posted a 2-3 record and a 1.38 ERA, fanning 36 batters in 32 2/3 innings pitched while walking just four batters and allowed a WHIP of 0.80. He was then promoted to Yakima, where he posted a 2-2 record and a 3.69 ERA in seven starts, spanning 31 2/3 innings. In his three professional seasons, Camacho has a 9-15 won-loss mark with a 3.74 ERA.

Brito also posted solid numbers in the Arizona League, hitting .275 in 55 games with three doubles, seven triples, a home run and 29 RBIs, plus 18 stolen bases. The 19-year-old from the Dominican Republic will be in his third professional season, and has posted a .280 career batting average over the past two summers.

"Brito is a multi tool player, with a lot of raw speed," added Ellis. "He will bring an exciting brand of baseball that our fans will appreciate."

Perez is a 19-year-old catcher who has power and a strong arm, and has improved his overall defense behind the plate during Extended Spring Training. The native of Puerto Rico is going through his first full season in the organization, after signing his contract late last summer. Perez managed to get into seven games at the end of the 2011 campaign for the Arizona League D-backs, and hit .217 with a pair of doubles, two home runs and three RBIs.

Camacho, Brito and Perez will have a familiar face to see when they play in Missoula - their manager in the Arizona League last summer was Andy Green, who will be the Osprey skipper in 2012.

A pair of corner infielders has also been added to the Missoula roster in first baseman Kyle Koeneman and third baseman Tyler Bream.

Koeneman, signed as a free agent out of Carson-Newman, is along the recent lineage of big power-hitting first baseman for the Osprey, a trail set by former Osprey Jon Griffin (2011) and Paul Goldschmidt (2009).

Koeneman is coming off of an amazing spring in which he was named a Division II First-Team All-American. Koeneman hit .390 with 16 doubles, 20 home runs, 51 RBIs, a .548 on-base percentage and an .883 slugging percentage. Koeneman also hit 50 home runs at Walters State Community College, and 50 homers while in high school, including 18 as a freshman to lead the state of Tennessee in 2004.

Koeneman was limited to just 12 games as a junior at Carson-Newman, then had to wait until the 2012 season had started for the Eagles before he found out the NCAA granted him one more season of eligibility during a game against Lander College. He celebrated by hitting a game-winning home run in the top of the ninth inning, then picked up the save on the mound in the bottom of the ninth.

Bream is the son of former Major League outfielder/first baseman Sid Bream. Tyler Bream, a 42nd round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, hit .235 for the Yakima Bears in 2011, with 10 doubles, a triple, four home runs and 21 RBIs while splitting time between first base and third base. Tyler Bream is likely to play mostly at third base for the Osprey this summer.

Also in the infield mix for the Osprey will be the 9th round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft for the D-backs, shortstop John Leonard, who hit .229 with seven doubles and 16 RBIs in 53 games for the Arizona League D-backs last summer. The Connellsville Area High School product, a Pennsylvania native, had signed with NC State before deciding on starting his professional baseball career.

Along with Camacho, three other pitchers were added to the 2012 Osprey roster - right-handers Chris Capper (26th round, 2012 Draft, BYU), Jared Ray (34th round, 2012 Draft, Houston) and Michael Rivera (Free Agent, Fresno Pacific).

The Osprey will be announcing more players on their roster over the next couple of days. The team is expected to arrive late Friday to Missoula, and will have workouts on Saturday and Sunday before the club leaves for its season opener in Billings.

The Osprey will open the 2012 season on June 18 in Billings, and open the home schedule on June 22 against Great Falls. Tickets are available now at the MSO Hub Box Office, located at 140 North Higgins in Downtown Missoula, online at MissoulaOsprey.com and by phone (406) 543-3300.

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