Canaries Add 10-Game Winner To 2009 Rotation
Published on February 11, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
SIOUX FALLS, SD (February 11, 2009) - The Sioux Falls Canaries have signed RHP Ben Moore to a contract for the 2009 season. Moore was one of four Canaries starters in 2008 to win ten games, as he along with, Ryan Ford, Travis Kane, and Pat Mahomes became the first quartet in short-season Independent Baseball history to all win 10 games for a single team.
"It is still a little hard to believe the remarkable accomplishments that our starting pitchers were able to accomplish last year," said Canaries Manager Steve Shirley. "With the addition of Moore, we have the foundation laid for our 2009 pitching staff."
Moore joins Ford and Kane as starting pitchers from the 2008 Championship team that the Canaries have signed to contracts for the 2009 season. In the bullpen, the Canaries have announced the return of the versatile Ryan Grant and the addition of right-hander Matt Reilly, who was picked up in a trade with the Fort Worth Cats last week. The addition of Moore gives the Canaries five pitchers and a total of 10 players signed to new contracts for the upcoming season, more than any team other than the South Division's newly named Shreveport-Bossier Captains.
In 2008, Moore went 10-7, with a 5.70 ERA, striking out a career-high 106 batters, and walking just 31. The Wisconsin native played his first two seasons in the New York Yankees Organization, and has played Independent Baseball for the last four years. Ben first played for Steve Shirley in 2007 when the current Canaries Manager was a Pitching Coach for the Winnipeg Goldeyes. Over the course of the last three seasons, Moore has won 25 games, and struck out 269 batters.
The Canaries will open the 2009 American Association Season at the Birdcage with a May 14 game against the St. Paul Saints. The Season Premier will feature a Pre-Game Championship Ring Ceremony and a Post-Game Fireworks Display presented by the Canaries 2009 Season Sponsor, First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard.
American Association Stories from February 11, 2009
- Cats Fest to Feature A-Fraud Redemption Day - Fort Worth Cats
- Saints All-Time Wins Leader Will Return to the Hill in 2009 - St. Paul Saints
- Pels Training Academy Offers First-Ever Catching Camp - Pensacola Pelicans
- Canaries Add 10-Game Winner To 2009 Rotation - Sioux Falls Canaries
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