FL Windy City ThunderBolts

Championship Series MVP Re-Signs with ThunderBolts

Published on March 2, 2009 under Frontier League (FL)
Windy City ThunderBolts News Release


Crestwood, IL - The Windy City ThunderBolts professional baseball team, 2007 and 2008 Frontier League Champions, have announced that right-handed pitcher Ross Stout has agreed to return to the team for the 2009 season.

The 2008 Frontier League Championship Series Most Valuable Player, Stout dominated the Frontier League in 2008. He was the runner-up for the Frontier League's Pitcher of the Year award, finishing third in the Frontier League in victories (11), innings pitched (133.1), and ERA (3.27), fourth in strikeouts (122), and led the League with six shutouts. After starting the season with a 0-3 record, Ross did not lose again. He got stronger as the season went on, lowering his ERA each month, culminating with a 4-0 record and 1.48 ERA with 49 strikeouts over six August starts, averaging over eight innings pitched per start during this span.

In the Frontier League playoffs, Ross went 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA and 18 strikeouts in three starts.

Ross was acquired from the Macon Music of the South Coast League prior to the 2008 season. He was the South Coast League Pitcher of the Year in 2007, leading the circuit with 11 wins and ranking second with a 2.38 ERA and 99 strikeouts. Stout made his professional debut in 2006 with the Yakima Bears, the Arizona Diamondbacks class A affiliate in the Northwest League. He saw action in nine games for the Bears, posting a 0-1 record and 3.18 ERA while striking out 14 batters in 11.1 innings.

In other transactions, the ThunderBolts also announced the signing of left-handed pitcher Tyler Kelsey and that the contracts of outfielder Mike Coles and right-handed pitcher Matt Petty have been sold to the Joliet JackHammers of the Northern League and the Shreveport-Bossier Captains of the American Association, respectively.

Tyler Kelsey first signed with the ThunderBolts after graduating from Oklahoma City University last spring, appearing in one game in Windy City before having his contract purchased by the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto assigned Tyler to their Gulf Coast League affiliate where he appeared in six games. After spending six weeks on the disabled list, Kelsey came back strong to finish the season. Over his final four appearances, he allowed only three hits and one unearned run while striking out six of the ten batters that he faced and not allowing a walk.

Kelsey led Oklahoma City University to a third place finish in the NAIA World Series last year, posting a 10-0 record and 2.72 ERA (best in the Sooner Athletic Conference), striking out 82 batters in 87 innings. He finished his three-year career with the Stars with a 24-3 record and 3.89 ERA with 185 strikeouts in 206 innings.

"Having Ross back for 2009 will be a huge boost as we look to three-peat as Frontier League Champions," commented ThunderBolts' general manager Steve Tahsler. "Ross dominated the Frontier League last season, and we expect him to again be one of the top pitchers."

The Windy City ThunderBolts open the 2009 season on Thursday, May 21 at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood. For more information, please visit us online at www.wcthunderbolts.com or contact the ThunderBolts at 708-489-BALL or info@wcthunderbolts.com

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