Colts and WhiteWings Swap Catchers
August 13, 2012 - North American League (NAmL)
San Angelo Colts News Release
Harlingen, Texas --- The Colts announced Monday they have acquired catcher Salvador Paniagua from the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings in exchange for fellow catcher Michael Pair.
The trade occurred immediately after San Angelo's 7-2 win in the series finale against the WhiteWings Sunday night. Paniagua, 29, joins the Colts in time for their four-game series against the Edinburg Roadrunners.
Paniagua hit .304 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 15 games with Rio Grande Valley. He began this season with the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League. In York, Paniagua batted .227 with five homers and 18 RBIs in 40 games.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Paniagua was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Boston Red Sox in 2001. He made his professional debut in 2003, and went on to spend four years in the Red Sox organization. Paniagua reached as high as the Class AA Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League in the Red Sox farm system.
Paniagua then spent two years in the New York Mets organization before coming to independent baseball in 2010. He reached as high as Class AA Binghamton Mets in New York's farm system.
Now in his ninth pro season, Paniagua has a career .258 batting average with 83 home runs and 339 RBIs in 581 games. More than 70 percent of those games (414) have been spent as a catcher.
In order to acquire the veteran Paniagua, the Colts sent Pair to the WhiteWings. Pair is a rookie who batted .170 with a home run and six RBIs in 40 games. He began the season as San Angelo's backup catcher, but became the starter when the Colts released Josh Banda in early July.
San Angelo begins a four-game series against the Roadrunners Tuesday night at Edinburg Stadium. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m., and the game can be heard live on KKSA beginning at 6:50 p.m.
San Angelo returns home on August 18 to play the Abilene Prairie Dogs. It will be the Vegas Fan Fly Away, sponsored by Midland International Airport. One fan will win two tickets to Las Vegas, courtesy of Midland International Airport. Gates open at 6:05 p.m., and first pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
The Colts are a member of United League Baseball who are in their 13th season. Tickets are on sale now, and available at the Colts' front office at Foster Field.
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