Colts Set Opening Day Roster, Acquire McClain from Wings
Published on May 12, 2008 under United League Baseball (ULB)
San Angelo Colts News Release
SAN ANGELO, Texas - The San Angelo Colts today released their 2008 Opening Day roster, which is at the United League maximum of 24 players, consisting of 10 pitchers and 14 position players. The roster features 14 players who were with the Colts at some point in the past two seasons, seven players with more than five years of professional experience, three rookies, and seven players from Texas or Louisiana.
The Colts also announced today that they have acquired OF Sam McLain in a trade with the Harlingen White Wings for future considerations. McClain, a left-handed batter and thrower, played the last two seasons in Harlingen, batting a combined .266 with seven home runs, 34 doubles, six triples, and 62 RBIs. The Florida native who will be in his third pro year committed just seven errors in 133 games total as an outfielder the last two years.
Colts manager Doc Edwards, who is entering his third season as Colts skipper and 51st season of professional baseball, trimmed the roster to 24 men out of the 30 who were invited to Training Camp. Among the cuts were: OF Mike Garcia, C Curtis Legendre, INF Matt Meeks, LHP Jeff Rodriguez, and RHP Toro Trevino. Outfielder Daniel Ochs and RHP Matt Greanead were placed on the Inactive List.
The roster also features three player-coaches: INF John Anderson, the 2006 ULB MVP, Utility man Joe Rhomberg, who served as a player-coach last season, and RHP Ryan Mulle, who will assist Edwards as pitching coach after just completing his second season as pitching coach with Angelo State University. Edwards has also named two co-captains: Jason Crosland, the ULB home run leader who will be playing his third season in San Angelo, and Tyrone Pendergrass, a former Braves' farmhand who has the most pro experience on the Colts' roster as he enters his 14th pro season overall.
In addition to Anderson, Rhomberg, Mulle, Crosland, and Pendergrass, there are nine other players who are making a return to the Colts: RHP Taylor Fleming, who posted a 1.93 ERA last year as a reliever; RHP Brian Henschel, who tied for the team lead with eight wins; LHP Frank James, who played on the Alexandria Aces championship team last year but was a Colt in 2006; RHP Luke Massetti, who recorded the second lowest ERA in the league last summer; RHP Caleb Rodgers, who missed six weeks last year with shoulder tendonitis but won three straight games after returning from the Disabled List; C Wyn Diggs, who signed with the Colts last July but had his season shortened by a knee injury; INF John Beal, who was traded back to the Colts in the off-season after finishing last year with the White Wings; INF Andres Rodriguez, an All-Star in 2007 who hit .320, the 10th best average in the league; and INF Jose Torres, who signed with San Angelo midway through last season and hit .257 with two homers in 26 games.
RHP Brian Daly, LHP Brandon Kling, LHP Justin Robinson, and LHP Logan Williamson are the newcomers on the pitching staff. Daly, who played with the Laredo Broncos in 2007, will serve as the team's closer. Robinson enters his third pro season after splitting time with the Slippery Rock Sliders of the Frontier League and the Schaumberg Flyers of the Northern League last year. Kling and Williamson each pitched for the Pensacola Pelicans of the American Association last summer.
Catcher Adam Miller, INF Charley Belew, INF Aaron Cone, OF Benny Craig, and OF Bryan Frichter join McClain as the new Colts' position players. This will be Miller's third pro season after playing with the Ft.Worth Cats the last two seasons. Belew is a pro rookie who comes to the Colts fresh off his senior year at Angelo State. Cone is another rookie who played his college ball at North Carolina State University. Craig has eight years of professional baseball experience and is a former 19th round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 1997.
Frichter, a rookie, is perhaps the most intriguing story on the Colts' Opening Day roster as he was invited to Training Camp after the Colts drafted him at the United League's open tryout in Southaven, Mississippi on April 19 and 20. He continued to impress in Camp, hitting two home runs in the few intrasquad games the Colts played.
Frichter played the last two years of his college ball at Southeastern Louisiana University (Southland Conference, Division I). In his senior season in 2007, the Chalmette, Louisiana native played all 55 games and batted .319 with 15 doubles and a .403 on-base percentage. In two seasons at SE Louisiana, Frichter tallied five home runs, three triples, 76 runs scored, and 58 RBIs.
In addition, the Colts have released OF Brett Donahoo, who was on the Inactive List.
The Colts begin the 2008 season with six games on the road before returning to San Angelo for their home opener at Foster Field on Tuesday, May 20, 2008. First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m., and following the game fans will be treated to a Fireworks Show sponsored by Adobe Signs & T-shirts and KLST.
Advertising, ticket, and group information are available by calling the box office at (325) 942-6587. All Colts games are broadcast live on "Cool 100" - KCLL 100.1 FM and online at the Colts' official website, www.sanangelocolts.com, which is updated daily with the latest team news.
United League Baseball Stories from May 12, 2008
- Matamoros Native Makes WhiteWings' Roster - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Coyotes begin season tomorrow - Edinburg Roadrunners
- Colts Set Opening Day Roster, Acquire McClain from Wings - San Angelo Colts
- Matamoros Native Makes WhiteWings' Roster - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- McLain Gallops to San Angelo - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
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