Colts Sign Two Pitchers; Release Two Others

June 28, 2013 - United League Baseball (ULB)
San Angelo Colts News Release


San Angelo, Texas --- The San Angelo Colts announced Thursday they have signed Jake Negrete and Andrew Jessup, and released Russell Johns and Steve Merslich. These four transactions come immediately following San Angelo's four-game road trip against the Alexandria Aces.

Negrete is 23-year-old a right-handed starter who spent last season with the Class A Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Midwest League. There he had a 9.39 earned-run average in six relief appearances. Negrete was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2011.

Negrete began his professional career with the Rookie Ball Arizona League Angels, where he went 2-0 with a 3.93 earned-run average and two saves in 16 games. Negrete is scheduled to make his Colts' debut on Saturday in the series finale against the McAllen Thunder.

Now in his fourth pro season, Negrete is 2-0 with a 5.54 earned-run average and two saves in 22 games.

Jessup is a left-handed rookie who just completed his collegiate career at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Va. This spring, Jessup went 6-2 with a 3.49 earned-run average in 14 games and 11 starts. He also had two complete games.

Jessup, 22, is one of two lefties in the Colts' bullpen.

In order to make room on the active roster for Negrete and Jessup, the Colts cut their ties with Johns and Merslich.

Johns, 24, went 0-1 with a 14.36 earned-run average in 11 games and one start this year. The second-year righty began his career with the Colts last season. In 2012, Johns went 1-2 with a 3.33 earned-run average in 17 relief appearances.

Merslich, 26, went 1-1 with a 5.74 earned-run average in 12 games and one start for the Colts. The lefthander also recorded one save.

The Colts are in the midst of an eight-game home stand. After their four-game series against the Thunder, the Colts will play four games against the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings. Game day and season tickets are available for purchase in-person or over the phone by visiting the San Angelo Colts' Executive Offices on the campus of Angelo State University at 1600 University Avenue, or by calling (325) 942-6587. VISA, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted.

For more information about season and individual game tickets, game times, promotions, marketing opportunities, full game schedule, and everything else Colts' Baseball, visit the "Official Website of the San Angelo Colts" by logging onto www.sanangelocolts.com.



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