Dillas Acquire Big Right-Hander, Ayala Headed Back To Worcester
February 19, 2010 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Amarillo Dillas News Release
AMARILLO, TX - The Amarillo Dillas Baseball Club announced today they have acquired RHP Ryan Mitchell from the Worcester Tornadoes of the Canadian-American League, in exchange for RHP Albert Ayala. Named as an "Independent League Top Prospect to Watch" by Baseball America last October, Ayala will return to Worcester for a second stint with his former team.
Ayala signed with Amarillo on August 11, 2009, after being released by the Tornadoes, quickly becoming an integral part of the team's championship run appearing in 8 games pitching 11 innings earning 2 wins against no losses while posting a 3.09 ERA, during the regular season. And, he appeared in 3 post season contests pitching 7.1 innings recording two wins giving up just 2 earned runs with a 3.00 earned run average. "Without question Albert (Ayala) is a gifted pitcher who had a tremendous impact on our success down the stretch and particularly in the post season", Dillas Field Manager Brady Bogart said. "This is a great opportunity for him and we wish him well".
In return the Dillas get a power-pitcher in Mitchell who returns to pitch in his home state for the first time as a professional. A native of Houston Texas, Mitchell was selected by the Houston Astros in the 20th round of the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft after a four-year high school career at Magnolia (TX) High School. The 6'5" 235 pound right-hander spent two years in the Astros farm system pitching for Greeneville of the Appalachian League, in 2005 and 2006. Released by the Astros following the 2006 season, Mitchell signed with Worcester in 2007 where he spent the better part of three seasons pitching for the Tornadoes before finishing the 2009 campaign with the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League.
In 55 career games, the 22 year-old Mitchell has compiled a 13-12 record striking out 142 batters and issuing just 56 free passes with a 4.02 earned run average, in 197 innings of work. The high school draftee has spent the majority of his professional career as a starter and expected to join the likes of Ralph Roberts, Taylor Allen, and Richard Jessup in the Dillas starting rotation. "Ryan (Mitchell) has been a very effective starter over his career and he is a nice fit for our rotation", Bogart said. "You never like giving up a quality relief pitcher like an Albert Ayala but we felt this was an opportunity to improve our starting rotation that we couldn't pass up, it's a win-win for both organizations".
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United League Baseball Stories from February 19, 2010
- Dillas Acquire Big Right-Hander, Ayala Headed Back To Worcester - Amarillo Dillas
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