PL Missoula PaddleHeads

Five More Players Added to 2012 Osprey Roster

Published on June 15, 2012 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


MISSOULA, MONT - The Missoula Osprey, in conjunction with the Arizona Diamondbacks, have announced that five more players have been added to the 2012 Opening Day roster, including the addition of a veteran infielder.

Danny Pulfer, a 19th round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, will join the Osprey to start the 2012 season. Pulfer, who is an infielder, hit .258 for the Short-Season A Yakima Bears in 2011, with seven doubles, two triples, two home runs and 20 RBIs, while stealing six bases.

Pulfer, who made 52 starts at second base for the Bears this past summer, hit .302 for his career at the University of Oregon, including a .351 mark during his final season in 2011. He also played for two seasons for the Rochester Honkers in the Northwoods League, one of the best testing grounds for potential professional baseball talent, a wood-bat collegiate baseball summer league.

Pulfer also brings a leadership quality to the clubhouse - he was a team captain all four years he played high school baseball, at two different schools.

The Osprey pitching staff also gets bolstered by the additions of starter Chris Pack, and relievers Vince Spilker and Patrick Smith. All three have collegiate experience.

Pack was signed as a free agent, and comes from the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League. The right-hander, who is projected into the Osprey starting rotation, was used as a reliever by Joliet last summer, and recorded a 4.61 ERA in 22 appearances, while helping the Sledgehammers to their first division championship in club history. Pack pitched collegiately for Illinois and Villanova.

Spilker was a 25th round pick for the D-backs in the 2012 MLB Draft. This past spring at Lee University, Spilker posted a 7-3 mark with a 3.43 ERA. Spilker also pitched at Johnson County Community College in Kansas, where he was 6-4 as a starter with a 3.22 ERA and fanned 75 batters in 74 innings pitched. Spilker was originally drafted n the 49th round by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2009 MLB Draft.

Smith was signed as a free agent out of Cal Baptist, the same school that produced last season's Pioneer League ERA champion, former Osprey left-hander Taylor Siemens, and from the same conference as fellow free-agent signee, and new Osprey teammate, Michael Rivera. Smith was used as a starter by Cal Baptist this past spring, and he posted a 10-2 mark with a 3.68 ERA. He also has experience as a reliever, and in 2011, was 6-0 with seven saves coming out of the bullpen.

The catcher position has also been bolstered by the addition of free-agent signee Kevin Dultz, ho played collegiately for San Francisco State. With the Gators, Dultz was used as their catcher and a relief pitcher. In 2011, Dultz hit .243 while nailing seven doubles and plating 16 runs for San Francisco State, and hit .331 his junior season with 18 extra-base hits and 28 RBIs.

The Osprey currently have 28 players on its roster. The team is expected to arrive later today to Missoula, and will have workouts on Saturday and Sunday before the club leaves for its season opener in Billings.

The Osprey will open the 2012 season on June 18 in Billings, and open the home schedule on June 22 against Great Falls. Tickets are available now at the MSO Hub Box Office, located at 140 North Higgins in Downtown Missoula, online at MissoulaOsprey.com and by phone (406) 543-3300.

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