Former Twins Slugger Joins Barnstormers
April 7, 2008 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release
LANCASTER, Pa.-The Lancaster Barnstormers have signed one of the most experienced Major League players in club history. Former Minnesota Twins catcher-first baseman Matt LeCroy has signed a 2008 contract, club vice president of baseball operations Keith Lupton announced today.
LeCroy, 32, made his debut with Minnesota in 2000 and has spent at least a portion of the last eight seasons in the Major Leagues with either the Twins or Washington Nationals. The Belton, S.C., native owns a .260 career batting average at the Major League level with 60 homers and 218 RBIs in 476 games. He clubbed 17 homers for Minnesota in both the 2003 and 2005 seasons.
"Matt is a bona fide number four hitter," Lupton said. "That's going to give the guys ahead of him, and probably the guy batting after him, some pretty good pitches to hit."
He has also gathered experience on the national stage, playing in the post-season with the Twins for three consecutive years (2002-04) and posting a career .269 batting average in the playoffs.
The New York Mets drafted LeCroy in the second round of the 1994 June draft, but he chose instead to play collegiate baseball at Clemson University. After three big years with the Tigers that included two trips to the NCAA World Series in Omaha, Neb., a stint with Team USA in 1996, and All-American honors in 1997, he was a first round sandwich pick for the Twins in 1997.
LeCroy joins Lancaster after being released from the Major League spring training camp of the Oakland Athletics.
"We're tremendously pleased to have a seven-year veteran like Matt," Lupton said. "He'll be a valuable asset to the club on and off the field."
LeCroy's signing brings the total number of players under contract with the 2008 Barnstormers to 21. The club will head to Lakeland, Fla., for spring training on April 14 and will return to open the 2008 season at home against the Bridgeport Bluefish on Friday, April 25.
Tickets to Opening Night at Clipper Magazine Stadium will go on sale during the Barnstormers annual FanFest on Saturday, April 5. Single-game tickets to all other regular season games are available online only at www.LancasterBarnstormers.com.
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