Foster and Evans join Fish pitching staff
Published on January 12, 2007 under Northern League (NL)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release
In terms of player signings, Goldeyes manager Rick Forney's sophomore season is looking a lot like his rookie campaign.
Forney announced today the signing of pitchers Matt Foster and Raleigh Evans. Both are rookies and both are southpaws.
Foster, 25, arrives with three years of experience after being drafted in 2003 by Toronto, but he has only pitched in 22-plus innings due to a two-year military requirement following four years at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Used solely in relief with Pulaski of the Appalachian (R) League, he went 1-0 with a 2.78 earned run average in 18 appearances, averaging a strikeout per inning.
"His innings have been limited, but Matt has had a short record of success in his ability to get hitters out and I like his strikeouts-to-walks ratio," Forney said. "There's a lot of raw talent there."
Evans, 21, arrives following two years in the White Sox system, where he went 1-3 with a 3.77 earned run average in 19 appearances (four starts) with Bristol of the Appalachian League.
Forney sees Evans pitching short relief to start with, a role played by a couple lefties from the 2006 squad that got picked up by Seattle at season's end.
"We'll see if Raleigh is capable of a little more than that and maybe his numbers will be similar to Josh Kite and Mike Wagner," Forney said. "Hopefully he pans out as well as they did."
There are now 10 players on the Goldeyes roster, six of whom are pitchers. Those numbers are comparable to a year ago, when Forney signed his tenth player (and sixth pitcher) on January 13.
FISH FOOD: Forney also announced today a trade with Lincoln of the American Association, acquiring the rights to pitcher Jerrod Fuell and infielder Ryan Priddy for catcher Aaron Mendoza. After batting .356 in the first half of 2006, Mendoza saw his average drop 38 points by season's end after hitting just .277 in 21 second-half games. Fuell went 0-2 with 11 saves last year and averaged more than a strikeout an inning while Priddy batted .279 in 51 games as a rookie.
Northern League Stories from January 12, 2007
- JackHammers seek host families - Joliet JackHammers
- Northern League Transactions - NL
- Silent Auction, Matt Murton Added to Cubs Caravan Visit - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Cats Sign Canuck Left Hander - Edmonton Capitals
- Foster and Evans join Fish pitching staff - Winnipeg Goldeyes
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