AtL Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

Four Quality Pitchers Join Blue Crabs

Published on March 16, 2010 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release


Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Manager Butch Hobson has announced the signing of four pitchers new to the organization for 2010. Right-handers Joe Newby and Dave McKae have agreed to contracts, in addition to lefty Paul Fagan. The latest round of signings is headlined by veteran righty Joe Winkelsas, who has Major League experience in two seasons.

Winkelsas ended a brief retirement by signing with the Blue Crabs, and did not play in 2009. He is a veteran of 13 professional seasons, including stints in the Majors with the Atlanta Braves in 1999 and the Milwaukee Brewers in 2006. In 302 career appearances as a professional, all have come in relief. In addition to the Atlanta and Milwaukee organizations, Winkelsas was last employed by the Chicago White Sox. In his most recent season in 2008, he split time between Triple-A Charlotte and Double-A Birmingham. He also spent a portion of the 2004 season in the Atlantic League, with the Somerset Patriots. Winkelsas brings 61 career saves to the Blue Crabs this season.

Paul Fagan joins Southern Maryland a season after leading the Lake Erie Crushers to the Frontier League Championship as one of the most dominating starters in that league. For the Blue Crabs, Fagan will be both a starting and relief option. He is entering his eighth professional season despite being just 25, after being selected by the Seattle Mariners in the fourth round of the 2003 draft out of high school. A starter and reliever throughout his career, Fagan is a veteran of 134 pro games (91 starts). Last season for Lake Erie he enjoyed his best season as a professional, compiling a 14-3 record in 22 games and 20 starts with a 2.70 ERA.

Dave McKae is another versatile arm who has primarily been a starter entering his sixth pro season, but also has experience out of the bullpen. He is expected to begin 2010 in the Blue Crabs starting rotation. In four seasons with the San Francisco Giants organization and last season in the Boston Red Sox system, McKae has compiled a solid 32-24 career record with a 3.38 career ERA in 114 pro games (85 starts). McKae spent the majority of the 2007 and 2008 seasons with Double-A Connecticut, and spent last year with A-Advanced Salem.

Joe Newby will join the Crabs bullpen after four years in the Oakland Athletics organization and one with Seattle. He spent the majority of last season at Double-A West Tennesee with the Mariners, appearing in 28 games in relief, with an impressive 2.72 ERA in 43 innings. Newby also earned a promotion to Triple-A Tacoma, where he allowed just one earned run in 6.1 innings of work over three games. Entering his sixth professional season, Newby made 26 starts in the lower levels in his first two years with Oakland, and has appeared in 104 games total as pro. He sports a 3.87 career ERA in 251.1 innings pitched, and should be a quality long-relief option for the Blue Crabs.

This announcement brings the latest count of official signings for the 2010 season to 18 players. It is expected at least 30 players will be in spring camp with the Blue Crabs before the roster is trimmed to 27 active players to begin the season, and then again to 25 by June 1. Fans looking to stock up on Blue Crabs gear before the season are encouraged to visit the Crab Shack Team Store at Regency Furniture Stadium. Store hours are currently Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and everything in the store is discounted from 25 to 50% off.

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs are a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, and play at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland. The franchise is entering its third season in the spring of 2010, coming off the team's first playoff appearance and Liberty Division Title in 2009. The 2010 Home Opener is Friday, April 30 at 7:05 p.m. against the Long Island Ducks. Please call 301-638-9788 or visit www.somdbluecrabs.com for more information and to save your seat at the ballpark today!

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Atlantic League Stories from March 16, 2010


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