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AA Winnipeg Goldeyes

Goldeyes Add More Speed with Return of Grider

January 13, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release


WINNIPEG, MB - The Winnipeg Goldeyes re-signed infielder Casio Grider on Wednesday morning.

In 70 games last year, Grider hit .303 with seven home runs and 38 RBI while serving primarily as the Goldeyes' shortstop. Although he missed roughly one month due to an early-season injury, Grider still finished with 23 stolen bases, which ranked tied for 11th in the American Association. The Loma Linda, California native added 13 doubles, one triple, and posted a career-high .428 slugging percentage. Grider showed great consistency throughout the season, hitting safely in 52 of 70 contests, and going back-to-back games without a base hit just three times all year. Grider had multiple hits 26 times, including a two-homer, four-RBI game on the season's final day.

"Casio is a very important piece to our club this year," said Goldeyes' manager Rick Forney . "I'm very happy that he chose to play again, because he was a real difference maker when he was on the field for us. Casio can play many positions defensively, and he can be a force at both the top and bottom of the order. I love the speed and athletic presence Casio provides our club, and very much look forward to watching him play."

In seven professional seasons, Grider is a .251 hitter who has averaged 91 runs scored, 25 doubles, nine triples, 53 RBI, and 47 stolen bases per 162 games played. A right-handed hitter and fielder, Grider has eclipsed 20 stolen bases in a season five times, and owns a lifetime success rate of 79 percent. In addition to his time at shortstop, the 28-year-old Grider has a career .958 fielding percentage in 231 games at second base, and has committed just three errors in 115 games in the outfield. Grider was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a 14th-round pick out of Newberry College (Newberry, South Carolina) in 2009. Grider spent six years in the Dodgers' farm system, and became the first Newberry alumnus since 1933 to reach the Triple-A level when he appeared in five games for the Pacific Coast League's Albuquerque Isotopes in 2014.

Notes: When leading off an inning last season, Grider hit .324 in 68 at bats...for his career, Grider is a .285 hitter with a .347 on-base percentage when leading off an inning...Grider's career-high in stolen bases is 31, which came with the Low-A Midwest League's Great Lakes Loons in 2011...Grider appeared in a Major League spring training game for the Dodgers in 2012 and collected a double in his lone at bat...Grider's .957 fielding percentage at shortstop last year ranked tied for fifth in the American Association among players with at least 50 games at the position...Grider returned from injury on July 15th and showed no ill effects, hitting .296 over the final 50 games of the year with 18 of his 23 stolen bases

Grider brings the Goldeyes to nine players signed to contracts for the 2016 season. American Association clubs may carry up to 28 players during spring training, which begins Saturday, May 7th.

2016 Winnipeg Goldeyes Signings

OF Reggie Abercrombie

RHP Kevin Becker-Menditto

RHP Zach Dando

IF Casio Grider

1B Casey Haerther

OF Adam Heisler

IF Ridge Hoopii-Haslam

OF Josh Romanski

RHP Brandon Shimo

The Goldeyes open the 2016 season on May 19th at Joplin. Winnipeg's 2016 home opener is scheduled for Monday, May 30th versus the Sioux Falls Canaries. For information regarding Season Tickets, 10-Game Mini Packs, or group outings, call the Goldeyes' office at (204) 982-BASE, or visit the Goldeyes' official website at www.goldeyes.com.

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American Association Stories from January 13, 2016


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