JackHammers ink two relievers

February 10, 2007 - Northern League (NL)
Joliet JackHammers News Release


JOLIET, IL-The Joliet JackHammers have begun work on their 2007 pitching staff by signing two highly effective relievers for the upcoming season. RHP Glen Tucker and LHP Derrick Ellison have both inked contracts and will call Silver Cross Field home next summer. Tucker comes to the JackHammers from the Atlanta Braves organization, where he spent 2006 with (AA) Mississippi. The JackHammers sixth season in the Northern League begins on May 17, 2007 at 7:05 p.m. against the Calgary Vipers at Silver Cross Field.

"Tucker is really going to add something to our bullpen," said JackHammers manager Hal Lanier. "He's got a lot of experience and I've heard nothing but great things about him from the Braves organization."

Tucker went 2-4 with a 3.78 E.R.A. with the Mississippi Braves (AA, Southern League) in 2006. An 11th round pick of the Braves in the 2003 First Year Player Draft out of East Carolina University, Tucker spent four seasons in the Braves system including time split among three stops in 2005-Myrtle Beach (A), Mississippi (AA) and Richmond (AAA). Tucker has a 3.01 career E.R.A. in 175 career relief appearances.

"We're going to use him as a setup man or in a closers role depending upon what happens with our relievers," said Lanier. "I'm looking forward to seeing him."

This season will be Ellison's second with the JackHammers. He signed as a free-agent with the JackHammers on June 18, 2006 after he started the season with the Schaumburg Flyers.

Ellison posted career-best 1.02 E.R.A. in 31 relief appearances with the JackHammers in 2007. He allowed runs in just six and two-thirds innings of his 35.1 innings pitched. The Aldie, Virginia native began his professional career with Rockford (Frontier League) in 2001 before being signed by the Seattle Mariners during the 2005 season. He appeared in seven games with the Inland Empire 66ers (High A, California League) before returning to independent baseball last season.

Loose Gravel: Tucker and Ellison are the first two pitchers the JackHammers signed to contracts for the 2007 season.

The JackHammers have full season tickets, mini-plan ticket packages, and a variety of group outings available for the 2007 season. For more information, or to order tickets, please give the JackHammers ticket department a call at (815) 726-BALL (2255), go online to www.jackhammerbaseball.com or stop by the Box Office at Silver Cross Field during normal business hours.



Northern League Stories from February 10, 2007


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