Justin Williams, Jordan Harrison Promoted to High-A Charlotte
August 11, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release
Bowling Green, Ky. - Hot Rods' outfielder Justin Williams and left-handed reliever Jordan Harrison have been promoted to the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the High-A Florida State League, as announced by the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.
In corresponding moves, a pair of farmhands from short-season Hudson Valley have been assigned to Bowling Green in outfielder Cade Gotta - who was just named a New York-Penn League All Star - and right-hander reliever Luis Urena.
Williams and Harrison mark the seventh and eighth promotions for Bowling Green this season, following Brent Honeywell, Casey Gillaspie, Jace Conrad, Hunter Wood, Greg Harris and Mike Franco. The eight total promotions for the 2015 Hot Rods set a new franchise-mark for promotions in a single season, besting the 2014 unit which saw seven players promoted.
In his first season with the Tampa Bay farm system after being traded for in the offseason from the Arizona Diamondbacks organization along with infielder Andrew Velazquez for MLB right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, Williams hit .284 with seven home runs and 42 RBI in 99 games with Bowling Green, while committing just four errors in right field and leading the squad with 11 outfield assists. Since June 28, Williams ranks tenth in the Midwest League in batting average, hitting .322 over his final 35 games with the Hot Rods.
Harrison, who was in his third stint in Bowling Green since being drafted in the 25th round in 2012, heads back to Charlotte for the second time this season, where he posted no record and an 8.59 ERA over five appearances (7.1 innings). With the Hot Rods since June 27, the former Louisiana-Lafayette southpaw collected a 1-0, 2.53 record over 21.0 innings (10 appearances), striking out 22 and issuing eight walks.
Gotta, a 26th round pick by the Rays in 2014 out of San Diego Christian, raked at a .289 clip - second-best on the squad - over 42 games with the Renegades with 15 RBI and 14 extra-base hits as one of five Hudson Valley players named to the New York-Penn League All-Star Game.
Urena is in his first year in the Rays system after being taken in the Minor League portion of last year's Rule 5 Draft from the Pittsburgh organization, where he was inked as a coveted international prospect in 2009. A converted outfielder, the Dominican right-hander has a 0-2, 2.88 record in 11 relief appearances spanning 25.0 innings for Hudson Valley, giving up just 16 hits while striking out 19 and walking only four.
Bowling Green begins a nine-game homestand Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. CDT against the Burlington Bees (Angels), as Yonny Chirinos (3-2, 1.19) takes the bump against Bees' righty Justin Anderson (7-8, 3.39). Tickets may be purchased by calling (270) 901-2121 or by visiting www.bghotrods.com.
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