FL Lake Erie Crushers

Leading Off For The Crushers

Published on February 6, 2009 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


Avon, OH - Today at a press conference at Avon High School, the Lake Erie Crushers unveiled their official team uniforms and announced the team's first three players signed for the 2009 Inaugural Season. The players, Jodam Rivera, Gordon Gronkowski and Andrew Saylor, bring to the team more than ten years of professional experience and are expected to be an intimidating defensive presence in the infield for Field Manager John Massarelli.

Rivera flew in for the press conference from his home town of Hatillo, Puerto Rico. The middle infielder was drafted by the San Diego Padres organization in the 24th round of the 2004 MLB draft. Rivera spent five seasons in the Padres farm system, ascending as high as the Padres "AA" team in Mobile, AL. His best overall season was in 2006 when he batted .269 and scored 46 runs in 75 games played.

Saylor was drafted in the 13th round by the Florida Marlins. The second baseman played the 2006 season with the Jamestown Jammers (NY) of the Class "A" New York Penn League. In 2007, he signed as free agent with the Houston Astros organization and was assigned to the Greeneville Astros (NC) of the Appalachian League. Saylor played last season for the Chillicothe Paints of the Frontier League. A veteran leader on the team, he batted .276 with 88 hits, 17 doubles, 3 home runs and 48 RBI.

Saylor played college ball for the University of Cincinnati before transferring to Kent State University for his final two seasons. As the team captain for the Golden Flashes, Saylor earned 1st Team All Mid-American Conference honors his senior season. He currently resides in Wadsworth, OH.

Gronkowski joins the Crushers after three seasons in the Anaheim Angeles farm system. The first baseman was drafted in 2006 by the Angeles after a successful college career at the University of Jacksonville in Florida. Gronkowski played two seasons for the rookie class Orem Owlz (UT) of the Pioneer League before being promoted to the Angeles single "A" team, the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Midwest League. Over three professional seasons he hit .287 with 67 runs, 139 hits, 33 doubles, 4 triples, 10 HR and 71 RBI.

"We are very excited to have been able to sign players of this caliber," said Field Manager John Massarelli. "They bring talent, experience and leadership to our team. I expect them to be a deadly combination in the infield this summer and expect big seasons from all three of them."

The Lake Erie Crushers are the newest expansion team in the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league with 12 teams throughout the Midwest. The team will open its Inaugural Season on June 2, 2009 in a new 5,000 capacity ballpark located at the intersection of I-90 and Route 611 in Avon. Season tickets and Mini-plans are on sale now! For more information on tickets and team news, visit the team website at www.LakeErieCrushers.com or call 440-934-3636.

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Frontier League Stories from February 6, 2009


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