Miners Sign Cruz, Kimborowicz for 2016
December 14, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Miners announce that they have signed right-handed pitchers Edward Cruz and Josh Kimborowicz, bolstering their pitching staff for the upcoming tenth anniversary season.
Cruz, 25, is a native of the Dominican Republic who was drafted in the 34th round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Miami Marlins. He pitched one season in their organization, striking out 21 over 21 1/3 innings with the Marlins rookie-level club in the Gulf Coast League. In his senior season in college at Western Oklahoma State, Cruz made 12 starts and went 7-2 with a 4.10 ERA over 52 2/3 innings while striking out 74 and allowing just 31 total hits. Of the hits he surrendered, only two were doubles while he did not give up a single home run.
"Edward is a power bullpen arm that we think has a chance to be an important part of our bullpen," Miners manager Mike Pinto said. "He has swing-and-miss stuff and we are looking forward to seeing him in the spring."
In addition to Cruz, Southern Illinois also brings Kimborowicz to Marion for 2016. Listed at 6'3", the 23-year old righty pitched three seasons in the Tampa Bay Rays system, reaching Class A-Advanced Charlotte in 2015. This past season, Kimborowicz excelled with a 2.01 ERA in 37 appearances, striking out 43 over 44 2/3 innings with just 13 walks and 32 hits allowed. Over the course of 76 pro appearances, the native of Washington state has pitched to a 2.96 ERA with 110 strikeouts and 41 walks in 124 2/3 innings.
Kimborowicz was also dominant in his lone collegiate season at Everett Community College in Washington, going 4-1 as a starter with 39 strikeouts and just 14 walks in 34 innings, leading to a 19th-round selection by the Rays in 2013.
"Josh can certainly be in the mix to be an important rotation guy," Pinto said. "He had tremendous success in the Rays organization with plus secondary stuff and is the kind of character guy we like to have on our staff."
Be sure to follow the Miners this offseason at southernillinoisminers.com and also on social media on Facebook and Twitter (@SIMiners) as they prepare for 2016!
The Southern Illinois Miners are the back-to-back Frontier League East Division Champions and the 2012 Frontier League Champions. They have been awarded the Frontier League Organization of the Year award three times since their inception, and also set a new Frontier League attendance record in 2007, their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the Rent One Park box office at 618-998-8499. For any additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com.
Frontier League Stories from December 14, 2015
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- Miners Sign Cruz, Kimborowicz for 2016 - Southern Illinois Miners
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