Negrete to Continue Pursuing Dream with Wingnuts
March 26, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS (March 26, 2015) - There are many professional baseball players that have been playing the game since a very young age. There aren't very many who have given up the sport for almost two years after college and then come back to wow scouts and earn a Minor League job. The newest member of the Wichita Wingnuts, Jacob Negrete, is part of that limited second group and has hopes of making his way back to affiliated ball with his performance in the American Association this year.
The right-handed pitcher, originally from California, moved to Arizona in 2005 in time to play baseball at Kingman High School. Even though he was a prep star for the Bulldogs, he never considered the possibility of playing baseball for the extended future. Maxing out his fastball at around 87 miles per hour, it took some urging from his family for him to try out at Javapai Community College in Prescott, Arizona. After one year there, Negrete transferred to Mount San Jacinto Community College for his sophomore year. In his only season with the Eagles, he went 9-1 and posted an earned run average of 3.41.
It was following that season, in 2010, when Negrete found out he was going to become a father and turned his attention away from baseball. He moved back to Kingman and took a job as a phlebotomist at a hospital. Recreational softball was his main source of athletic activity when his father convinced him to give baseball one more chance. Negrete attended a tryout for the independent North American League in May of 2011 at the Los Angeles Angels' spring training facility in Tempe. Angels' personnel in attendance were so impressed with his warm up session that they shut him down and invited him to throw in front of their scouts the next day. With his fastball now topping out in the mid-90's, Negrete was signed by Los Angeles as a free agent following the draft in June.
The first stop for the 25-year old in the farm system of the team he grew up cheering for was the Angels' Arizona Rookie League affiliate. While working to get back in playing shape, Negrete went 2-0 with a 3.93 ERA in 16 relief appearances. He added 22 strikeouts in 18.1 innings while issuing just four walks. He earned a promotion to Single-A Cedar Rapids in 2012, but struggled in six appearances and was sent to extended spring training in late April. The organization released him in June.
In 2013, Negrete got his first taste of independent baseball with the San Angelo Colts of the United League. He made two starts and finished with an 0-2 record after allowing eight runs, six earned, in nine innings. He also played that year with the Copper State Prospectors of the Freedom Pro Baseball League. He did not play in 2014.
Negrete is the 20th player to sign with the Wingnuts for 2015. The roster can include up to 28 players until two days prior to the start of the regular season when the active roster must be trimmed to 22. The eighth season of Wichita Wingnuts baseball begins on Thursday, May 21 st in Joplin, with the home opener against the Winnipeg Goldeyes taking place on Tuesday, May 26 th . For information on season tickets, group outings, and party packages, call the Wingnuts main office at (316) 264-NUTS, or visit the Wingnuts official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com .
American Association Stories from March 26, 2015
- Negrete to Continue Pursuing Dream with Wingnuts - Wichita Wingnuts
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