Outlaws Trade For Power Hitting Outfielder
January 15, 2010 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Chico Outlaws News Release
CHICO, Calif. - The Chico Outlaws announced today that they have traded RHP Mark DiBernardo, RHP Sam Watson, and LHP Rusty Jones to the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association for OF Justin Nelson. Watson and Jones were recently acquired from the Long Beach Armada which completed an earlier trade. Justin Nelson looks to play a key role in the Outlaws lineup in 2010
Nelson, 26, is a power hitting left-handed outfielder who played his college baseball at the University of California. He was originally drafted out of high school in the 20th round of the 2001 amateur draft where he also starred as an all-state quarterback on the football field in San Diego. He decided to enroll at the University of California rather than turn pro and was again drafted in the 15th round of the 2004 amateur draft by the Colorado Rockies after his junior season. Nelson quickly climbed through the ranks of the Rockies organization and reached the Double-A level in 2008. He was released by the Rockies prior to the 2009 season despite hitting 20 home runs in 2008. He spent the 2009 season with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association, hitting.271 with 11 home runs and 71 RBI's.
"Justin has tremendous power and is definitely a prospect to be in a major league uniform some day," said Chico Outlaws Manager Garry Templeton. "He gives us much needed power from the left side and a sniper's arm in the outfield. I am thrilled to have him as an Outlaw for this coming season."
DiBernardo, the only player on the Outlaws active roster in 2009 involved in the trade, was picked-up as a free agent by the Outlaws midway through the 2009 campaign. He was originally assigned to the bullpen, but eventually worked his way into the starting rotation by the season's end. He posted a 1-2 record with a 3.51 ERA in 33.1 innings of work.
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Golden Baseball League Stories from January 15, 2010
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