Revs Add Speed to the Lineup
Published on March 24, 2011 under Atlantic League (AtL)
York Revolution News Release
(York, Pa.): The defending Atlantic League champion York Revolution have announced the signings of outfielder Chris Walker and right-handed pitcher Jon Ellis, along with the return of third baseman Vince Harrison. The deals were made official today by manager Andy Etchebarren.
Walker gives the Revs one of the top base-stealing threats in the Atlantic League, bringing 372 stolen bases to York over a nine-year pro career. He has played in the Atlantic League with the Camden Riversharks for parts of the last three years, and has ranked second in the league in steals the last two seasons, swiping 61 bags in 2009, and 55 more in 2010 while also hitting .281. In 2008, Walker began the year in Camden before his contract was purchased by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim one month into the season. He spent the remainder of that year at Triple-A Salt Lake.
The 30-year-old Walker was originally a sixth round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs in 2002 out of Georgia Southern University. The Greenwood, MS native led his league in stolen bases in three consecutive seasons, totaling 60 steals with Lansing in 2004 and Daytona in 2005, and 50 more with West Tennessee in 2006. Walker first reached the Triple-A level with the Iowa Cubs in 2007.
Ellis joins the Revs after spending the majority of the 2010 season in the Atlantic League with the Somerset Patriots, where he went 3-2 with a 3.88 ERA in 15 appearances, 10 of which came as a starter. Ellis spent his previous six seasons as a pro in the San Diego Padres organization, reaching Triple-A Portland. He enjoyed a solid season in the Pacific Coast League in 2009, spending the entire campaign with the Beavers, and going 7-3 with a 4.13 ERA. Ellis had been used primarily as a reliever after being made a sixth-round draft pick by San Diego in 2004, prior to making his career-high 10 starts with Somerset last season. The 28-year-old pitched collegiately at The Citadel.
Harrison returns to York after being acquired by the Revs from Winnipeg of the Northern League late last season. He batted .362 in 10 games with York, and his four hits in his debut game marked the most ever by a Revs batter in their first game with the team. Two nights later, he ended the home regular season finale with a walk-off homerun, helping the Revs defeat the Lancaster Barnstormers on Fan Appreciation Night. Harrison played eight games at third base with York, and two games at second base.
Harrison was a 13th-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays out of the University of Kentucky in 2001. He blasted 19 homeruns for Single-A Charleston in 2003 ranking fourth in the South Atlantic League in homers, and combined to slug 16 homeruns between High-A and Double-A the following year. He has also played at the Double-A level in the Florida Marlins and New York Mets organizations.
Harrison has starred in the Northern League the last three years, and batted .319 in 2008 and .322 in 2009. A natural athlete, he was recruited by the University of Kentucky to also play football, but chose to concentrate on baseball after two seasons with the Wildcats football squad.
The Revs now have 15 players under contract for the 2011 season and will open defense of their Atlantic League championship on Opening Night, April 29, when they host the Camden Riversharks at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The game will be preceded by a championship ring ceremony and the unveiling of the championship banner, honoring the 2010 club. Full-season, partial-season, and individual game tickets are on sale now at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Apple Chevrolet Ticket Office. Tickets to the 2011 Atlantic League All-Star Game, to be held July 13 at Sovereign Bank Stadium, are also now on sale.
Atlantic League Stories from March 24, 2011
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- Somerset Patriots Fan Fest Set for Saturday, April 9th - Somerset Patriots
- Revs Add Speed to the Lineup - York Revolution
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