Revs Land Cuban Pitching Prospect Jorge Martinez
Published on April 4, 2014 under Atlantic League (AtL)
York Revolution News Release
(York, Pa.): The York Revolution have landed Cuban pitching prospect Jorge Martinez while bringing back reliever Stephen Penney and first baseman Chad Tracy in the most recent wave of preseason signings. The contracts were officially announced today by manager Mark Mason, growing York's roster to 26 signed players with the start of Atlantic League spring training just over one week away.
With Martinez, the Revs acquire a high-upside talent for their starting rotation, as the Cuban defector enters his first professional season in the United States. Already drawing significant attention from Major League scouts, Martinez chose the Atlantic League and the Revolution to showcase his abilities. Eligible for the First Year Player Draft this June, Martinez is considered close to Major League ready and is expected to be drafted, having participated in showcases in front of scouts this winter in preparation for this year's draft.
"He comes highly recommended," commented Mason. "He put up impressive numbers in winter ball, and we're excited to see him in camp."
The 30-year-old spent the winter with Cangrejeros de Santurce of the Puerto Rican Winter League where he went 3-3 in 11 appearances with a 2.49 ERA, the third lowest in the league. He rolled out an even more impressive 2.17 ERA over his nine starting assignments. Martinez was then picked up by Indios de Mayaguez for the postseason where he went 1-0 with a 3.29 ERA in five starts, and issued just six walks compared to 24 strikeouts. The righty started his team's championship-clinching game and allowed just one run in seven innings in a no-decision.
Martinez spent seven seasons pitching in the Cuban National Leagues. During the 2008-09 season, he hurled the 50th no-hitter in Cuban history, facing the minimum 27 batters in a win over the Industriales at Latin American Stadium. Currently learning to speak English, he entered the United States last July under a Public Interest Visa and resides in Miami.
Penney returns to the Revs for a third season. Just 27 years old, the seventh-year pro is 23-11 with 16 saves and a 3.78 ERA for his pro career. That includes a 7-3 mark with eight saves and a 3.24 ERA in 119 appearances all-time with the Revs, the third most by a reliever in franchise history. The 6'7 righty saved a career-high seven games last season. Prior to coming to York, the San Diego native spent four seasons in the Seattle Mariners organization, reaching Double-A Jackson in 2011.
Tracy returns to York after signing with the Revs last July. The son of longtime Major League manager Jim Tracy, the 28-year-old batted .289 with nine home runs and 37 RBI in 59 games with the Revs in 2013, earning a contract with the Baltimore Orioles where he spent spring training. Tracy began last season with Omaha in the Kansas City Royals organization marking his fourth consecutive year at the Triple-A level. A career .267 hitter with 136 home runs and 609 RBI, the former third-round draft pick of the Texas Rangers enjoyed 100-plus RBI seasons in 2009 and 2011, drilling a career-high 26 home runs in each of those seasons. Tracy spent his first six seasons in the Rangers farm system and played with Colorado Springs (Rockies) in addition to his time in the Royals organization.
The 2014 season begins on April 24 when the Revs host the Camden Riversharks at Santander Stadium. All tickets for the upcoming season including individual game tickets, full-season plans and mini plans ranging from 10 games to 45 games, as well as various voucher packages and gift cards are on-sale now at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Apple Chevrolet Ticket Office.
The York Revolution Professional Baseball Club is a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. 2014 will be the Revolution's eighth season of operation at Santander Stadium, the centerpiece of Downtown York, PA, located at 5 Brooks Robinson Way. The facility hosts all 70 home games in addition to myriad events through the entire calendar year. For tickets or more information, please call 717-801-HITS (4487) or visit the Revolution online at YorkRevolution.com.
Atlantic League Stories from April 4, 2014
- Lorin Lands with Long Island - Long Island Ducks
- Sams, Matera Return; Riversharks Ink Dunigan, MacPhee - Camden Riversharks
- Revs Land Cuban Pitching Prospect Jorge Martinez - York Revolution
- Hamren Rounds out Latest Additions to the Crab Pot - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
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