Revs Sign Pair of Southpaws
Published on February 13, 2012 under Atlantic League (AtL)
York Revolution News Release
(York, Pa.): The two-time defending Atlantic League champion York Revolution have announced the signings of left-handed starter Jesus Sanchez and lefty reliever Ian Thomas to official contracts for the 2012 season. The Revs now have nine players under contract for the upcoming year, including six pitchers. Also of note, outfielder Val Majewski, a member of last season's title-winning squad, has earned a spring training invite with the Texas Rangers.
Sanchez is the sixth returning player from last year's championship club to sign on the dotted line, as the long-time major leaguer heads into his third season with the Revolution. The Dominican Republic native went 3-2 in six starts with York last season after beginning the year overseas.
In 2010, Sanchez was the starting pitcher for the Freedom Division in the Atlantic League All-Star Game, going 7-6 with a 3.65 ERA in 16 starts over two stints for the Revs that year. Sanchez owned a league-best 1.63 ERA through May 25 of the 2010 season, earning a contract with the Oakland Athletics where he pitched at Triple-A Sacramento. He spent parts of seven consecutive seasons in the major leagues from 1998-2004 with the Florida Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, and Cincinnati Reds, totaling 162 appearances and 83 starts, while winning 23 games including a career-best nine with Florida during the 2000 season.
Thomas, 24, comes to York after three outstanding seasons with Winnipeg of the Northern League and American Association. In 82 professional appearances, he is 11-5 with a 2.03 ERA, while averaging 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings, and allowing just 6.6 hits per nine, with a WHIP of 1.13. The 6'4 lefty from Virginia Beach was the Northern League's Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 2010 after going 5-1 with four saves and a 1.64 ERA that year.
Majewski has earned contracts with major league organizations in four consecutive seasons after beginning each of those years in the Atlantic League, the last two of which he started with York. Now he'll have an opportunity to begin a season with a big league organization.
After batting .317 with 11 home runs and earning an All-Star nod with the Revs last season, Majewski signed with the Rangers on July 25 and batted .333 with five homers in 35 games at Triple-A Round Rock. Majewski eventually returned to York for the postseason, helping the Revs win a second consecutive Atlantic League championship after Round Rock had been eliminated from the Pacific Coast League playoffs, but his production with the Express ultimately earned him a return trip to Texas this spring.
The Revs will begin their quest to become the first team in Atlantic League history to win three consecutive league championships on April 26 with a visit to Sugar Land, TX to open the season against the expansion Skeeters. York's home opener at Sovereign Bank Stadium is set for Tuesday, May 1 against the Camden Riversharks when the Revs honor last year's championship team with a pregame ring ceremony on the field.
Individual tickets for the 2012 season are on-sale now. Tickets are available in-person at the Apple Chevrolet Ticket Office (open weekdays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.), by phone at (717) 801-HITS, or online anytime at www.YorkRevolution.com .
The York Revolution Professional Baseball Club is a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The team has captured the Atlantic League Championship in two consecutive seasons, 2010 and 2011 in just five years as a franchise. Home games are played at Sovereign Bank Stadium, located at 5 Brooks Robinson Way, York, PA 17401. For more information, please call 717-801-HITS (4487), or visit the Revolution online at www.YorkRevolution.com.
Atlantic League Stories from February 13, 2012
- Somerset Patriots Welcome Back All-Star Third Baseman Jeff Nettles - Somerset Patriots
- Revs Sign Pair of Southpaws - York Revolution
- Barnstormers Cut Three-Way Deal with York, Grand Prairie - Lancaster Stormers
- Crabs Ink Two More to 2012 Roster - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
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