Rock Cats Get Two Pitchers from Class-A Ft. Myers

Published on April 30, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT- The New Britain Rock Cats Baseball Club, the Double-A Eastern League Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, has received RHP B.J Hermsen and LHP Caleb Thielbar from Class-A Ft. Myers in the Florida State League. The Rock Cats have also promoted LHP Luke French to Triple-A Rochester of the International League. Hermsen will replace French in New Britain's starting rotation and pitch tomorrow at Harrisburg, PA. Both Hermsen and Thielbar are at Double-A for the first time in their careers.

Hermsen, 22, a 6-5, 240 pound right-handed pitcher went 1-0 with a 0.78 ERA (2ER 23 IP) in 4 starts at Class-A Ft. Myers. He was the winning pitcher in his last start, Tuesday at St. Lucie. The Masonville, Iowa native won 13 games between Low-A Beloit and High-A Ft. Myers in 2011. In 2009, he was named Twins minor league pitcher of the month in July. In addition, he was named to the Gulf Coast League All-Star team by Baseball America and ranked as the 11th best prospect in the GCL that season. Hermsen was the Twins 6th round pick in 2008.

Thielbar, 25, a 6-0, 207 pound left-handed pitcher went 1-1 with a 0.00 ERA (0ER 12.1 IP) and a save in 7 relief outings at Class-A Ft. Myers. He has not given up an earned run in the Twins organization in 10 games (17.2 IP), dating back to last August. The Randolph, MN resident is in his second season in the Twins organization as he was signed by the Twins as a minor league free agent last August. He pitched three games (1GS) at Class-A Ft. Myers last season, going 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0ER 7.1 IP) with the Miracle. Thielbar pitched two years in the Milwaukee Brewers system before getting released in December of 2010. He was originally the Brewers 18th round selection in 2009 out of South Dakota State University.

The Rock Cats roster is now at 23 active players, 2 short of the Eastern League maximum.

The Rock Cats return home from their road trip on Friday and will play the Red Sox affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs. Tickets are available by calling 860-224-8383.

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