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AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Feel Need for Speed: Re-Sign Frost, Acquire Smith, Sign Hernandez

January 27, 2012 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (January 27, 2012) - The last time the St. Paul Saints put the fear in teams because of their prowess on the bases was in 2007. They swiped 150 bags and were caught just 12 times, led the league in steals and went to the American Association Championship Series. They may be on their way to that again after re-signing their stolen base leader from 2011, Adam Frost, and acquiring a guy who stole 49 bases last season, outfielder Sean Smith from the New Jersey Jackals for a player to be named later. The Saints also signed outfielder Jose Hernandez.

The 25-year-old Frost finished tied for fourth in the American Association with 31 stolen bases last season and it was the fourth best single season total in Saints franchise history. Spending most of his time at the top of the line up Frost hit a career high .296 with a career high eight homers and 46 RBI. He played in 99 of 100 games and scored 76 runs, roped a career high 23 doubles, seven triples, was 31-43 in stolen bases, a .355 on base percentage and a .441 slugging percentage. He finished fourth in the league in at bats, with 422, which was also a single season Saints record. Along with at bats he set a single season record in runs scored, tied for the most games played, second most hits (125), tied for second in triples and tied for seventh in sacrifice bunts (9).

His 2011 season also included a career best 13 game hitting streak from July 11-24 and he reached base safely in 25 straight from July 11-August 7. He also swiped two bases in four separate games and stole a base in four straight from May 28-June 1.

Frost was in the Kansas City Royals system in 2010 and began 2011 at Single-A Wilmington playing five games before being released and signed by the Saints on May 4. He began 2010 at Single-A Burlington where he hit .258 with one homer and 15 RBI in 27 games. In 89 at bats he scored eight runs, had six doubles, two triples, a .309 on base percentage and a .404 slugging percentage. He was then promoted to Wilmington where he hit .245 with four homers and 16 RBI in 44 games. In 139 at bats he scored 19 runs, seven doubles, two triples, with a .291 on base percentage and a .410 slugging percentage.

Frost began his career in the Detroit Tigers organization in 2008 when he was a 21st round selection in the June Amateur Draft. After one season spent between the Gulf Coast League and the Florida State League, he spent the 2009 season with the Winnipeg Goldeyes, formerly of the Northern League and now in the American Association, the same league as the Saints. He had a solid season with the Goldeyes hitting .280 with five homers and 19 RBI in 84 games. One of his homers was a walk-off grand slam on August 28 against the Schaumburg Flyers. In 289 at bats he roped 11 doubles, three triples, had an on base percentage of .330 and a slugging percentage of .391. He was third in the league in stolen bases (30) and stolen base percentage (.789). Frost was voted the Northern League Rookie of the Year.

The 29-year-old Smith has been a stolen base threat during his 12-year playing career and his 49 stolen bases last season were the second most in his career. He played all of last season in the Can-Am League beginning with the Rockland Boulders. Upon his release he was signed by the New Jersey Jackals. Between the two stops he hit .274 with seven homers and 44 RBI in 84 games. In 380 at bats he scored 69 runs, had 13 doubles, four triples, was 49-56 in stolen bases, a .400 on base percentage and a .413 slugging percentage. He led the Can-Am League in steals, tied for first in hit by pitches (12), was third in walks with 55 and tied for fifth in runs scored.

Smith began his professional career in 2000 when he was a 15th round selection of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played five seasons with the Pirates organization and began to show his speed in 2004 when he stole 27 bases between Low A Williamsport, Single-A Hickory and High-A Lynchburg. He was selected in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft by the Chicago White Sox in December of 2004 and reached as high as Double-A in 2007. He had back-to-back 30 plus stolen base seasons in 2005-06. After his final season with the White Sox organization in 2007 he set a career high in steals with 52, in 2008, with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League.

The 25-year-old Hernandez split time in 2011 at Double-A Altoona of the Pirates organization and Evansville of the Independent Frontier League. He hit .274 with six homers and 32 RBI in 74 games. In 250 at bats he scored 32 runs, had 14 doubles, three triples, a .333 on base percentage and a .444 slugging percentage.

Hernandez was a 23rd round draft pick by the Pirates in the 2009 June Amateur Draft. He spent his entire career with the Pirates until being released in the middle of July last season and was picked up by the Evansville Otters on July 28.

The Saints have re-signed four players this offseason, signed one free agent and acquired one player via trade. Along with those six players the Saints picked up the option on nine other players and their roster currently stands at 15, six pitchers and nine position players.

The Saints begin their 20th season on Thursday, May 17 with a 7:05 p.m. game against the Gary SouthShore Railcats. Group tickets and specialty seating areas are on sale by contacting the Saints office at 651-644-6659 or visiting saintsbaseball.com. Single game tickets will go on sale in March.

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