AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Recharge Their Battery, Sign Catcher and Pitcher

Published on June 22, 2011 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (June 22, 2011) - Injuries and retirements have forced the hand of St/ Paul Saints manager George Tsamis. With starting catcher Richard Mercado being placed on the disabled list, the sudden retirement of relief pitcher Chad Cordero and Edwin Walker moving to the starting rotation the Saints needed to look for reinforcements. To fill the voids they signed catcher Alex Garabedian and pitcher Robert Coe.

The 25-year-old Garabedian has spent his entire professional career in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and played at Double-A Chattanooga this season before being released earlier in June. He played in just eight games with the Lookouts and hit .136 with one RBI.

In 2010 he got off to a blazing start with Single-A Inland Empire and hit .321 with one homer and 14 RBI in 23 games. In 93 at bats he scored six runs, had six doubles, an on base percentage of .376 and a slugging percentage of .429. He was promoted to Double-A Chattanooga and hit .239 with two homers and seven RBI in 19 games.

Garabedian was originally selected by the New York Yankees in the 7th round of the 2004 June Amateur Draft out of high school, but elected to go to the University of Miami. He later transferred to the College of Charleston. In 2007 the Dodgers selected him in the 8th round of the June Amateur Draft. He was selected by Baseball America as the second-best catching prospect and 33rd-best overall prospect nationally in 2003. He began his college career at the University of Miami before transferring.

In his Saints debut on Tuesday evening he caught both ends of the double header, went 2-7 with a double and threw out one of three base runners.

The 23-year-old Coe is from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Coe is not a pitcher by trade, but rather the WarHawks starting catcher. In 49 games this season, Coe batted .350 with four homers and 48 RBI. He was named 2011 First Team All-WIAC.

However, his 0.73 ERA in nine appearances is what most interests the Saints. Coe threw 12.1 innings this season, giving up just one earned run on eight hits and four walks, while striking out 12 batters. Coe was red hot during the Division III NCAA tournament, throwing 4.0 innings of shutout baseball, giving up just two hits and striking out three guys, with three of those innings coming against Hamline University, who are managed by current Saints Pitching Coach, Jason Verdugo.

In order to make room on the roster the Saints released rookie catcher Dylan Swift.

The Saints roster stands at 22, the league maximum, 10 pitchers and 12 position players.

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