Saltdogs Add Three More to Spring Roster
Published on May 4, 2009 under American Association (AA)
Lincoln Saltdogs News Release
LINCOLN, NE - The Lincoln Saltdogs added two right-handed arms to the pitching staff over the weekend, signing Angel Castro and Khalid Afify. Lincoln also brought a third catcher into camp, signing rookie Chris McGuire.
Castro was selected by the Detroit Tigers organization in the 13th round of the 2006 Major League draft. After playing a year in the Dominican Summer League, he joined low-Class A West Michigan for the 2007 season. With the Whitecaps, Angel went 7-4 with a 3.01 ERA, earning a midseason promotion to high-Class A Lakeland. Castro spent the rest of 2007 and part of 2008 with Lakeland, before the Tigers promoted him to Class AA Erie. Angel did some of his best pitching there, going 2-2 in 26 relief outings with a 3.30 ERA and holding opponents to a .203 batting average.
Afify joins the Saltdogs as a rookie this season, after pitching in 10 games last season for Sussex of the Can-Am League. The 6-foot-2 righty pitched 18 innings down the stretch for the Skyhawks, who ended up winning the league championship. Before making the jump to professional baseball, Khalid pitched collegiately at Binghamton University, where he worked primarily as a reliever. His signing gives Lincoln 15 pitchers on its training camp roster.
McGuire comes to Lincoln as a true rookie looking to make his professional debut. The Texas native wrapped up his collegiate career in 2008 at Northwoods University near Dallas, where he hit .283 with six home runs and 29 RBI in his senior season as the team's starting catcher. Chris joins Shawn McGill and Lee Rubin as catchers in Saltdogs camp this month, and will have a chance to compete for a backup job.
Lincoln now has 27 players officially under contract for the 2009 season. Training camp began on Saturday. The Saltdogs will play two exhibition games in Nebraska during the preseason: Thursday, May 7 at Haymarket Park against the Kansas City T-Bones, and Sunday, May 10 in Beatrice against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.
The 2009 Lincoln Saltdogs season begins on May 14 in Wichita, with the home opener scheduled for May 22 against Fort Worth. For more team and ticket information, go to www.saltdogs.com.
American Association Stories from May 4, 2009
- Scheppers Impressive in Saints Debut in 7-1 Win - St. Paul Saints
- Saltdogs Add Three More to Spring Roster - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Saints Roll In Exhibition Opener - St. Paul Saints
- 2009 El Paso Diablos Spring Training Underway - El Paso Diablos
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