Skyhawks Add Another Major Leaguer
Published on April 4, 2008 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Sussex Skyhawks News Release
The Sussex Skyhawks announced today the signing of former Baltimore Oriole first baseman/designated hitter Walter Young. Young appeared in 14 games for the Baltimore squad in 2005, batting .303 while driving in 3 runs and hitting 1 home run. Young is a native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi who turned down a football scholarship from LSU to sign with the Pittsburg Pirates. Young worked his way up through the minor league system, eventually hitting 150 home runs and driving in 621 runs throughout his minor league career, including a personal best of 33 home runs with the Bowie BaySox during the 2004 campaign, which lead to an appearance for him in the Eastern League All-Star game.
Young, who is best known for his large size and his ability to hit towering home runs, eventually lost his spot on the Oriole roster to Kevin Millar but Young got right back on track and in 2007 he hit .313 with 21 home runs, 78 RBI's, and 120 hits for the Winnipeg Goldeneyes of the Northern League.
In other roster moves, the Skyhawks re-signed infielder Kevin Rios; Rios, a former New York Met farmhand, played the 2007 season with the Skyhawks, appearing in 71 games and hitting .275 with 27 runs scored, 71 hits, and 39 RBI's. A new addition to the Skyhawks roster comes from the San Francisco Giant organization. Matthew Weston was taken by the Giants out of the University of Houston and sent for the 2006 season to their short season team, the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. In 63 appearances for the Volcanoes he hit .280 and drove in 27 runs, while earning the Northwest League Player of the Week honors in August 2006. From there he was promoted for the 2007 season to the Augusta Green Jackets of the South Atlantic League. He played in 118 games for Augusta, hitting .276 and finished the season with 120 hits, 35 doubles, 11 home runes, and 69 RBI's before being released by the Giants after the season and making his way to the Skyhawks organization.
The Skyhawks also announced today that pitcher Trey Stephens has been traded to the Edinburg Coyotes of the United League for a player to be named later. Stephens who has spent his entire career in Independent baseball, amassing and 13-12 record, was 1-2 for the Skyhawks during the 2007 campaign, appearing in 22 games and posting a 3.86 ERA in 77 innings pitched.
The Skyhawks 2008 season will kick off on Thursday, May 22nd at 7:05PM. Skyhawks season tickets and mini plans are currently available. The Skyhawks 12-game mini plan is the only way to guarantee a seat to every regular season firework show during the 2008 season. For more information on the 2008 season, fans can log onto www.sussexskyhawks.com or 973-300-1000 x21.
Canadian American League Stories from April 4, 2008
- Voice of the Nashua Pride Moves On - American Defenders of New Hampshire
- Skyhawks Add Another Major Leaguer - Sussex Skyhawks
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