MWL1 Quad Cities River Bandits

Swing make several roster moves

Published on June 25, 2005 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Quad Cities River Bandits News Release


The St. Louis Cardinals Saturday made several moves to the Swing of the Quad Cities roster, as outfielder Simon Williams was promoted to Class A-Advanced Palm Beach, and outfielder Eric Verbryke was activated from the disabled list. In addition, left-handed reliever Jackson Paz was placed on the disabled list, and lefty Bo Dickerson was transferred to the Quad Cities from New Jersey to fill the spot in the bullpen. Due to Thursday's promotion of outfielder Joe Mather to Class A-Advanced Palm Beach, the Swing roster currently stands at 24 active players, one shy of the Midwest League maximum.

Since joining the Swing on June 6, Verbryke has batted .394 (13-33) with seven three doubles and seven RBI in seven games. Verbryke made an immediate impression with the Swing, going 5-for-5 on June 6 at West Michigan, his second game in a Quad Cities uniform. Originally a ninth-round selection of the New York Yankees in the 2002 draft, the 23-year-old Verbryke was released by New York on May 7 and signed with the Cardinals on June 1. He had been on the Swing disabled list with right shoulder inflammation since June 13.

Verbryke takes the roster spot of Williams, an 11th-round pick out of the University of Maine in the 2004 draft. Overall, the 6-2, 220-pounder from Portland, Maine, has batted .279 with five home runs and 23 RBI for the Swing. Williams has been one of the Swing's most consistent forces, ranking second on the team with 36 runs scored and 29 walks while providing strong defense in center field.

Paz heads to the disabled list after exiting Friday night's win while facing Sebastien Boucher in the bottom of the eighth inning. Paz, who has gone 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA and boasts an 18-2 career record, reaggravated the shoulder injury that kept him on the disabled list from April 26 until his activation on June 19.

Dickerson, a 6-3, 200-pound lefty from Hendersonville, North Carolina, signed as a non-drafted free agent out of the University of North Carolina last August, and did not pitch professionally in 2004. In one outing for short-season New Jersey this year, the 23-year-old allowed one run on four hits in two innings, striking out three and walking three.

Mather was promoted on Thursday morning after batting .220 with nine home runs and 33 RBI for the Swing in 2005. He boasted two walk-off home runs for Quad Cities, a two-out, 13th-inning blast against Beloit on May 17, and a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning to beat Peoria on June 8. Originally a third-round selection in the 2001 draft, the 22-year-old pounded a walk-off grand slam to send Palm Beach to a 7-3 win in the second game of a doubleheader on Friday night.

Nick Stavinoha, the Cardinals' seventh-round pick who joined the Swing on Thursday, remains on the inactive list as he works himself into game shape. An updated roster follows this release.

UP NEXT: The Swing and Timber Rattlers continue the series on Saturday night, as the Swing send Matt Scherer (2-5, 3.98) to the mound against Julio Santiago (0-1, 3.80). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05, and pregame coverage on Progressive Talk AM 1270 will begin at 6:50.

UPCOMING HOMESTAND: After four road games, the Swing return home for their first home series of the second half against Wisconsin from Monday, June 27, through Wednesday, June 29. Tuesday's game will be Black and Gold Night as well as DARE Night at John O'Donnell Stadium, while Wednesday's game will be a Hooters/97 Rock Beverage Night, John Deere Collector's Night, and Beach Party theme night with the Swing. Tickets are available by calling (563) 328-2000.

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