Three New Players on Team

Published on June 25, 2009 under United League Baseball (ULB)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


Harlingen - United League Baseball's Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings announced today they have signed right-handed pitcher Maximino de la Cruz, who helped lead the WhiteWings to the first half championship in 2007, as well as third baseman Welinson Baez and centerfielder Kenny Hart.

To make room on the roster, the WhiteWings released left-handed pitcher Cesar Pena as well as outfielder Omar Rosario and Felix Cerda.

In 2007, De la Cruz made the All-Star team while going 6-7 with a 4.36 ERA. In 18 games (17 starts), he threw two complete games. In 105.1 innings he struck out 89 while walking 36 and holding opponents to a . 269 batting average.

De la Cruz opened the 2008 season with the WhiteWings, but got hit by a come-backer following his seventh pitch of the season, putting him out of the action until the end of the season, at which point he was with the Laredo Broncos.

He opened this season with the Broncos, starting two games and allowing 11 runs on 14 hits and six walks in 8.2 innings while striking out eight. He allowed four home runs.

De la Cruz will make his first start tomorrow against the Edinburg Roadrunners at 7:05 p.m. at Harlingen Field.

Baez spent 2003-through-2008 in the Philadelphia Phillies, batting . 242 in 448 games with 33 home runs and 205 RBI. He also hit 91 doubles and 15 triples. His beast season was in 2005 with Batavia (New York- Penn League, Short-Season Class A) when he hit .324 in 45 games with six home runs and 37 RBI.

Batting eighth as the designated hitter tonight, Hart comes to the WhiteWings after graduating from Missouri Southern earlier this year. He is a 21-year old left-handed hitter with speed from the Bronx, New York.

Pena was 0-2 with a 14.85 ERA. In three games (two starts), he pitched 6.2 innings, allowing 12 runs (11 earned) on 15 hits while walking three and striking out two.

Rosario was 6-for-27 (.222) in ten games while Cerda was 3-for-21 (. 143) in nine games.

The WhiteWings are members of United League Baseball, an independent league of six professional baseball teams located in Texas. In its fourth season, the United League is in the midst for a great summer with teams located in Amarillo, Edinburg, Coastal Bend, Laredo, Harlingen and San Angelo.

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United League Baseball Stories from June 25, 2009


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