Toros Sign Six More Players
April 23, 2010 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Tucson Toros News Release
Tucson, AZ - The GBL Southern Division Champion Tucson Toros have signed contracts with six more players, including former Major League Pitcher Emiliano Fruto, who led the GBL in saves during the 2009 season.
The team will also host a press conference to introduce the 2010 Toros Coaching Staff on Tuesday, April 27th at 2:00 p.m. at the Executive Terminal at Tucson International Airport during a special media only presentation.
Fruto led all GBL hurlers by a wide margin with 21 saves, seven more than his closest competition in the league.
What's even more amazing is that those saves came for a Yuma team that won just 29 games, resulting in Fruto locking down an astonishing 72% of their victories.
The righty did it in dominant form, striking out 54 in 37 2/3 innings with an ERA of 3.35.
The 25-year old Columbian native pitched in the Majors with the Seattle Mariners in 2002, and is a familiar named to Tucson baseball fans after having played for the Sidewinders in 2007 and 2008.
Joining Fruto in Friday's announced signings were two returning 2009 Toros lefthanders Vince Davis and Toby Nordman.
Davis joined Tucson in June and excelled out of the rotation, going 5-2 in 10 starts with a 3.43 ERA that led all Toro starters.
Nordman made his professional debut with Tucson after making the club out of spring training, going on to post a 2-1 and 3.63 ERA in 15 relief appearances and two starts.
The Toros also signed three newcomers in Second Baseman Jose Valdez, Catcher Cody Pride and Pitcher Matt Lincoln.
Valdez is expected to add some power from a middle infield position, having hit 15 home runs in just 74 games in the GBL in 2008 between Chico and Edmonton.
The Dominican native spent five years in the Rockies farm system, with his most impressive season coming in 2005 where he hit 21 home runs in Single-A Ashville.
Pride is an alum of Mississippi Valley State, where he hit .281 in 2009 and showed a good eye at the plate with more walks (20) than strikeouts (15).
He made his professional debut last season with San Angelo of the United League.
Lincoln is a 26-year old right-hander who was originally an 8th round selection in 2003 and that same year posted a combined 2.57 ERA between Rookie ball and Single-A in his only season of affiliated ball.
The Toros will open the 2010 season in defense of their Southern Division title on Wednesday, May 19th when they take on the Edmonton Capitals at Hi Corbett Field at 7:00 p.m.
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Golden Baseball League Stories from April 23, 2010
- Toros Sign Six More Players - Tucson Toros
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