Trappers make six roster moves
April 26, 2004 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Edmonton Trappers News Release
EDMONTON, AB - The Edmonton Trapper Baseball Club today announced six roster moves. Outfielder/first baseman Valentino Pascucci was recalled by Montreal, left-hander Rigo Beltran was selected by the Expos and right-hander Pasqual Coco was loaned to Saltillo of the Mexican League. Infielder Luis Lopez and right-hander Jeremy Fikac were optioned to the Trappers' roster and third baseman Scott Hodges was sent outright to the Triple-A club. Edmonton's roster currently stands at 24 players; 12 pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders and three outfielders.
Lopez, 30, batted .154 (4-for-26) in 11 games with the Expos this season. He spent the 2003 campaign with Triple-A Sacramento, batting .245 (122-for-498) with 18 home runs and 72 RBI in 131 games with the PCL Champions. Lopez hit .346 (9-for-26) with three home runs and 14 RBI in six games with the River Cats in the playoffs to earn MVP honours. He has been the MVP of his team five times in his nine seasons as a pro.
Fikac, 29, was 0-0, 4.66 (9.2 IP - 5 ER) in seven appearances with the Expos this season. In 2003 he pitched in Oakland, going 0-1, 4.50 (16.0 IP - 8 ER) in 14 appearances and in Sacramento, going 3-3, 2.25 (56.0 IP - 14 ER) with four saves in 42 outings with the River Cats. Fikac is 25-9 with a 2.87 ERA (310.2 IP - 99 ER) and 44 saves in 212 minor league appearances (six starts).
Hodges, 25, began the season on the disabled list with the Expos. He was placed on the DL on April 3 with a right quadriceps strain and went 2-for-9 (.222) with two RBI in two games on a rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Brevard County. Hodges spent the entire 2003 campaign with the Trappers, batting .288 (139-for-482) with 12 home runs and 66 RBI in 126 games.
Pascucci, 25, hit .319 with five home runs and 18 RBI in 18 Pacific Coast League games to earn the promotion. On Friday at Fresno (Giants), Pascucci went 4-for-5 with a double, three home runs and six RBI. His 14 total bases in the game set a Trapper record. Pascucci would become the third Expos rookie to make his big league debut this season, joining outfielder Terrmel Sledge and left-handed pitcher Chad Bentz.
Beltran, 34, returns to the major leagues for the first time since pitching in one game for the Rockies in 2000. He is 2-3 with a 4.34 ERA in parts of five seasons with St. Louis, New York (NL) and Colorado. Beltran was 1-0 with one save and a 2.00 ERA in seven games with the Trappers after being acquired from Cincinnati for a player to be named, April 2.
Coco, 26, was 1-0 with a 12.27 ERA (3.2 IP - 5 ER) in four appearances with the Trappers. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Toronto Blue Jays and spent the entire 2003 season with Triple-A Indianapolis, where he was 10-9, 4.80 (146.1 IP - 78 ER) in 27 starts with the Indians.
The next Trapper home game will be on Monday, April 26 when the club will take on the Tacoma Rainiers. The game will begin at 7:05 PM. Tickets for all regular season home games are on sale and can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 451-8000. Twenty-game packs and 2004 season tickets are also currently on sale at the Trapper General Office. For more information call 414-4450.
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 26, 2004
- Paint it black - Edmonton Trappers
- Sounds' Win Streak Snapped With 11-2 Loss - Nashville Sounds
- Trappers make six roster moves - Edmonton Trappers
- Beavers Sweeney named PCL Pitcher of the Week - Portland Beavers
- Valentino Pascucci, Brian Sweeney Win PCL Player of the Week Honors - PCL1
- John Grisham To Appear At Greer Stadium On Tuesday - Nashville Sounds
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