Vipers Ready for Camp

Published on April 24, 2008 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


Field Manager Mike Busch will welcome 22 signed players to the Calgary Vipers' fourth training camp Sunday, May 11 at Foothills Stadium. In addition a total of ten "non-roster" invitees will report making this by far the largest camp in team history as the Vipers prepare for their inaugural season in the Golden Baseball League.

Ten of the signed players were stalwarts from the 2007 Vipers team that came within one game of winning the Northern League Championship Series against the Gary SouthShore RailCats. Three of the young players trying out for the 2008 squad honed their skills in Calgary's amateur baseball programs.

Outfielder Colin Moro, formerly of the Calgary Dawgs, had an impressive February with the Canada Minors in the Arizona Winter League. Infielder Travis Drader, a former Dawgs teammate, is finishing his career at the University of Louisiana-Munroe, and Darren Low - a graduate of the University of Calgary Dinos program - will also come to camp.

They will be joined by three more native Albertans, outfielder Drew Miller of Medicine Hat, pitcher Geoff Freeborn of Airdrie and newcomer Reggie Rivard of Bonnyville.

Busch, who signed a three year contract extension late last season, is expecting one or two big name players to be added either before or during training camp.

Heading the list of returning players are Baseball America Independent League Player of the Year Darryl Brinkley and Northern League All-Stars Carlos Duncan, Nelson Castro, and Evan Greusel.

The Vipers will have only a few tune-up games to prepare for the upcoming season. They will face their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Cracker-Cats for a doubleheader in Edmonton on Saturday, May 17. The teams will square off again in Red Deer on Tuesday, May 20 before opening the regular season on Friday, May 23 in Edmonton. The Vipers home opener is Thursday, May 29 at Foothills Stadium.

Following is the list of players confirmed for the 2008 Vipers Training Camp

Darryl Brinkley - OF

Brinkley, the Calgary Vipers All-Star centrefielder and Baseball America Independent League Player of the Year will be entering his 15th season of professional baseball and first season in the Golden League after being named Northern League Player of the Year in 2007. He will enter the 2008 campaign just 60 hits shy of 2,000 for his career. Brinkley became the first player in Northern League history to hit .400 in a season, shattering the league record of .376 set by Adam Olow of the Saint Paul Saints in 2004. Brinkley also eclipsed the Northern League record for hits, finishing the season with 150 - seven more than Lincoln's Brian Warner had in 2005. The 38-year-old also led the league in runs scored with 88, on-base percentage (.456), and intentional walks (11). He was second in the league in slugging percentage (.603) and total bases (226). Brinkley was third in the league with 82 runs batted in and 32 doubles. He finished fourth in the league with 47 extra-base hits. The Norwalk, Connecticut resident was the Player of the Month in June after receiving Player of the Week honours twice on June 11th and June 25th. Brinkley also finished the season with the longest hitting streak in the league at 23 games which he accomplished from May 18th to June 13th. He also chipped in with 18 stolen bases and three outfield assists.

Carlos Duncan - 3B

Duncan finished the Vipers successful 2007 season third in the Northern League batting race. While hitting a gaudy .350, Duncan also tied with Brinkley for third in the RBI race with 82 knocked in. He was second in the league with 139 hits and fourth in runs scored with 77. The native of the Dominican Republic also smashed 13 home runs and stole 20 bases.

Nelson Castro - SS

Castro was named Baseball America Independent League All-Star along with Duncan and Brinkley last October. The 31-year-old Dominican, who lives in Lynn, MA, hit .323 with 23 RBI last season for the Snakes.

Drew Miller - OF

Drew Miller, the Medicine Hat native and Vipers 2006 MVP represented the Vipers in last season's All-Star game. He also holds the club iron man record having played in every single game since the team came into existence. Miller hit .299 in 2007 with ten home runs and 69 RBI. The 28-year-old played winter ball in Australia.

Jorge Tang - OF

Tang, a former Cincinnati Reds draft pick, made the Vipers roster out of training camp last season. Hit .277 in his rookie season with 40 RBI and was voted the Vipers most improved player over the season.

Kevin Price - C

The 23 year old backup appeared in 55 games in 2007. He hit .243 with two home runs and 26 RBI.

Evan Greusel - RHP

The 28 year old right-hander was both the workhorse and ace of the Vipers pitching staff in 2007. He has gone 24-10 for the Vipers over their three seasons and has accumulated an incredible 303 innings pitched. He was brilliant during the Vipers 2007 playoff run. Normally a starter Greusel came out of the bullpen to get the save in the Vipers 2-1 victory to oust Fargo-Moorhead in the North Division Championship Series. He then pitched 6.2 innings of relief to get the victory in 14 innings in game three of the NL Championship series.

Jordy Alexander - LHP

The 30-year-old veteran and Edmonton native, now living in Calgary, started twelve games for the Vipers before suffering an injury. He returned just before the playoffs and was outstanding out of the bullpen against both Fargo and Gary in post-season play.

Ryan Olson - LHP

In his first year with the Vipers, the 27-year-old Mets draft pick was outstanding coming out of the bullpen and in the closer role. The 6'5" left-hander worked 47 innings and recorded five saves.

Geoff Freeborn - LHP

Freeborn had an incredible 2007 season with the Vipers. The 26-year-old Airdrie resident was sensational out of the bullpen appearing in 42 games with the Vipers and accumulating a 6-2 record before leaving in late August to play for Great Britain in an Olympic qualifying tournament.

Signed Newcomers:

Jorge Mejia - 2B

Only 25 and already considered a veteran, Mejia has played pro ball in both the Oakland and Cincinnati systems. He will complete an almost all-Dominican infield with Duncan and Castro. This Phoenix resident played 51 games in the Atlantic League then Brockton of Can-Am League last season.

Tim Ryan - OF

The 25-year-old Wisconsin native broke into the pro ranks last season and played in 60 games with Edmonton in 2007

Ben Scheinbaum - 1B/DH

This 6-foot-6, 240-pound slugger is a converted pitcher much like the player he is replacing in the lineup, Jason Colson.

Joe McGhee - C

The 23-year-old rookie finished the 2007 season with Brockton of the Can-Am League hitting .312 with seven RBI in only 12 games.

John Huizinga - RHP

The Vipers closer in 2006, "Zinger" picked up 12 saves that season. The 28 -year-old has only lost five games in his five year professional career. He played the 2007 season with the St. Paul Saints of the American Association where he finished 5-1 with a 3.83 ERA while appearing in 36 games.

Reggie Rivard - RHP

Considered one of Canada's finest pitchers in the last decade and a long time National Team member, Rivard is used to playing against the Vipers not with them. The Bonnyville, Alberta native was with the Edmonton Cracker-Cats for their first three years of existence. The 29-year-old has played professionally in both the Brewers and Rangers organizations including two seasons of AAA ball. He is hoping to rebound from a 2007 season plagued by injuries.

Sean Kramer - RHP

The 6-foot-3 former Astros draft pick pitched against the Vipers in 2005 while picking up 20 saves as the closer for the Sioux City Explorers. He had 15 more saves for them in 2006 and spent time in the Can-Am League, American Association, and Atlantic League in 2007.

John Odom - RHP

A 6-foot-3, 25-year-old who started his pro career in the Giants organization. Last season he was 6-3 with a 3.05 ERA with Salem-Keizer of the Class-A Northwest League.

Jordan Neufeld - RHP

Another Canadian added to the pitching contingent in 2008 this 24-year-old right handed pitcher is from eastern Ontario. Neufeld appeared in 21 games for Macon of the South Coast League last season accumulating an ERA of 3.95.

Dallas Mahan - LHP

A nine-year veteran of Independent baseball this 6'3" lefthander posted a 3.52 ERA with Anderson of the South Coast League last season.

Nathan Melek - RHP

Another youngster trying to crack the line-up will be this 6-foot tall, 23-year-old who was drafted by the Blue Jays. Last season he played A-ball with Auburn of New York-Penn League.

Robert Coello - RHP

Perhaps the most imposing physical specimen in camp, this 6-foot-5, 240-pound 23-year-old is another Cincinnati Reds draft pick. He had a stingy 1.37 ERA with Arizona in rookie ball in 2007.

Arizona Winter League Draft Invitees:

Robert Goldblatt - RHP - Buffalo Grove, Illinois - Elmhurst College

Brian Fulcher - RHP - Wilmington, Delaware- Orange County Flyers

Derek Foder - RHP - Melverne, New York - CW Post University

Dillon O'Krane - C - Canadian National Team program and Iowa, Wesley from Langley, BC.

Non-Roster Invitees:

Max Soto 1B/DH - Formerly in the Angels system trying to make a comeback after missing two years to injury.

Joseph Kala - 1B/DH - Orum, Utah - Saddleback Junior College

Colin Moro - OF - Calgary Dawgs

Travis Darber - IF - Calgary Dawgs and University of Louisiana Munroe

Darren Low - IF - Calgary Dinos

Adam Geary - C - Las Vegas

Busch will again be joined by hitting coach Morgan Burkhart and bench coach Brad Doss for the 2008 season. The Vipers will play 44 home games, including two scheduled doubleheaders against the Cracker-Cats, Orange Country Flyers, Long Beach Armada, Yuma Scorpions, St. George RoadRunners, Chico Outlaws, and Reno SilverSox.

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