Whitecaps Roster Move

June 7, 2007 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps, in conjunction with the Detroit Tigers, announced today RHP Jeff Gerbe and RHP Randor Bierd will move to Double-A Erie and RHP Eleazar Aponte and RHP Luis Gil will join the Whitecaps Friday in Dayton.

Aponte is in his fourth season of professional baseball after being signed by the Tigers on Dec. 15, 2003 and will make his first appearance on a Whitecaps roster. The Venezuelan native posted a 2-5 record and 6.27 ERA this season at Single-A Lakeland in 11 games and nine starts.

Gil will be sent to West Michigan from extended spring training after spending the entire 2006 season on the disabled list with a right elbow sprain. He last pitched in 2005 with the GCL Tigers, going 3-3 with a 3.04 ERA in 53.1 innings. The 23-year-old Dominican Republic native spent the first three years in the organization as a batter before changing roles to a pitcher in 2005.

Gerbe, who was moved into the Whitecaps rotation recently, will make a start for Erie this weekend. The Michigan State product was 1-0 with a 1.26 ERA in 12 games and two starts with the Whitecaps, earning him a spot on the Midwest League All-Star roster. Bierd will make his second stint with Erie after pitching four starts for the SeaWolves in 2005. He was 1-1 with a 2.05 ERA in 15 games of relief for the Whitecaps.

The two player moves keep the Whitecaps roster at 25 active players with RHP Phil Napolitan remaining of the D.L.

• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...

Midwest League Stories from June 7, 2007

• Loons Win First of Four with Ft. Wayne - Great Lakes Loons
• Kernels Hit Three Homers in 7-3 Win Over Swing - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Ramos Makes Big Beloit Debut - Beloit Sky Carp
• South Bend Beats Lansing in Slugfest - Lansing Lugnuts
• Chiefs Game-Long Rally Falls Short - Peoria Chiefs
• Four-Run Rally Drives Sixth Straight Whitecaps Win - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Swing Winning Streak Ends at Seven - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Swing Winning Streak Ends at Seven - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Whitecaps Rally for Victory over Dragons - Dayton Dragons
• Cougars Postponed in Wisconsin - Kane County Cougars
• Minor League Baseball Attendance Boom Continues - MWL1
• Chiefs RHP Platt Promoted To Daytona - Peoria Chiefs
• Whitecaps Roster Move - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Brandt and Pettit earn Angels' monthly honors - Cedar Rapids Kernels

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent West Michigan Whitecaps Stories

• Captains Capsize 'Caps, 4-2
• Whitecaps Wash Away Captains, 6-2
• 'Caps Play Longball in Series-Clinching Win
• 'Caps Lose Big Lead in 9-8 Loss
• Whitecaps Fall to Loons, 5-4