Wingnuts Add Three Players
Published on June 10, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts added three players to their roster on Friday, signing right-handed pitcher Kendy Batista, second baseman Jose Duran, and catcher Matthew Powell.
Batista is 16-9 in his career with a 3.56 ERA, and has pitched as high as the Triple-A level. A native of Santa Barbara, Venezuela, Batista has averaged 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings over the course of 92 career appearances. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound Batista last pitched in the US in 2009 for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts in the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization.
Duran appeared in three games for the Wingnuts in 2010 before signing on with the Fort Worth Cats where he hit .311 with one home run and 16 RBI in 28 contests. A right-handed hitter and fielder, Duran was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth round in 2008 out of Texas A&M University. The Los Angeles, CA native hit .372 with six home runs and 68 RBI as a senior for the Aggies in 2008.
Powell is a true rookie who last played spring baseball in 2009 for Southern Nazarene University. A native of Chula Vista, CA, Powell hit .451 with 12 home runs and 65 RBI as a senior in 2009, and became just the third player in school history to earn First Team All-American honors. Last summer, Powell earned a roster spot with the U.S. Military All-Stars, a team that "promotes the awareness of all Americans in support of the honorable sacrifices our Armed Forces make at the tip of the spear."
The Wingnuts released right-hander Cephas Howard, infielder Evan Button, and catcher Jeff Stevens.
The Wingnuts open a three-game series tonight at home against the Sioux City Explorers. For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS or visit the Wingnuts' official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.
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