Wingnuts Load up for Stretch Run
Published on August 16, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts announced several transactions on Tuesday, including the acquisition of shortstop Jimmy Mojica, outfielder Mitch Einertson, and right-handed pitcher Geivy Garcia.
Mojica (pronounced moh-HEE-kuh) comes to the Wingnuts from the Kansas City T-Bones in exchange for second baseman Jose Duran. Mojica is currently hitting .303 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI in 82 games. The 27-year old Mojica has swiped 20 bases and ranks tied for fifth in the American Association with 72 runs scored. Mojica is expected to play second base for the Wingnuts.
A native of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Mojica was the league's inaugural Rookie Player of the Year in 2006 after hitting .299 with 44 runs and 32 RBI in 87 games for the St. Joe Blacksnakes. Twice during his six-year career, the 6-foot, 185-pound Mojica has had his contract purchased by a Major League organization, seeing time in both the Milwaukee Brewers' and Seattle Mariners' farm systems. The right-handed hitting Mojica entered 2011 with a career .280 batting average, .354 on-base percentage, and 83 stolen bases in 109 attempts.
Einertson was acquired from the North American Baseball League's Maui Na Koa Ikaika in exchange for a player to be named later. Einertson hit .314 with eight home runs and 49 RBI in 68 games for Maui. Last season, the Oceanside, CA native played alongside Wingnuts' closer Josh Dew for the Golden League champion Chico Outlaws. Einertson hit .667 in five playoff games with five RBI and 11 runs scored.
Einertson was drafted by the Houston Astros in the fifth round out of Rancho Buena Vista High School in 2004. The 25-year old outfielder started his professional career later that summer and belted 24 home runs in just 63 games for the Greeneville Astros. At the end of his rookie season, the 5-foot10, 178-pound Einertson was named the Appalachian League's Most Valuable Player, as well as Rookie Level Player of the Year. Einertson spent two years in Double-A with Houston and participated in the 2007 Arizona Fall League.
Garcia (first name pronounced HY-vee) opened 2011 in the Mexican League, appearing in three games for the Petroleros de Minatitlan. The 29-year old righty then made 43 appearances for the Truenos de Tijuana in the Liga Norte de Mexico, the same circuit the Wingnuts signed Jorge Delgado from last July. With Tijuana, Garcia went 8-2 with 23 saves and a 2.45 ERA, striking out 56 in 58.2 innings pitched.
Garcia spent parts of two seasons in the American Association, pitching for the Grand Prairie AirHogs in 2008 and 2010. A native of Laguna Salada in the Dominican Republic, Garcia earned South Division All-Star honors last season with a 3.47 ERA and 11 saves in 49.1 innings. Like Mojica, Garica has seen time with two different Major League organizations in his career. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Garcia was originally signed by the San Diego Padres as an international free agent in 2001 and would have his contract purchased by the San Francisco Giants after a successful season with Grand Prairie in 2008. Garcia's reversionary rights were acquired from the Amarillo Sox in exchange for a player to be named later.
The Wingnuts released right-handed pitcher Chad Sherman, and in a separate deal, traded outfielder Peter Barrows to Kansas City in exchange for a player to be named later.
The Wingnuts open a three-game series tonight against the T-Bones at 7:05 p.m. Wichtia is currently 0.5 games behind the St. Paul Saints for the wild card, and 1.5 games back of the Gary SouthShore RailCats for the Central Division lead. For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS or visit the Wingnuts' official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.
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