Wingnuts Make Trio of Moves to Start Building '15 Roster
November 3, 2014 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS (November 3, 2014) - The Wichita Wingnuts were active over the weekend in their effort to build a roster capable of reaching the American Association's Championship series for a fourth consecutive year in 2015. The first two signees to next season's roster are a pair of pitchers fresh out of college in Vincent Molesky and Scott Kuzminsky. Also, the Nuts have traded pitcher Frank Del Valle to the Joplin Blasters for a player to be named later.
The 24-year old Molesky completed his college career at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland this spring. A 6'4 right-hander, he posted the best numbers of his four-year career at "The Mount" during his senior season. Appearing in 11 games, 10 of them starts, Molesky went 5-4 with a 3.92 earned run average. He struck out 42 opposing hitters in 57.1 innings and tossed one complete game.
Prior to missing almost all of his junior season with injury, the native of Montoursville, Pennsylvania went a combined 5-11 with most of his action coming as a starter during his freshman and sophomore years. Prior to college he was a standout hurler at Montoursville High School, where he was named to the Susquehanna Valley League All-Star team following his sophomore and junior seasons.
Kuzminsky, who will also be pitching professionally for the first time, played his collegiate ball almost 5,000 miles away from Molesky. The right-hander spent his final two years of school at the University of Hawaii after beginning with a pair of seasons at Bellevue Community College where he helped the team win a conference title in 2011.
The recently turned 23-year old right-hander made 13 relief appearances on the mound during his first season on the islands in 2013. He did not allow a run in eight of his outings which spanned 20.1 innings. As a senior in 2014, Kuzminsky was one of the top pitchers for the Rainbow Warriors. He made 15 appearances, starting in 12 of them, and finished with a 4-7 record. On his way to posting a 3.25 ERA, he recorded two complete game shutouts and a save. While silencing the bats of the New York Institute of Technology, Kuzminsky struck out 14, the highest total for a Hawaii pitcher in 34 years.
Although Kuzminsky is new to professional baseball, this won't be the Pulyallup, Washington native's first appearance on the mound at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. While suiting up for the Seattle Studs, a summer baseball power, he started two games in the 80th Annual NBC World Series in Wichita this August. He was dominant in winning both outings, first allowing one run in eight frames against the San Francisco Seals and then tossing a complete-game, nine-strikeout gem to shut out the Hays Larks and move the Studs into the championship game.
Del Valle, a former Chicago Cubs prospect, was sent to Wichita's brand new South Division rival in Joplin. After joining the Wingnuts mid-season, the left-hander pitched in nine games, seven of them starts, and posted a 1-1 record with a 5.70 ERA.
Molesky and Kuzminsky are the first two players to join the Wingnuts for 2015. The roster can include up to 28 players until two days prior to the start of the regular season when the active roster must be trimmed to 22. The eighth season of Wichita Wingnuts baseball begins on Thursday, May 21st in Joplin, with the home opener against the Winnipeg Goldeyes taking place on Tuesday, May 26th. For information on season tickets, group outings, and party packages, call the Wingnuts' main office at (316) 264-NUTS, or visit the Wingnuts' official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.
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- Wingnuts Make Trio of Moves to Start Building '15 Roster - Wichita Wingnuts
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