Wingnuts Roster Set as Espinosa Returns
May 8, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS (May 8, 2015) - Per league rules, American Association teams are allowed a maximum of five veteran players on the roster at any given point in the season. This makes filling those five roster spots with productive players one of the most important tasks facing a team's brain trust each and every off-season. With this in mind, the Wichita Wingnuts have exercised the 2015 option on David Espinosa's contract.
Espinosa was a teammate of Wingnuts' manager Kevin Hooper in the Detroit Tigers organization at Triple-A Toledo from 2005-2007. He is currently in the 15th season of a very successful professional baseball career. Espinosa was a first round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds back in 2000 out Gulliver Prep High School in Coral Gables, Florida. The 23rd overall pick spent two years at the single-A level for the Reds before joining the Detroit farm system in 2003. He quickly climbed the ladder to Triple-A, reaching the highest level in the minors by 2005. Espinosa hit .232 with 14 home runs and 78 RBI over a three year span before being granted his release.
Since his release from the Tigers, the 33-year old has played the entirety of the past seven seasons at the independent level, aside from a 60-game stop in the Seattle Mariners farm system in 2009. His stops include Camden, Southern Maryland, and York in the Atlantic League and American Association cities such as Grand Prairie, Lincoln, and Kansas City before arriving in Wichita. At these locations he has combined to rack up a .309 batting average, .420 on-base percentage, 54 home runs, 342 RBI, 133 doubles, 48 triples, 110 stolen bases, and 479 walks.
Espinosa began the 2014 season in Kansas City, where he hit a solid .290 with 29 runs driven in over 64 contests. He represented the South team in the American Association All-Star Game shortly after arriving in Wichita in a trade that sent relief pitcher Patrick Mincey to the T-Bones. It would be safe to say that the native of Venezuela took a liking to his new home as he was almost unstoppable at the plate down the stretch. In 34 games with the Nuts, Espinosa batted .338 with five doubles, five triples, six home runs and 22 RBI. He paced the league in triples at the end of the regular season, while also finishing third in walks and eighth in runs scored. With a championship in sight, he ramped up his efforts even more. In seven post-season games, Espinosa managed to drive in eight runs on eight hits.
Having played everywhere but pitcher and catcher at some point in his 1,509 career games, Espinosa is expected to see time at first base, corner outfield, and designated hitter this season.
The return of Espinosa brings the 2015 spring training roster to its maximum of 28 players. The roster can include up to 28 players until two days prior to the start of the regular season when it 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.
• Discuss this story on the American Association message board...
American Association Stories from May 8, 2015
- Wingnuts Roster Set as Espinosa Returns - Wichita Wingnuts
- Weather Plan in Place for ThunderHeads Tryouts Saturday - Amarillo ThunderHeads
- Laber Announces Retirement from Professional Baseball - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
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.
