Bluefish Sign Kennard Jones

The Bridgeport Bluefish announced that they have signed outfielder Kennard Jones for the 2012 season.

Jones will be entering his fifth season in the Atlantic League, and first with the Bluefish. He previously played in the Atlantic League for the York Revolution (2008 and 2009, Newark Bears (2009 and 2010), and the Long Island Ducks (2011).

Kennard Jones was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 3rd round (85th overall) of the 2002 MLB Amateur Draft out of Indiana University. In 2005, he hit .281 with 60 RBI and 23 stolen bases for the Padres Double-A affiliate Mobile. He played five seasons in the Padres organization including two stops at Triple-A in 2005 and 2006. Jones signed with the Baltimore Orioles organization in 2007, and was assigned to Frederick(A+). That season he hit .252 with 4 home runs with 48 RBI, and 26 stolen bases.  He started the 2008 season with the Baltimore's Double-A affiliate Bowie, but was released in June of that season. He signed with York Revolution soon after and went on to have tremendous season, hitting .333 with 8 home runs 49 RBI and 17 stolen bases in only 88 games.  Jones started the 2009 season with York, but was traded to the Newark Bears late in the season. In 2010, Jones re-signed with Newark Bears and had another great season hitting .296 with 5 home runs, 51 RBI and 40 stolen bases. Last season, Jones was a catalyst for the Long Island Ducks First Half Championship, and Liberty Division Championships. He hit .282 with 8 home runs, 54 RBI and 28 stolen bases, and was one of their most electrifying players.

It seems as his career goes on Jones gets better and better. He's always had speed and has able to steal bases but he's added some power to his arsenal. Last season, he had career high 8 home runs, and 54 RBI (the second most in  his career). He' be a great addition to an outfield in Bridgeport that already includes Prentice Redman and Joey Gathright.

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'Sharks Sign Five More Including Three Former Major League Pitchers

The Camden Riversharks have signed right-handed pitchers Jeff Farnsworth, Bryan Corey, Jason Bergmann, infielder Marquez Smith, and outfielder Stephen Doetsch for the 2012 season.

Farnsworth will be entering his fifth season in the Atlantic League and first with the Riversharks. He previously pitched for the Atlantic City in 2004, Newark in 2005, York in 2007, and Southern Maryland  in 2008.  Jeff Farnsworth was orginally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 2nd round (57th overall) of the 1996 MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of West Florida. He pitched five seasons in the Mariners organization before being selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 2001 Rule 4 Draft. Farnsworth pitched in 44 games for the Detroit Tigers in 2002, posting a 2-3 record with a 5.79 ERA in 70 innings work. Farnsworth has also played at the Triple-A level for the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox, and Boston Red Sox organizations. This will be his first back in the Atlantic League since 2008.

Bryan Corey was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 12th round (333rd overall) of the 1993 MLB Amateur Draft.  He pitched in 91 major leagues games for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, and San Diego Padres. He has a major league career 4-4 record with a 5.13 ERA in 98 innings worked. He last pitched in the United States in 2009, with the Texas Rangers Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City. The last two seasons he's pitched over seas, in 2010 for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japan Pacific League, and in 2011 for the Lamigo Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.

Jason Bergmann was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 11th round (317th overall) of the 2002 MLB Amateur Draft out of Rutgers University. From 2005 to 2010, he pitched in the 155 games in the major leagues for the Washington Nationals. He has a major league career 12-24 record with 299 strikeouts, and a 5.04 ERA in 390 innings worked. Last season, he was 1-7 with a 5.65 ERA in 78 innings for the Oakland A's Double-A affiliate Midland. Bergmann has a 44-45 record with a 3.49 ERA in his minor league career.

Marquez Smith was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 8th round (247th overall) of the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft out of Clemson University. He played all five of his professional seasons in the Chicago Cubs organization, including two stints in Triple-A in 2010 and 2011. He has a career .282 batting average with 67 home runs and 282 RBI.

Stephen Doetsch will be entering his fourth season in the Atlantic League. He previously played for the Pennsylvania Road Warriors in 2007, Bridgeport Bluefish in 2008, and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in 2009. He has a .273 batting average with a 25 home runs 90 RBI in his Atlantic League career. Doetesch was originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 14th round (427th overall) of the 2003 MLB Amateur Draft. He played four seasons in the Braves organization (as well as 11 games for the Nationals organization in 2008). He has a .277 batting average with 22 home runs and 169 RBI in is affiliated career.

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Cox Media Group Houston is Official Broadcast Home of the Skeeters

Cox Media Group Houston will be the official broadcast home of the Sugar Land Skeeters!

Skeeter games can be heard in high definition live via the Skeeters Mobile App coming soon for iPhone and Android and the websites of The New 93Q, Houston’s country station and Houston’s classic hits, the Eagle.

Calling the games will be Houston native, Lane Zieben. Zieben has previously worked for the Texas Longhorns broadcast team, as well as the Round Rock Express, Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, and ESPN College Football.

Read the Skeeters press release!

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ATL Week In Review 4/8 - 4/14

Here's our weekly wrap up of what happened in the Atlantic League this past week called "ATL Week in Review."

Almost all Atlantic League rosters have been completed. Players will be reporting to spring training with the prospective teams over the next few days. Look for more player signings to come, as well as roster cuts. 


Sunday, April 8, 2012
Article on Riversharks Tryouts - Here's a great article from South Jersey News, about yesterdays tryouts for the Camden Riversharks...more

Monday, April 9, 2012
Ballpark Digest: Atlantic League Returning to Atlantic City? - BallparkDigest.com is reporting that the SandCastle in Atlantic City will be renamed "Surf Stadium," for upcoming youth tournaments, exhibitions, as well as a weekend series between the Camden Riversharks and the Sugar Land Skeeters...more

Tuesday, April 10, 2012
2011 Atlantic League Pitcher Of The Year, Mike Loree Returns to Ducks! - The Long Island Ducks announced that they have signed 2011 Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year, Mike Loree for the 2012 season...more

LI Ducks Blog: Ducks Ink Three More - In addition to the signing of Mike Loree, the Long Island Ducks announced the signings of catcher Shawn Williams, pitchers John Meloan and Connor Graham for the 2012 season on Tuesday...more 

Patriots Sign Four More! - The Somerset Patriots announced the signings of right-handed pitchers Derrell McCall, Mike MacDonald, Justin Cassel, and left-hand pitcher Matt Crim for the 2012 season...more

Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Kody Kirkland Interview - Kody Kirkland was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 30th round (894th overall) of the 2001 MLB Amateur Draft...more 

Skeeters Add Three More To Roster - The Sugar Land Skeeters announced that they have signed first baseman Jimmy Van Ostrand, and pitchers Michael Nix and Willy Startup for the 2012 season...more 

Bluefish Ink Oseguera and former MLB pitcher Bayliss - The Bridgeport Bluefish announced on Wednesday that they have signed pitchers Paul Oseguera and Jonah Bayliss for the 2012 season...more

Jake Stevens Leaves York Heads to Mexico - Darrell Henry and Paul Braverman posted on their blog, blogtoblogchamps that pitcher Jake Stevens has signed a contract with the Saraperos de Saltillo in the Mexican League, and will most likely not be pitching for York in 2012...more

Patriots Sign Wright, Rupe, And Quinowski - The Somerset Patriots announced the signings of right-handed pitchers Chase Wright and Jose Rupe, and left-handed pitcher David Quinowski for the 2012 season...more

Drew Locke on Jimmy Van Ostrand Signing - Here's what Skeeters outfielder Drew Locke, had to say about his friend and newest Skeeter, Jimmy Van Ostrand...more 

Somerset Fan Fest This Saturday (4/14/12)! - The Somerset Patriots will be holding their Fan Fest this Saturday (4/14/12) from 12pm to 3pm at TD Bank Park. This is a FREE event...more

Thursday, April 12, 2012
Legends vs. Champions Celebrity Softball Game Featuring Jaworski And Bowa - On July 11, 2012, the Camden Riversharks will host a softball game featuring former Eagles quarterback/current ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski and former Phillie manager/current MLB Network analyst Larry Bowa as co-captains of two star studded teams. The game will feature players from the 1980 and 2008 World Series Champions against Philadelphia area sports legends...more

Ray Navarrete Video Interview - I met up with Long Island Ducks infielder Ray Navarrete today and asked him about the upcoming season, working with Jay Loviglio this offseason, and about traveling to Texas this season. Here's what he had to say...more

My Ballot for the Somerset Patriots 15th Anniversary Team (by Paul Hadsall) - To mark their 15th anniversary, the Somerset Patriots are asking fans to choose the top 15 players in franchise history. Saturday, April 14th, is the final day to vote - you can cast your ballots online or in person at the Patriots Fan Fest event...more

Friday, April 13, 2012
Jerome Williams On ESPN Sunday Night Baseball - Former Lancaster Barnstormer pitcher Jerome Williams will be making his first start for the Los Angeles Angels Sunday against the New York Yankees on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball...more 

Lancaster Signs Former Big League Pitcher Bennett, And Two More - The Lancaster Barnstormers announced on Friday that they have signed former major league reliever Jeff Bennett, as well as infielders Eduardo Perez and Jaime Pedroza...more

Revs Add Three More - The York Revolution have signed left-handed pitcher Ryan Feierabend, right-handed pitcher Stephen Penney and second baseman Andres Perez for the 2012 season...more

Ross Peeples On Upcoming Season -We got a chance to catch of with Barnstormers pitcher Ross Peeples and ask him about the upcoming season and here's what he had to say...more 

Matt Padgett Signs With Blue Crabs - The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs have signed infielder Matt Padgett for the 2012 season...more

Southern Maryland Signs Former Major League Infielder Chin-Lung Hu - The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs have signed former major league infielder Chin-Lung Hu for the 2012 season season...more

Saturday, April 14, 2012
Patrick Osborn on Padgett And Hu Signings - Here's what Southern Maryland manager Patrick Osborn told ATL Baseball Blog about the signings of infielders Matt Padgett and Chin-Lung Hu...more

Patriots Sign Former Twins Pitcher Travis Bowyer - The Somerset Patriots have signed former major league pitcher Travis Bowyer after today's open tryout at TD Bank Ballpark...more

Somerset Signs Merritt - The Somerset Patriots have signed left-handed pitcher Roy Merritt for the 2012 season...more 

Somerset Opening Day Logo and 15th Anniversary Logo - For those fans who haven't seen them, here are the Somerset Patriots Opening Day logo, as well as their 15th Anniversary logo. The Patriots always have great logos commemorating different events. These are no exception...more

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Somerset Opening Day Logo and 15th Anniversary Logo

For those fans who haven't seen them, here are the Somerset Patriots Opening Day logo, as well as their 15th Anniversary logo. The Patriots always have great logos commemorating different events. These are no exception.

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Somerset Signs Merritt

The Somerset Patriots have signed left-handed pitcher Roy Merritt for the 2012 season.

Merritt was originally drafted by the New York Mets in the 29th round (903rd overall) of the 2007 MLB Amateur draft out of Southern University. He pitched five seasons in the Mets organization, including three seasons at the Double-A level, from 2009 to 2011. He has a career 13-14 record with 29 saves, and a 3.83 ERA in 282 innings pitched.

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Patriots Sign Former Twins Pitcher Travis Bowyer

The Somerset Patriots have signed former major league pitcher Travis Bowyer after today's open tryout at TD Bank Ballpark.

Travis Bowyer was originally drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 20th round (599th overall) of the 1999 MLB Amateur Draft. He pitched seven seasons in the Twins farm system, posting a 28-21 record with a 2.98 ERA. On September 10, 2005, Bowyer made his major league debut against the Cleveland Indians, allowing one hit in a third of an inning. Bowyer pitched a total of eight games for the Twins in 2005, and had a 0-1 record with a 5.59 ERA.

Bowyer tore his rotator cuff after the 2005 season, and hasn't pitched professionally since. He's been playing semi-professional baseball in hopes of getting the chance to get back to the major leagues.

Great story! Glad to see Travis is getting the chance to pitch professionally again. I suggest reading the post on the Patriots website about Travis. They do a great job talking about his career, as well as his injury, and what prompted him to come back.

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