DIRTY BIRDS ANNOUNCE SIX NEW PLAYERS

 (February 17, 2022, CHARLESTON, W.Va.)  — The Charleston Dirty Birds announced six new players joining the 2022 Roster: catcher Alfredo Gonzalez, right handed pitcher Jordan Stephens, outfielder Anfernee Seymour, right handed pitcher Francisco Carrillo, right handed pitcher Tyler Wilson, and infielder Angel Garced.  

Alfredo Gonzalez, a catcher who played for the Chicago White Sox in 2018 will join Yovan Gonzalez on the roster as one of the Dirty Birds’ catchers for the 2022 season. “Alfredo brings MLB experience behind the plate for us and is the perfect complement to Yovan Gonzalez” said Manager, Billy Horn “Alfredo puts down the right fingers, can handle the staff and can most certainly catch and throw. We are extremely excited to have him with us to start the season.”

Jordan Stephens, a RHP coming from the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians will start out the season as a starting pitcher for the Dirty Birds. “Stephens has pitched exceptionally well in Triple-A the last three years and we look forward to seeing what he can do in Charleston this season” said Manager, Billy Horn. 

Stephens and Gonzalez are joined by Anfernee Seymore, an outfielder who played for the Double-A Miami Marlins affiliate, right handed pitcher Francisco Carrillo who played in the Cubs system, right handed pitcher Tyler Wilson and infielder Angel Garced. “Seymore brings an explosive dynamic to our ball club and I am looking forward to seeing him set the tone at the top of the lineup for us this year” said Billy Horn “Carrillo is the perfect example of what you want out of a middle/late relief pitcher. He has an amazing ability of being able to bounce back and pitch back-to-back days” Horn added “Wilson and Garced just simply bring that championship pedigree to our roster. Garced will play an important role in this club on a nightly basis and Tyler has been one of the elite closers in all of independent baseball for years.” 

Opening Day for the Dirty Birds’ 2022 season is Thursday, April 21, 2022 at Appalachian Power Park against the Staten Island Ferry Hawks, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35pm. Season tickets and mini plans are on sale now. For more information, or to shop the Dirty Birds team store, visit www.dirtybirdsbaseball.com. 

REVS BRING BACK ANOTHER PAIR OF FAN FAVORITES

‘Daddy Shark’ Mesa, Lefty Ace Nicely Returning to York in 2022

(February 15, 2022, York, Pa.) — The York Revolution continued its strong preseason signing period by welcoming back another pair of award-winning fan favorites. All-Star outfielder Melky Mesa, affectionately known to the fan base as “Daddy Shark,” and 2021 Revs Pitcher of the Year Austin Nicely marked the latest two signings announced by Revs manager Mark Mason, live on Monday night’s episode of Revs Hot Stove Weekly presented by Shipley Energy on SportsRadio 98.9 FM & 1350 WOYK.

Mesa has established himself as not only one of the on-field greats in Revs history, but also one of the most beloved figures to the Revolution fan base. The 2021 recipient of the organization’s “Corey Thurman Community Player of the Year” award, Mesa enters his fourth season in York ranking second in Revs history in career RBI (238). He also ranks fourth all-time in hits (376), runs (218), and home runs with 58, just one behind Chris Nowak’s 59 for third on the all-time list. Mesa is also top-five in extra-base hits (141) and slugging (.546), sixth in doubles (74), and seventh in career batting (.320). His .330 average last year made him the first in Revs history to post two seasons of .330 or better, along with his .337 mark in 2018.

“He’s so much fun to be around,” remarked Mason. “He always has a smile on his face. We’re really happy to have him back. In all the years I’ve been in York, he’s one of the top two defensive left fielders to play our Arch Nemesis, and of course he’s just a great all-around hitter. His numbers are phenomenal, also the clutch hitting. And as good as he is on the field, he’s just as great if not greater off the field. He’s a great clubhouse leader, a great captain, and we can basically call him that because everybody goes to him for a lot of things.”

The Atlantic League’s top RBI man since joining the circuit in 2018, Mesa is a two-time Atlantic League All-Star and was voted Team MVP in 2018. The 35-year-old reached the Major Leagues with the New York Yankees, appearing in a combined eight games in 2012 and 2013 (6-for-15, two doubles, two RBI), and has been a perennial All-Star in the minors, including a Florida State League MVP season in 2010. He is a .262 lifetime hitter with 183 home runs and 732 RBI across his pro career.

Nicely’s return marks the re-signing of the Revs’ staff ace, and the league’s top left-handed starter from last season. Along with the return of Mesa and Nellie Rodriguez (2021 Revs Player of the Year), all three major organizational award-winners are now under contract to return in 2022.

Nicely’s 3.74 ERA finished second in the league, while he totaled the second-most innings (career-high 142.0) and the sixth-most victories, finishing with a 9-9 record in his 24 appearances (23 starts). The 27-year-old was particularly stellar on a nine-start stretch from mid-August through October 1, during which he rolled out a 2.79 ERA. That span included a 4-0 record in the month of September as he took home Atlantic League Pitcher of the Month honors. Nicely enjoyed a total of five starts in which he held the opposing team without an earned run.

“He was one of the top two starting pitchers in the league last year,” commented Mason.  “He was our solidifier in the starting rotation, pitched a lot of big games. He was a workhorse for us. We’re really happy to have him back.”

A Grottoes, VA native, Nicely signed with the Houston Astros as a 10th-round draft pick out of Spotswood (VA) High School in 2013 after previously committing to the University of Virginia. Nicely spent four seasons in the Astros system and initially joined the Revs for one start late in 2019 following the completion of a second campaign spent with Evansville of the Frontier League. Nicely is 30-34 with a 4.48 ERA in his seven-year pro career.

TOP WINNER RETURNS, SLUGGER JOINS ‘STORMERS

DiSabatino, Cordero Sign for 2022

(February 17, 2022, Lancaster, Pa.)  — Dominic DiSabatino, the leading winner on the Lancaster Barnstormers pitching staff in 2021, has re-signed for the 2022 season, it was announced today by manager Ross Peeples.

In addition, the Barnstormers have inked corner infielder Andretty Cordero to a contract for the upcoming season.

DiSabatino, who turns 26 in March, had a breakout season with the ‘Stormers in 2021. The right-hander from Delaware signed from a tryout camp prior last April and remained with the club the entire season. He went 11-9 with a 7.36 ERA in 25 appearances, including 22 starts. From June 25-August 14, he captured eight consecutive decisions, firing six quality starts in the process. He fanned 11 High Point Rockers in a day game, July 22, matching the season high by a Barnstormer in 2021 and threw seven shutout innings in a win over September 24.

Prior to coming to Lancaster, the former Delaware co-player of the year at shortstop spent four years in the San Diego system. He was 4-0 at Class A-Tri-City (WA) out of the bullpen in 2019.

“Dominic pitched well for us last year,” said Peeples. “He has a good arm and throws a good changeup. I think he learned to set up hitters better and better last year as the season went on.”

Cordero, 24, spent six seasons in the Texas Rangers organization from 2014-19. In 2019, the right-handed batter spent the entire campaign with Class AA Frisco. In 127 games, he batted .270, hammering 16 homers and driving home 82 runs. On three occasions, he drove in five or more runs in a game, including a seven-RBI performance against Corpus Christi on April 9.

The previous year, he hit .262 with 10 homers and 57 RBI with Class A Down East (Kinston, NC). Last year, he appeared in 36 games with Evansville of the Frontier League.

“Cordero is a guy who plays both first and third. We have several good reports on him, and we know he has put up some good career numbers,” said Peeples. “We believe his bat can help us out in our lineup.”

Lancaster now has eight players under contract for the 2022 campaign, which is scheduled to begin at Gastonia, April 21. The home opener is slated for Friday, April 29 against the York Revolution.