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Genomes Ink Local Product and Former Kentucky Wildcat

Wild Health Field (Lexington, KY) – The Kentucky Wild Health Genomes have agreed to terms with former University of Kentucky Wildcat Riley Mahan (IF), and Anderson Miller (OF) a Lafayette High School graduate and former Lexington Legend.

Anderson Miller returns to Lexington after seven seasons in the Kansas City Royals organization. Miller played for the Lexington Legends for parts of the 2015 and 2016 season after being selected in the 3^rd Round of the 2015 MLB June Amateur Draft from Western Kentucky University. Miller grew up playing baseball with South Lexington Youth Baseball and was the first Lexington native to play for the Lexington Legends Organization.  Miller spent the 2021 season in Triple-A Omaha (Kansas City Royals). He will join fellow former Lexington Legends teammate, Chase Vallot, on the Genomes roster.

Riley Mahan joins a strong Genomes roster after five years in the Miami Marlins organization. Originally drafted by the Marlins in the 3rd round of the 2017 MLB June Amateur Draft, Mahan reached Double-A Pensacola in 2021. Mahan received various National, SEC, and local awards and accolades while at the University of Kentucky and will join fellow Wildcats Luke Becker and Dustin Beggs on the Genomes roster.

“It is a tremendous honor to add incredibly high talented players to our organization who are even higher character young men.  Having Anderson back in our organization and Riley coming back to Lexington is very special for the Central Kentucky baseball community.  I can’t wait to see them in a Genomes uniform.”, said Andy Shea, Legends President/CEO.

Opening Day for the Lexington Legends is April 21^st and Opening Day for the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes is May 3rd. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting lexingtonlegends.com.

Blue Crabs Add Three New Faces To The 2022 Roster

Friday morning, April 8, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs signed a trio of players. Pitchers Junior Navas and Dario Polanco, and infielder Jared Walker will be coming to the Crabs for the first time.

Junior Navas, a right-handed pitcher, was the Blue Crabs’ first pick in the 2022 ALPB Showcase Draft powered by Prospect Dugout. The Venezuelan started off in the Dominican Summer League with the Minnesota Twins in 2017, at just 17 years old. That season, Navas held a 4-0 record with a perfect 0.00 ERA in 18 innings pitched. The relief pitcher moved up to rookie ball in the Gulf Coast League for 2018 and 2019, adding 34.1 more innings of experience before taking two years off. At six-foot-four, Navas looks to be a big arm out of the bullpen for Manager Stan Cliburn. Dario Polanco, a southpaw, was also drafted in the ALPB Showcase, also arrives in Southern Maryland’s bullpen after playing two independent seasons with four different teams. The Miramar, Florida native took four years off from baseball after graduating from Alderson-Broaddus University.

Jared Walker is coming to the Blue Crabs and the Atlantic League for the first time. The former fifth round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers spent six years with the organization that drafted him, peaking at the High-A level. In 2021, Walker spent a majority of his time with the Hickory Crawdads, the Texas Rangers High-A affiliate. Walker spent the end of 2021 with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association where he held a .437 on-base percentage. The Powder Springs, Georgia product was a teammate of Blue Crabs pitcher, Dalton Geekie, at McEachern High School.

‘’We are excited to add these three new faces to the roster. Junior, Dario, and Jared will provide useful talent to compliment the players who got us to the Atlantic League playoffs last season.’’ said Southern Maryland General Manager Courtney Knichel.

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About the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

The Blue Crabs play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, MLB’s Premiere Partner League. The Blue Crabs are set to kick off their 14th season of baseball, and will have their 2022 Home Opener on Tuesday, April 26^th at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland. For more information on the Blue Crabs, please call 301-638-9788 or visit http://www.somdbluecrabs.com for more information. For media requests, contact Andrew Bandstra, 301-678-1124.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

About The Atlantic League
The Atlantic League is the first Partner League of Major League Baseball, a player gateway to the Major Leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation.  The ALPB has sent over 1,000 players to MLB organizations while drawing 44 million fans during its 24-year history. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.

DUCKS SIGN RIGHT-HANDER CHAD HOCKIN

Former Cubs farmhand joins Long Island

(Central Islip, N.Y., April 7, 2022) – The Long Island Ducks today announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Chad Hockin. The right-hander begins his first season with the Ducks and fifth in professional baseball.

“Chad has been an effective pitcher out of the bullpen throughout his career,” said Ducks President/GM Michael Pfaff. “We look forward to having him on our pitching staff.”

Hockin spent four seasons in the Chicago Cubs organization (2016-19), reaching as high as Single-A Myrtle Beach. He combined to pitch in 68 games, posting a 4.15 ERA, two saves, 107 strikeouts and 32 walks over 91 innings of work. The California native most recently pitched in 2019 with Myrtle Beach and the Cubs rookie-level Arizona League affiliate. In 16 appearances, he went 2-1 with a 2.41 ERA and 32 strikeouts to just eight walks over 18.2 innings.

The 27-year-old earned his first professional win and save in 2017 with Single-A South Bend in the Midwest League. That year, he went 3-4 with a 3.95 ERA, two saves, 57 strikeouts and 19 walks over 54.2 innings. Prior to his pro career, the righty played collegiate baseball at California State University, Fullerton. In 49 appearances (two starts), he compiled a 2.87 ERA, three saves, 52 strikeouts and 17 walks over 62.2 innings of work. Hockin was originally selected by the Cubs in the sixth round of the 2016 amateur draft.

“I’m excited to be joining such a talented team like the Long Island Ducks,” said Hockin. “I look forward to meeting my new teammates and coaches and contributing to the team in any way I can.”

The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a Professional Partner League of Major League Baseball. Over 8 million fans have enjoyed the Ducks brand of affordable, fun entertainment at Fairfield Properties Ballpark since inception in 2000. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

The Atlantic League is the first Partner League of Major League Baseball, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. The ALPB has sent over 1,000 players to MLB organizations while drawing 44 million fans to its family friendly ballparks over its 24-year history. For more information, please visit AtlanticLeague.com. 

ANDERSON DeLEON RETURNS, MITCH CALANDRA SIGNS

Brooklyn native returns to Ducks while Floral Park native joins Flock

(Calandra photo courtesy of the Mississippi Braves)

(Central Islip, N.Y., April 8, 2022) – The Long Island Ducks today announced the signings of right-handed pitcher Anderson DeLeon and catcher Mitch Calandra. DeLeon begins his third season with the Ducks and fourth in professional baseball, while Calandra enters his first season with Long Island and third in professional baseball.

“We are excited to add two New York natives to our roster,” said Ducks President/GM Michael Pfaff. “Anderson has done a solid job for us in several different roles over the past two seasons, and Mitch is eager to play for his hometown team.”

In DeLeon’s first two seasons with Long Island (2019, 2021), the right-hander has pitched in 29 games, 13 of which have been starts. He has compiled a 7-8 record with a 5.26 ERA, two complete games, 109 strikeouts and 36 walks over 113 innings. The Brooklyn native has also pitched in four postseason games, yielding four runs on seven hits and four walks over six and two-thirds innings with eight strikeouts.

The 25-year-old made 32 appearances (17 starts) in 2021 with the Ducks. He led the Atlantic League in strikeouts per nine innings (8.68), while his 109 strikeouts led all Ducks pitchers and ranked second in the Atlantic League behind only Lexington’s Henry Owens (113). The righty also tossed a pair of complete games, both against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, in a span of six starts. Prior to joining the Ducks, he made one appearance with the Cincinnati Reds Arizona League affiliate in 2017, striking out two over one scoreless inning. DeLeon was originally selected by the Reds in the 24th round of the 2017 amateur draft.

Calandra spent the first two seasons of his career (2019, 2021) in the Atlanta Braves organization, reaching as high as Double-A Mississippi. He combined to play in 38 games, posting a .260 batting average with eight RBIs, 19 runs, 34 hits, five doubles, one triple and four walks.  The 25-year-old combined to play 10 games at three different levels in 2021. He totaled one RBI, four runs and five hits in 24 at bats.

The Floral Park, N.Y., native began his career in 2019 with rookie-level Danville, hitting .271 with seven RBIs and 15 runs over 28 games. Prior to his professional career, the backstop had a distinguished career at Floral Park High School on Long Island. He was selected All-County three times, voted the conference player of the year twice, named to Newsday's All-Long Island team twice, and designated as first-team Class A for New York State. He was also the winner of the Ryan Caufield Award, given to Nassau County's best catcher, and the Don Lang Diamond Award, given to the best overall baseball player in Nassau. Calandra was originally selected by the Braves in the 30th round of the 2019 amateur draft.

The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a Professional Partner League of Major League Baseball. Over 8 million fans have enjoyed the Ducks brand of affordable, fun entertainment at Fairfield Properties Ballpark since inception in 2000. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

The Atlantic League is the first Partner League of Major League Baseball, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. The ALPB has sent over 1,000 players to MLB organizations while drawing 44 million fans to its family friendly ballparks over its 24-year history. For more information, please visit AtlanticLeague.com.