This press release just came from the Route 30 rivals:
The York Revolution has signed seven players, highlighted by former Japanese major league OF Kazunori Tanaka and two former major league pitchers, it was announced on Wednesday by manager Chris Hoiles.
In addition to Tanaka, the Revolution also announced the signings of former major league lefties Wayne Franklin and Matt Ford, LHP Chris Steinborn, RHPs Jason Olson and Matt Hirsh, and INF Matt Dryer.
Some details …
Tanaka: has played seven years professionally and parts of five seasons in the Japanese Major Leagues. In 341 career big league games, “Kazu” has batted .260 with one homer, 13 RBI, and 20 stolen bases.
Franklin: has spent parts of the last seven seasons in the big leagues. Last season, the 32-year-old appeared in 11 games with Atlanta and 35 games at Triple-A Richmond, where he went 2-3 with four saves and a 2.36 ERA.
Ford: pitched in 25 games and went 0-3 with a 4.33 ERA with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2003. The nine-year pro has compiled a 28-31 minor league record with a 3.55 ERA as a starter and reliever.
Dryer: helped Somerset win the Atlantic League championship in 2003. Plays 1B, 3B and OF. A lifetime line of .253/.331/.422 with 56 homers in 1,548 at-bats.
Steinborn: Went 1-8 with a 6.11 ERA in 16 games for the Road Warriors last season.
Olson: Went 5-4 with a 3.99 ERA mostly as a reliever with Somerset last season.
Hirsh: Brother of uber prospect Jason Hirsh. Went 1-2 with a 5.61 ERA in Rookie League ball for Cardinals in 2005.
York’s roster to date
Pitchers: Wayne Franklin, Matt Ford, Chris Steinborn, Jason Olson, Matt Hirsh, Charlie Hesseltine, David Maust, Chris Cooper.
Position players: Luis Taveras, C; Nate Espy, 1B; Travis Hake, 2B; Vic Gutierrez, 2B; Rayner Bautista, SS; Darin Kinsolving, OF; Peter Bergeron, OF; Kazunori Tanaka, OF; Matt Dryer, 1B-3B.
WOW, looks like they have a few holes to still fill but for the most part very impressive. Now I’m really not so sure about that salary cap thing!
I’d heard rumors about York having some big names. I don’t know if this is all of them or not.
I think the Revolution has done really well, but I’m not overwhelmed at this point. They already had a speedy slap-hitting outfielder in Bergeron, so Tanaka seems redundant to me. This is a power hitter’s league. You don’t play for one-run innings.
What’s interesting is the Revs have two big-league lefties to counter the Barnstormers’ lefty-filled lineup. That’s great. But those lefties will have to pitch in a ballpark that favors right-handed hitters. In the big picture, that’s not so great.
Franklin will probably be an ace at this level and he probably won’t stay in the league very long. I still like the Barnstormers’ pitching better.
Big names are good but it comes down to how the team plays as a TEAM. That is what I like about Lancaster. A lot of names are returning players and a few new names with experience. I think it will take a while before York comes together as a team.
Cool! Then as of now we’re looking like we should win the Community Cup! (I also like the name “Route 30 Cup”. Community cup sounds like something you can catch the flu from and also little to friendly for the upcoming bloodbath).
I’m still hoping for a typo in those Tanaka stats…
I know. It’s hard to believe a guy could have 13 RBIs in 341 games. Tanaka is supposed to be super-fast, so he’ll probably steal a lot of bases.
i wouldnt really count on him even making the team guys…
Depends on whether they need a PR boost…a lot of people believe Hake was nothing more than a PR stunt, perhaps this is as well…
I’m watching the CBS-21 local news last night and the anchor, I believe it was Jason Bristol, mentions York’s signings. He says the Revolution has added “a Japanese player” and former major league pitchers Wayne Franklin and Matt Ford. End of story. Apparently, if you’re from Japan your name and position don’t matter.
I’m picturing a rather unpolished reporter with a graphic featuring the York Revolution logo and a Japanese flag…guessing whatever the reality actually was, I’m not real far off.
I think back in 2005 (might have been last season) the Surf brought in Kenze Suzomoto (yeah, probably not how you spell it) and he didn’t break camp with the team either.
Keiichi Yabu was rumored to come to the AL (specifically Bridgeport) last year, I wouldn’t have minded seeing that happen…
Growing up in Boston all I have to say right now in regards to Japanese players is “HOORAY FOR DICE K!”