MARION, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Miners have re-signed infielder Mike Victor and right-handed pitcher Griffin Bailey for the 2008 season.
Victor, 24, hit .243 with five doubles and seven home runs as a rookie with the Miners in 2007. He posted an impressive .538 average in 13 pinch hit at bats. After starting the season at third base in place of an injured Chris Hall, he went on to play six different positions including designated hitter.
“Mike played a number of important roles for us last season,” Miners Manager Mike Pinto said. “He is a big, strong guy who showed power, and as a pinch hitter in critical spots for us, he was tremendous. Mike is a quality guy and a quality player. We are glad to have him back with us.”
Bailey appeared in 15 games, eight of them as a starter, for the Miners in 2007. He finished the season ranked third on the team in strikeouts (45) and fourth on the team in innings pitched (56.0). The 24-year-old former Louisville Cardinal signed with the Houston Astros after college, and recorded a 4.50 ERA in one season with the Astros organization.
“Griffin has a live arm with better than average velocity,” Pinto said. “He worked hard on his mechanics and his approach last season. We believe that Grif has the ability to help this staff this season.”
The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit www.southernillinoisminers.com.
Miners
Miners
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
MINERS SIGN TOP ILLINI PITCHER
MARION, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Miners have signed right handed pitcher Tanner Roark from the University of Illinois. Roark went 12-2 in his two seasons with the Illini.
The six-foot-two-inch righty was named to the All-Big Ten team when he posted an 8-2 record in 2007. His eight wins and 54.2 innings pitched both ranked second in the Big Ten last season. Roark, 21, will be eligible for the 2008 Major League First-Year Player Draft, which is scheduled for June 5 and 6.
“Tanner is coming here to highlight his skills before the major league draft this June,” Miners Manager Mike Pinto said. “He can have an above 90 (miles per hour) fastball with good sink. Tanner is a battler and is very mentally tough on the mound. He will be a great addition to the staff.”
A native of Wilmington, Ill., Roark led Wilmington High School to state championships in 2003 and 2005. He was named the MVP of the tournament in both years.
The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit www.southernillinoisminers.com.
The six-foot-two-inch righty was named to the All-Big Ten team when he posted an 8-2 record in 2007. His eight wins and 54.2 innings pitched both ranked second in the Big Ten last season. Roark, 21, will be eligible for the 2008 Major League First-Year Player Draft, which is scheduled for June 5 and 6.
“Tanner is coming here to highlight his skills before the major league draft this June,” Miners Manager Mike Pinto said. “He can have an above 90 (miles per hour) fastball with good sink. Tanner is a battler and is very mentally tough on the mound. He will be a great addition to the staff.”
A native of Wilmington, Ill., Roark led Wilmington High School to state championships in 2003 and 2005. He was named the MVP of the tournament in both years.
The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit www.southernillinoisminers.com.
Friday, March 7, 2008
MINERS DEAL SIMON FOR INFIELDER ROTH
MARION, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Miners have acquired infielder Tony Roth from the Evansville Otters in exchange for first baseman Scott Simon and a player to be named later.
Roth hit .378 with a .439 on base percentage in 10 games with the Otters in 2007. The former Yankees prospect spent the majority of the 2007 season with the Texas Rangers organization where he advanced as high as Triple-A.
“Tony is the definition of a ‘gamer’,” Miners Manager Mike Pinto said. “He can play excellent defense at multiple positions on the infield, and he plays the game all-out all the time. His ability to hit to all fields and his strike zone discipline gives us a lot of options. We really liked what we saw in him on the field against us at the end of last season. He is a great addition to the Miners lineup and I believe he has the skills to be an all-star caliber player for us.”
At Creighton University, Roth hit .322 over his four-year career with a .411 on base percentage before signing with the Yankees. He was twice named first team All-Missouri Valley Conference, an All-MVC Tournament selection in 2005 and Freshman of the Year in 2002. In 2007 he was named to the All-Time MVC Team along with fellow Miner Drew Moffitt.
Simon hit .264 for the Miners in 2007. He played in 62 games and his time was spent between DH and first base. It was the former Northern Illinois Husky’s first season in professional baseball.
“With Tim Dorn coming back from the Cardinals and Joey Metropoulos returning,” Pinto said, “it left Scott without a position here. I really wanted to find him a place to play every day. He is a wonderful young man and a very good hitter. I am proud that he wore our uniform and our entire coaching staff wishes him well.”
The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit www.southernillinoisminers.com.
Roth hit .378 with a .439 on base percentage in 10 games with the Otters in 2007. The former Yankees prospect spent the majority of the 2007 season with the Texas Rangers organization where he advanced as high as Triple-A.
“Tony is the definition of a ‘gamer’,” Miners Manager Mike Pinto said. “He can play excellent defense at multiple positions on the infield, and he plays the game all-out all the time. His ability to hit to all fields and his strike zone discipline gives us a lot of options. We really liked what we saw in him on the field against us at the end of last season. He is a great addition to the Miners lineup and I believe he has the skills to be an all-star caliber player for us.”
At Creighton University, Roth hit .322 over his four-year career with a .411 on base percentage before signing with the Yankees. He was twice named first team All-Missouri Valley Conference, an All-MVC Tournament selection in 2005 and Freshman of the Year in 2002. In 2007 he was named to the All-Time MVC Team along with fellow Miner Drew Moffitt.
Simon hit .264 for the Miners in 2007. He played in 62 games and his time was spent between DH and first base. It was the former Northern Illinois Husky’s first season in professional baseball.
“With Tim Dorn coming back from the Cardinals and Joey Metropoulos returning,” Pinto said, “it left Scott without a position here. I really wanted to find him a place to play every day. He is a wonderful young man and a very good hitter. I am proud that he wore our uniform and our entire coaching staff wishes him well.”
The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit www.southernillinoisminers.com.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
MINERS RE-SIGN DREW MOFFITT
MARION, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Miners have re-signed outfielder Drew Moffitt for the 2008 season. Moffitt joined the Miners for the final 18 games of the 2007 season and immediately made an impact, hitting .288 with eight extra base hits. It was his first season in professional baseball since 2005.
“Bringing Drew back is a big thing for us,” Miners Manager Mike Pinto said. “He brings another big power source to the middle of our lineup. With an off-season spent preparing to play baseball, I think Drew will have a big impact for us. He is a professional and brings a veteran approach to his efforts.”
Moffitt played his college baseball at Wichita State. In three seasons with the Shockers he hit .301 with 60 home runs and a .439 on base percentage. He led the Missouri Valley Conference in home runs for three consecutive years, was a two time All-MVC first team selection and was named to the MVC All-Centennial Team.
Moffitt was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the tenth round of the 2004 draft. In 75 games over two years with the O’s organization, he hit .258 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI. He was released following the 2005 season and did not play in 2006.
After taking more than a year and a half away from the game, he joined the Havasu Heat to play in the NBC World Series. He hit .315 with three home runs, seven RBI and eight runs scored for the national champion Heat. He was also named to the All-American team in 2007 before joining the Miners.
“The lineup is really starting to take shape with these important players returning,” Miners General Manager Tim Arseneau said. “I can’t wait to get these guys on the field with Mike and get this season started.”
Moffitt enters the season with a one-year status with the Frontier League. He will turn 27 during the season so this will be his final year of eligibility in the league.
The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit www.southernillinoisminers.com.
“Bringing Drew back is a big thing for us,” Miners Manager Mike Pinto said. “He brings another big power source to the middle of our lineup. With an off-season spent preparing to play baseball, I think Drew will have a big impact for us. He is a professional and brings a veteran approach to his efforts.”
Moffitt played his college baseball at Wichita State. In three seasons with the Shockers he hit .301 with 60 home runs and a .439 on base percentage. He led the Missouri Valley Conference in home runs for three consecutive years, was a two time All-MVC first team selection and was named to the MVC All-Centennial Team.
Moffitt was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the tenth round of the 2004 draft. In 75 games over two years with the O’s organization, he hit .258 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI. He was released following the 2005 season and did not play in 2006.
After taking more than a year and a half away from the game, he joined the Havasu Heat to play in the NBC World Series. He hit .315 with three home runs, seven RBI and eight runs scored for the national champion Heat. He was also named to the All-American team in 2007 before joining the Miners.
“The lineup is really starting to take shape with these important players returning,” Miners General Manager Tim Arseneau said. “I can’t wait to get these guys on the field with Mike and get this season started.”
Moffitt enters the season with a one-year status with the Frontier League. He will turn 27 during the season so this will be his final year of eligibility in the league.
The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit www.southernillinoisminers.com.
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