Tuesday, March 25, 2014

SKEETERS ADD FOUR TO 2014 ROSTER
Majewski, Ramos and Scott Return to Sugar Land; Club Inks Former Big Leaguer Stavinoha
 
The Sugar Land Skeeters have brought back 3 very familiar faces and added a "new guy" for the 2014 season: right-handed reliever Gary Majewski, infielder Dominic Ramos, catcher Travis Scott and former major league infielder Nick Stavinoha.
 
Majewski, 34, led the Skeeters pitching staff with 62 game appearances and 23 saves in 2013. His 70.1 innings were also the most innings pitched by a Skeeters reliever last season, as he compiled a 5-2 record with a 1.79 ERA (14ER/70.1IP). A 14-year minor league veteran, the Houston native holds a 55-48 record with 85 saves and a 3.82 ERA (384ER/903.2IP) in 500 career games. Selected by the Chicago White Sox in the second round of the June 1998 Draft, Majewski played six seasons in the Major Leagues with Montreal (2004), Washington (2005-06), Cincinnati (2006-08) and Houston (2010), collecting a 9-13 record with a 4.75 ERA (128ER/242.1IP) in 231 games.
 
Ramos, 31, returns after playing 129 games for Sugar Land in 2013. Last season, he hit .230 (104x452) with 10 home runs and 58 RBI as the club’s primary shortstop. He also earned the Skeeters 2013 Community Man of the Year Award following the regular season, in honor of his community service and fan interaction during the season. A veteran of nine minor league seasons, the Texas native spent five years playing for the Can-Am Association prior to joining the Skeeters’ in 2012. Originally selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 17th round of the June 2005 Draft out of Texas State University, Ramos owns a .269 (870x3235) average with 313 RBI in 848 career minor league games.
 
Scott, 28, appeared in 108 games as a catcher and corner infielder for the Skeeters last season. During that span, he hit at a .276 (107x387) clip with 59 RBI. His 107 hits established a single-season career high and ranked third on the team, while his 59 RBI were second-best on the club. Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 20th round of the June 2005 Draft, the Illinois native previously played 81 games for the Atlantic League’s York Revolution in 2012 and spent six seasons with the Seattle (2006-10) and Pittsburgh (2011) organizations. Over eight professional seasons, Scott owns a .266 (569x2137) average with 68 homers and 350 career RBI.
 
 
Stavinoha, 31, spent the 2012-13 seasons with the Hiroshima Carp of the Japan Central League. In 66 games with Hiroshima, the Houston native hit .223 (49x220). Prior to his stint in Japan, Stavinoha played seven seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, combining for a .298 (741x2487) minor league average and 442 RBI. From 2008-10, he played 147 Major League games with the Cardinals and hit .234 (62x265) during that span. A former standout from San Jacinto College and Louisiana State University, Stavinoha was drafted by St. Louis in the seventh round of the June 2005 Draft.

Monday, March 24, 2014

NIX, ROCKETT, YOUNG SIGN WITH SUGAR LAND

Michael Nix and Michael Rockett Return; Club Acquires Delwyn Young via trade

The Sugar Land Skeeters announced today that the club has agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Michael Nix, as well as outfielder Michael Rockett for the 2014 season. The organization also acquired former Major Leaguer Delwyn Young via trade from the Atlantic League Camden Riversharks in exchange for future considerations.

Nix, 30, went 9-2 with a 1.88 ERA (16ER/76.2IP) in 14 total appearances (12 starts) for Sugar Land in 2013. Prior to his midseason signing with the Chicago White Sox organization, Nix took home Atlantic League Pitcher of the Month honors in May, going 5-0 in five starts spanning 30.1 scoreless innings. An 11th round pick of the Atlanta Braves in the June 2005 Draft out of Auburn University, the 6-foot-5 righthander was also named the Skeeters’ starting pitcher in the first-ever Atlantic League Playoff game at Constellation Field on September 17, 2013. Over nine career minor league seasons, Nix is 43-38 with a 3.84 ERA (256ER/599.2IP) and 572 strikeouts.

Rockett, 26, returns after playing 87 games with the Skeeters in 2013, primarily in the outfield. He hit .221 (57x258) with eight doubles and 27 RBI last season. Prior to joining the Skeeters, the Sugar Land native spent four seasons in the Detroit Tigers minor league system, reaching as high as Triple A Toledo in 2009. Drafted by Detroit in the 13th round of the June 2009 Draft out of the University of Texas – San Antonio, Rockett owns a career .244 (359x1473) average over five professional minor league seasons.

Young, 31, comes to Sugar Land following a two-season stint with the Atlantic League’s Camden Riversharks (2012-13). Last year, Young hit .269 (119x443) with 13 homers and a team-leading 67 RBI. Prior to joining the Atlantic League, he spent parts of five seasons in the Major Leagues with Los Angeles-NL (2006-08) and Pittsburgh (2009-10), combining for a .258 (183x710) average. Over 11 minor league seasons, he owns a career .288 (1087x3769) average with 603 RBI. A native of California, Young was drafted three times as an amateur, ultimately signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth round of the June 2002 Draft.