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Reno Silver Sox Sign Two MLB Experienced Players

May 13, 2008 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Reno Silver Sox News Release


Reno, NV, May 12, 2008. : The Reno Silver Sox of the independent professional Golden Baseball League (GBL) announced today that they have agreed to terms with a pair of players with major league experience. Lefty relief pitcher Kevin Frederick, who appeared in 30 big league games with the Twins and Blue Jays will bolster a strong bullpen already stocked with AAA experienced GBL single season Saves record holder Scott Schneider. Supporting him in the field and at the plate will be third baseman John Hattig who spent part of 2006 with Toronto in the major leagues and all last season at AAA Syracuse.

"I am very pleased that these fine ballplayers will be members of the 2008 Reno Silver Sox," said Silver Sox Manager and two-time Major League All-Star Jeffrey Leonard. "Kevin is a nasty lefty who has shut down games out of the bullpen at every minor league level while John is a hitting machine and a highlight reel third baseman. It's going to fun for our team and fans to have these two with us this season."

Hattig, 28, is the first native of Guam to have made it to the major leagues. Signed out of high school in Santa Rita, Guam by the Boston Red Sox in the 1998 Amateur Draft in the 25th round, the 6-2, 215 pound 3B-1B has spent 9 seasons in professional baseball. Hitting with power and high averages while building a .282 lifetime minor league batting average, he was traded by the Red Sox to Toronto in 2004 and was up in the big leagues in 2006 as a late season call-up and hit at a .333 clip for the Blue Jays. He spent all of 2007 in AAA Syracuse and was with the Mets in spring training this year before being given his release.

Frederick, 31, was originally drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 17th round of the 1997 Amateur draft out of Creighton University. He declined to sign and played another season of collegiate baseball and did sign with the Twins in 1998 when they drafted him again. He shot through the Twins' farm system as a dominant left reliever has was brought up to the big league club late in the 2002 season after posting 22 saves in AAA Edmonton. He was claimed on Waivers by Toronto the next year and after two seasons primarily at AAA he was in the major leagues again in 2004 making 22 appearances for the Blue Jays. That success was shortlived as he was sidetracked with arm injuries in 2005, played in AA with the Boston Red Sox in 2006 and was out injured in 2007. Now healthy again and ready to display the form that rocketed him into major league uniforms, he will form a potent lefty/right bullpen duo with AAA experienced RHP Scott Schneider giving the Silver Sox one of the relief corps in the minor leagues.

Frederick and Hattig were teammates once before as they both played for Toronto's AA minor league team in 2004. That year their collaboration led to an Eastern League Championship for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and sent both players on their way to the big leagues.

The Silver Sox began spring training on Monday, May 12th. The 2008 Silver Sox season beings on Friday, May 23 at 7:05 p.m. when the Silver Sox host the visiting Orange County Flyers, managed by Hall of Famer catcher Gary Carter. To reserve your seats for the Silver Sox 2008 Season please call the Silver Sox Box Office at 775-348-7769

About the Golden Baseball League The Golden Baseball League, Presented by Safeway, is an independent professional baseball league operating in western North America. The Golden Baseball League is comprised of the following eight teams in an 88 game schedule between May and September each year: The Chico Outlaws in Chico, CA; the Reno Silver Sox in Reno, NV; the Long Beach Armada in Long Beach, CA; the Orange County Flyers in Fullerton, CA; the St. George Roadrunners in St. George, UT; the Yuma Scorpions in Yuma; AZ; the Calgary Vipers in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and the Edmonton Cracker Cats in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

In addition, the GBL owns and operates the six-team Arizona Winter League which plays from late January to the beginning of March and is considered the premier winter showcase league for professional and aspiring professional baseball players. The AWL's six teams are the Palm Springs Chill, the Yuma Scorpions, the Blythe Heat, the San Diego Surf Dawgs, the Sonora Pilots, and the Canada Miners.

In three seasons of play, the GBL has had over 60 players purchased by major league organizations and has included over 30 former major league players including American League MVPs Rickey Henderson and Jose Canseco.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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