The Somerset Patriots have signed six players: right-handed pitchers Kyler Newby, Mike Demark and Gary Moran; left-handed pitchers Zach Kroenke and Matt Zielinski and utility player Dennis Raben.
The Patriots season begins at home on Friday, April 25. The ticket office is located at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater. Call 908-252-0700, or visit on-line at www.somersetpatriots.com.
Kroenke has major league experience with the Arizona Diamondbacks; he pitched in seven games in 2010 and 2011.
Kroenke has six seasons of Triple-A experience with the New York Yankees, Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers organizations, including 32 games last season.
”Zach seems to have a very good idea of how he wants to attack hitters and he also possesses a good overall feel for the game. I think we added a great guy to our clubhouse and a much-needed lefty to our rotation,” said Patriots manager Brett Jodie.
Zielinski spent three seasons with the Evansville Otters of the independent Frontier League.
Last season he was 9-7 with a 3.40 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 124.1 innings pitched in 20 games.
”Through my research it seems that Matt is a strike thrower who loves to compete and has great mound presence,” Jodie said. “He will be competing for a rotation spot on our pitching staff.”
Raben has experience in the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals organizations, including four seasons at Single-A.
Raben spent most of last season in the Royals system at Wilmington and finished with a .272 batting average, 33 runs scored, 69 hits, 12 doubles, 12 home runs and 41 RBI.
”Dennis has the rare combination of power and high on-base percentage,” said Jodie. “He has hit everywhere he has been, but has not had an opportunity at a high level. Dennis will add much needed lefty pop to our lineup and play some first base.”
Newby has experience in the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics organizations, including three seasons at the Triple-A level. He was 2-1 with a 3.58 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 27.2 innings pitched in 24 games at Triple-A for the A’s last season.
”Kyler has the special combination of being a power pitcher with high strikeout numbers to go along with very few walks,” said Jodie.
Demark has experience in the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Oakland A’s organizations, including four seasons of Triple-A experience.
He spent last season at the Double-A level for Oakland and finished 3-3 with a 5.59 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 38.2 innings pitched in 31 games.
”I feel that our bullpen will be a strength for us this year and Mike will be a huge part of that. He has great mound presence and pitches with that ‘edge,’ which I feel is very important,” said Jodie.
Moran has experience in the San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves organizations, including two seasons at the Double-A level.
He was 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 49.0 innings pitched in 16 games last year at the Double-A for the Braves.
”Gary is a big strong guy that will go after hitters, throw strikes and eat up innings. This is why I think Gary has a great chance to be in our rotation. He has great angles on his pitches and I look for him to get early contact and use his defenders,” said Jodie.
