Evansville Otters

Otters Add Veteran Lefty to Rotation

wcb3 — Sat, 07 May 2011 03:56:21 +0000

Outfielder Chris Weimer announced his retirement today, but we added veteran southpaw Michael Anton to the starting rotation. Anton pitched with Jeremy Thorne, another starter, at Double A Arkansas last year.

Anton was the Anaheim Angels’ 12th round draft choice in 2007. His addition increases the number of players on our roster who were drafted by major league organizations to 16.

Otters Add Two From FL Draft

wcb3 — Thu, 05 May 2011 02:24:31 +0000

We selected two players in yesterday’s Frontier League draft, which followed two days of tryouts in Florence, Kentucky. In the first round we chose catcher Nathan Thompson, who hit .294 during his four-year career at Liberty University. Nathan hit 11 home runs and drove in 74 runs in 127 games. LaDale Hayes, our second round pick, pitched at played the outfield for four years at Alabama A&M. In 159 games, LaDale hit .324 with 10 home runs and 91 RBIs.

Thompson and Hayes bring to 33 the number of players in training camp, which begins Thursday at Bosse Field.

Otters Preseason Roster Reaches 31

wcb3 — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 01:56:36 +0000

Less than a week before the start of training camp, the Otters’ preseason roster has reached 31. We released shortstop Marcel Champagnie this week, but added four players to the roster.

We resigned righthanded pitcher Chris Rollins after the Padres released him. Chris pitched for us last year. We also signed two players with no professional experience–catcher Jared Jordan of New Mexico State University and third baseman P.J. Sequeira of Oral Roberts University. And Ryan Morris, Cleveland’s fourth round pick in the 2006 draft, has joined our starting rotation.

The roster now includes 14 pitchers, three catchers, eight infielders and six outfielders. Thirteen of the players were with us last year; 18 are new.

Fifteen of the 31 players on our preseason roster were drafted by major league organizations.

Otters Add Veteran Starter

wcb3 — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 03:45:45 +0000

We signed starting pitcher Jeremy Thorne today. Thorne, 25, pitched for Arkansas, the Angels’ AA team in the Texas League, last year.

A righthander, Thorne was drafted twice by the Anaheim Angels–in the 42nd round in 2007 and in the 29th round in 2008.

Thorne’s addition increases our preseason roster to 28; 14 of those players were drafted by major league organizations.

We are carrying 12 pitchers, 2 catchers, 8 infielders and 6 outfielders. Thirteen of the 28 played for us last year; 15 are new.

Otters Roster Remains at 27

wcb3 — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:29:20 +0000

Last week we released catcher Chad Clemons and pitcher Payton Tweddale, but we filled their spots on the roster with shortstop Korby Mintken and pitcher Scott Kelley.

Mintken played for Philadelphia’s high Class A team in the Florida State League last year. Kelley, Kansas City’s 23rd round pick in 2009, pitched for the Burlington Bees of the Midwest League in 2010.

Kelley’s addition increases the number prospective Otters who were drafted by major league teams to 13.

Roster Remains at 27

wcb3 — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 22:02:22 +0000

We added three pitchers to our 2011 roster this week, but also released three players: pitchers Chris Peters and Nick Sottung and first baseman Derek Wiley.

The new pitchers are righthanders Drew Erwin and Eric Massingham and southpaw Brandon Ritchie. Massingham was Philadelphia’s 25th round pick in 2009; Ritchie was selected by Milwaukee in the 24th round in 2008.

Twelve of Evansville’s 27 players were selected in the major league draft.

Otters Roster Reaches 27

wcb3 — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 02:22:48 +0000

To date the Otters have signed 27 players for the upcoming season. Frontier League rules allow us to bring 35 players to training camp in May, so we could sign up to eight more players.

The roster includes 10 pitchers, three catchers, eight infielders and six outfielders. Ten of the players are new.

Eleven of our 27 players were drafted by major league orgnizations: C Billie Killian (3rd, San Diego); OF Greg Burns (3rd, Florida); 1B Michael Durant (4th, Philadelphia); OF Jamar Walton (4th, Florida); 1B Jonathan Waltenbury (7th, Minnesota); OF Vinnie Scarduzio (22nd, Minnesota; 29th, Anaheim); RHP Josh Cephas (34th, San Diego); SS Marcel Champagnie (34th, Minnesota; 15th, Anaheim); 3B Jace Brinkerhoff (38th, Anaheim); C Brandon Fowler (45th, Kansas City), and 1B Derek Wiley (50th, Oakland; 31st, Atlanta).

Daryl Schafer – VIP

wcb3 — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:22:44 +0000

We want to thank all the fathers who have ever played pitch and catch, who have ever taken a little one to a baseball game, who have ever coached youth baseball, and who, one child at a time, have kept the spirit of America’s game alive!

The Evansville Otters play baseball at venerable Bosse Field, steeped in the history of America’s national pasttime. But none of this would be possible without the help of the courageous men and women who have fought to keep this country free.

Selecting the winner of our VIP package promotion has proven difficult. We have chosen Daryl Schafer. Here is what Daryl’s daughter wrote:

“My father Daryl Schafer every father’s day and my birthday growing up wasn’t there because he was in the service and could never be there so it was hard growing up not seeing him on these days and celebrating it later. But for that he should be recognized as a hero. He has done so much for me and my girls: he gives us a place to lay our heads; he puts all his family first before himself. He doesn’t ask for anything in retun but to see his grandkids grow up and family happy. He is a firm believer in the man upstairs and loves to ride. He helped with the Greenway Passage in building it. He has taken my daughters down to Garvin Park on occasion just to pick up after people’s mess. He is so giving to others even if he has nothing. I love my father for this.”

Congratulations to Mr. Schafer and to all the fathers out there.

Does Your Dad Love Baseball?

mikeradomski — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:17:51 +0000

Give him a gift you’ll both remember:

On Father’s Day, June 20 take him to the 6:35 PM Otters game against the Gateway Grizzlies, but treat him like a VIP.

Package includes:

4 reserved seat tickets
4 hotdogs
4 sodas
VIP seating
An autographed Otters baseball
An Official Otters hat
A Family photo session with our Otters family
You and your Dad will be recognized on the field prior to the game as we award him his Otters VIP Certificate

This package is valued at $75, but you can treat dad to this special package for only $60.

You can WIN your dad a VIP package! Tell us (and the world) why your dad is the greatest. Leave your story on facebook under the post that describes this promotion. One lucky dad will be announced Father’s Day morning. **If you already got your dad a package, and he wins, don’t worry we will get you a refund!

Only one entry per Dad, and per person. If you enter multiple times you are disqualified. Entries will be closed after 4PM Saturday. Winner will be announced Sunday Morning. Prize package must be used for June20th game only.

Tryout

kevincope — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:45:47 +0000

The Otters are hosting a tryout this weekend, June 11^th and 12^th, at Bosse Field. We are seeing what talent is out there after the MLB June Draft. The MLB Draft was just completed earlier this week. Along with non-drafted college seniors with no remaining eligibility we are looking at released players. It should be a good tryout.