Sugar Land Skeeters - The Houston Area's Minor League Baseball Team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

MEDIA CONTACT: MJ Burns – (281) 207-9125

mj@sugarlandskeeters.com

SKEETERS ANNOUNCE FIRST PLAYER SIGNINGS OF 2013

Club Signs Veteran Major Leaguers; Martinez Named Nationals Bullpen Catcher

SUGAR LAND, TX – The Sugar Land Skeeters announced today that the club has signed four players to the 2013 roster: right-handed pitchers Julian Tavarez and Greg Aquino, and infielders Josh Pressley and Ofilio Castro. The announcement was made by Skeeters Manager Gary Gaetti and Director of Operations Michael Kirk.

Tavarez spent 17 seasons in the Major Leagues with Cleveland (1993-96), San Francisco (1997-99), Colorado (2000), Chicago-NL (2001), Florida (2002), Pittsburgh (2003), St. Louis (2004-05), Boston (2006-08), Milwaukee (2008), Atlanta (2008) and Washington (2009). He owns an 88-82 career record and 23 saves over 828 Major League games, maintaining a 4.46 ERA (696ER/1404.1IP) during that span.

Aquino pitched in parts of six Major League seasons with Arizona (2004-06), Milwaukee (2007), Baltimore (2008) and Cleveland (2009). Originally signed by the Diamondbacks as a minor league free agent in 2004, the Dominican native owns a career 3-6 record with a 5.31 ERA (91ER/154.1IP) and 17 saves in 145 Major League games. Over 293 career minor league appearances (69 starts), Aquino is 36-36 with a 3.93 ERA (276ER/631.2IP) and 47 saves.

Pressley hit .275 (119x433) with 16 home runs and 74 RBI in 120 games with Sugar Land in 2012. Originally the first-ever player signed with the Skeeters, Pressley previously spent five seasons (2007-11) with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League. In 15 career minor league seasons, the infielder owns a .289 (1521x5263) average with 163 homers and 871 RBI in 1,492 games.

Castro played 124 games as the Skeeters’ primary third baseman last season. He led the club’s offense with a .306 (143x468) average, four home runs and 56 RBI in 2012 and was named a mid-season Atlantic League All-Star. Over nine minor league seasons, Castro owns a .265 (826x3114) average with 342 RBI in 889 career games.

"This group of players brings a wealth of experience to the club,” said Kirk. “We are looking to build a strong core of players that not only have experience in the Atlantic League but at the highest levels of baseball."

Octavio Martinez Named Washington Nationals Bullpen Catcher

Former Skeeters catcher and 2012 Community Man of the Year Octavio Martinez has recently joined the Washington Nationals organization as the club’s full-time bullpen catcher.

Last season, the Atlantic League All-Star played in 87 games with the Skeeters, hitting .259 (77x297) and serving as the team’s primary backstop. Prior to joining Sugar Land, Martinez spent five seasons in the Atlantic League with Southern Maryland (2009-10), Lancaster (2010) and York (2011). Originally selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 10^th round of the 1999 June draft, Martinez holds a career .270 average over 806 minor league games.

Opening Day for the Sugar Land Skeeters is right around the corner and scheduled for Thursday, April 18 at Constellation Field. Skeeters eight-game and full-season ticket plans are still available, so fans are encouraged to act now and be a part of the 2013 season excitement. For more information about the Atlantic League, the Sugar Land Skeeters or how to purchase tickets, visit the team’s website at www.sugarlandskeeters.com or call the Skeeters ticket office at 281.240.HITS. 

About the Sugar Land Skeeters 

The Sugar Land Skeeters, led by Manager and former Major League All-Star Gary Gaetti, play at Constellation Field, a $37 million stadium located at the intersection of State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 90A in Sugar Land – just 20 minutes from downtown Houston.

The Skeeters play 140 regular season games (70 home, 70 away) in the Atlantic League, considered the highest level of Minor League Baseball. Atlantic League players are “Major League ready” and in the last 15 years, over 600 players have graduated from Atlantic League clubs to Major League organizations, making the League a preferred route for experienced players to be scouted by Major League Baseball.