Minor League Baseball
ThunderBolts return home after turning over roster with 7 new players
The ThunderBolts returned home Friday for the first time in 12 days with many fresh faces in uniform.
Looking to climb out of the cellar in the Frontier League East Division, the T-Bolts (10-18) acquired seven new players in the past week.
“We picked up some more experienced guys,” T-Bolts manager Ron Biga said. “We’ve got some guys who we really think can do some big things and help us turn this around.”
The newest T-Bolt is pitcher Dan Hlad, an Oak Forest graduate from Midlothian who signed with the team Friday afternoon.
The biggest roster overhaul occurred Wednesday. The T-Bolts made a pair of trades with American Association teams, acquiring Axel Johnson from the Cleburne Railroaders for future considerations and Omar Obregon from the Lincoln Saltdogs for a player to be named later.
Windy City also signed outfielder Jonathan McCray and pitchers Connor Bach and Eddie Avila on the same day. Bach and Avila joined rookie Drew Peden, who was signed Monday, as newcomers on the pitching staff.
“McCray made it to Class AAA (with the Kansas City Royals) and Connor Bach had a good year as a starter in the (Washington) Nationals’ organization, so those are two guys with a lot of high-level experience,” Biga said.
Johnson and Obregon have made the biggest immediate impact.
Johnson, a 24-year-old outfielder from Tulsa, Okla., went 3-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in Thursday’s 17-2 loss to Florence. He made his debut Wednesday, going 1-for-6 as the T-Bolts were swept in a doubleheader by the Freedom.
“I had a 15
“I got a good night’s rest and was feeling good at the plate (Thursday). I ran into a couple balls. That gets your confidence up and gets you feeling good.”
Johnson had seen decreased playing time of late in Cleburne, partially because of the team’s acquisition of four-time Major League Baseball all-star Rafael Palmeiro, who joined the team this season at age 53.
“I was pretty skeptical about it at first, to be honest,” Johnson said. “When he showed up, though, he was a really relatable guy. He didn’t act big league or anything. He’d talk to anyone. I spent a lot of down time in the clubhouse listening to him. He had a lot of great insight.
“I got my opportunities in Cleburne and just didn’t take advantage of enough of them. It’s a business. I’m excited to get chances to play here. That’s what’s important for my career.”
Obregon, a 24-year-old infielder from La Trinidad, Nicaragua, spent six seasons in the Atlanta Braves’ organization after signing at age 17.
He went 4-for-10 over his first three games with the T-Bolts and was batting leadoff Friday.
“It’s been really, really good so far,” Obregon said. “I like this group of guys. They’re good teammates. I’ve just got to keep working hard.”
The roster overhaul is reminiscent of the 2010 season, when the T-Bolts were 22-24 at the All-Star break and signed eight newcomers.
Windy City went on to finish 56-38 and win the division.
Biga is hoping for similar results.
“We’re excited,” he said. “We’re looking to get rolling now.”
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