Winnipeg Goldeyes Daily Clippings Friday, May 17 , 2019

WINNIPEG GOLDEYES DAILY CLIPPINGS

FRIDAY, MAY 17th, 2019

- Goldeyes Win Opener—Winnipeg Sun, 5/17/19 - Goldeyes Open 26th Season With Extra-Inning Win—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Steve Schuster), 5/16/19 - Goldeyes Focus on Defence With an Eye on Returning to the Playoffs—Winnipeg Sun, 5/17/19 - McGovern Takes His Role as Opening Night Pitcher Seriously—Winnipeg Sun, 5/16/19 - Infielder Prime One of Goldeyes’ Final Roster Cuts—Winnipeg Free Press (Taylor Allen), 5/15/19 - Goldeyes Set Opening Night Roster—Winnipeg Sun, 5/15/19 - Josh Romanski Donvito Roundtable Interview (Audio Link)—TSN 1290 (Kevin Olszewski), 5/14/19 - Goldeyes Set Opening Night Roster—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Steve Schuster), 5/14/19 - Goldeyes Trade for Left-Hander Torres—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Steve Schuster), 5/14/19 - Rookies Catch Skipper’s Eye—Winnipeg Sun, 5/14/19 - Goldeyes Acquire T-Bones’ Crescentini—Winnipeg Free Press (Mike Sawatzky), 5/13/19 - Goldeyes Trade for Crescentini—Winnipeg Sun, 5/13/19 - Mother’s Day Extra Special for Goldeyes’ Romanski—Winnipeg Sun, 5/12/19 - Red Sox Purchase Pitcher Dylan Thompson From Goldeyes—Winnipeg Sun, 5/11/19 - All-Star Thompson Headed to Red Sox—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Steve Schuster), 5/10/19 - Darvill Brings Bling to Goldeyes—Winnipeg Free Press (Taylor Allen), 5/10/19 - Goldeyes’ Darvill Adds Muscle and Experience—Winnipeg Sun, 5/10/19 - Winnipeg Goldeyes Josh Romanski (Video Link)—Global News Winnipeg (Russ Hobson), 5/7/19 - Pair of Garcias Looking to Get Back on Track With Goldeyes—Winnipeg Free Press (Taylor Allen), 5/7/19 - Goldeyes Walk Away From PR Nightmare, Even One With a Mid-90s Fastball—Winnipeg Free Press (Mike McIntyre), 5/7/19 - Outfielder Brings Big Bat and Winning Attitude—Winnipeg Free Press (Taylor Allen), 5/6/19 - Big Fish in Friendly Pond—Winnipeg Free Press (Mike McIntyre), 5/4/19

GOLDEYES WIN OPENER WINNIPEG SUN – FRIDAY, MAY 17th The Winnipeg Goldeyes beat the Texas AirHogs 3-1 in 10 innings at AirHogs Stadium in their 2019 season opener on Thursday.

Willy Garcia singled home Darvill with the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th. After Winnipeg tacked on an insurance run, Christian Torres and Victor Capellan combined on a scoreless bottom half to seal the victory.

Marin’s sacrifice fly in the fourth gave Winnipeg a 1-0 lead. Texas tied the game in the seventh when former major leaguer Josh Prince hit a two-out, RBI triple.

WINNING PITCHER: WPG: Marcus Crescentini (1-0) LOSING PITCHER: TEX: Ryan Smith (0-1) SAVE: WPG: Victor Capellan (1)

THE SKINNY: The Goldeyes won their 2019 season-opener 3-1 in 10 innings. Reggie Abercrombie became the first player in American Association history to play in a 10th season.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Starting pitcher Kevin McGovern took a no-decision, but allowed one earned run on just two hits in seven innings. McGovern also recorded 17 of his 21 outs on groundballs.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Alex Perez’s relay throw in the bottom of the seventh cut down Josh Prince, who was trying to score the go-ahead run. Prince had tripled home Stewart Ijames to tie the game and was attempting an inside-the-park home run.

NEXT UP: The Goldeyes and AirHogs meet again Friday at 7:05 p.m. Mitchell Lambson faces right-hander Zech Lemond. The game can be heard live on 93.7 FM.

GOLDEYES OPEN 26th SEASON WITH EXTRA-INNING WIN STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – THURSDAY, MAY 16th GRAND PRAIRIE, TX – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (1-0) beat the Texas AirHogs 3-1 in 10 innings at AirHogs Stadium on Thursday night.

Tied at 1-1 in the top of the 10th, Wes Darvill doubled off the left field wall leading off. Willy Garcia followed with a line drive single to right on an 0-2 count that scored Darvill with the go-ahead run. Garcia took second on a wild pitch and advanced to third when Dominic Ficociello singled through the left side. Reggie Abercrombie drove in Garcia on a groundball to make it 3-1. By appearing in Thursday’s game, Abercrombie became the first player in American Association history to play in a 10th different season.

Christian Torres took over for Marcus Crescentini in the bottom of the 10th and recorded two outs before giving way to Victor Capellan. Capellan struck out pinch-hitter Luan Chenchen as the tying run at the plate to earn his first save of the year.

The Goldeyes took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Adrian Marin lifted a sacrifice fly that scored Alex Perez.

The AirHogs (0-1) tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs and no one on base, Stewart Ijames walked and scored the tying run on a Josh Prince triple to centre field. Prince attempted to stretch the hit into an inside-the-park home run, but was cut down at the plate on a relay from Marin that ended the inning and kept the game tied.

Jack Charleston worked a perfect bottom of the eighth, while Crescentini pitched around a leadoff walk in the ninth to strand the winning run in scoring position and send the game to extra innings.

Crescentini (1-0) earned the win, while AirHogs’ reliever Ryan Smith (0-1) took the loss.

Kevin McGovern started for the Goldeyes and took a no-decision, allowing one earned run on just two hits over seven innings. McGovern walked two, struck out two, and recorded 17 of hits 21 outs on groundballs.

Zhang Tao started for the AirHogs and also took a no-decision, allowing one earned run on four hits in four innings. Tao walked five and struck out three.

Josh Romanski and Kevin Garcia each had two hits for Winnipeg.

The Goldeyes and AirHogs play game two of their season-opening, four-game series Friday night at 7:05 p.m. Mitchell Lambson takes on right-hander Zech Lemond. All the action can be heard locally on 93.7 FM CJNU and worldwide at www.cjnu.ca

The Goldeyes’ 2019 home opener is scheduled for Friday, May 24th versus the Kansas City T-Bones. 2019 season tickets, 10-game mini packs, and group tickets are on sale now. For more information, call the Goldeyes’ office at (204) 982-BASE, or visit the Goldeyes’ official website at www.goldeyes.com

GOLDEYES FOCUS ON DEFENCE WITH AN EYE ON RETURNING TO THE PLAYOFFS WINNIPEG SUN – FRIDAY, MAY 17th When it comes to the American Association, “defence wins championships” is more than just a cliché.

The league has seen 151 teams during its first 13 seasons, and of the top 10 finishers in team fielding percentage, nine have reached the postseason. Conversely, the 2009 Pensacola Pelicans are the only playoff club from the American Association’s 20 worst fielding averages.

The relationship of quality defence and winning baseball games is hardly a secret, but the above numbers illustrate why Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney made a concerted effort to become more athletic and defensively-sound as soon as the 2018 season came to a close.

The Goldeyes were ninth out of 12 teams in fielding percentage last year, and committed the third most errors in the league.

“You win and lose baseball games based on runs,” said Forney, “but how many runs you allow are just as important as how many you score. When you have guys who can really defend it — even if they’re a .250 or .260 career hitter — then that’s the same as having a .300 hitter, especially at a premium position in our league like a shortstop, third base, or catcher.”

New first baseman Dominic Ficociello projects to be a force in the middle of the lineup, and led the team with 10 RBI during spring training. But Ficociello is also a former minor league Gold Glove winner at his position, an award he took home in 2015, and one that encompassed all levels of the affiliated minors.

Adrian Marin was stellar at shortstop during the pre-season, and started four double plays. Second baseman Alex Perez initiated two double plays during Winnipeg’s exhibition win on Tuesday at Kansas City. During their time in affiliated ball, both Marin and Perez consistently ranked near the top of their respective leagues in fielding percentage.

“(Defence) doesn’t really slump,” said Forney. “You don’t have to worry about hot and cold streaks. When Max Poulin was here, he was a young player who was improving offensively as he went along. But Max had his role on our team, and he made our pitching staff better because he was so solid defensively.”

From 2016-17, Wes Darvill’s range and quickness allowed him to handle more chances than any American Association third baseman. Darvill’s fielding abilities were as much of a factor as his offence when it came to the Los Angeles Dodgers picking up his contract in 2018.

“It shortens up the game,” Forney added. “27 outs are hard to get, and if you’ve got some guys that can take an out or two away from the opposition each night, you can really give yourself a chance to win.”

Collectively, the Goldeyes were charged with only four errors in seven spring training games.

The infielders should receive plenty of opportunities to showcase their talent during the current road trip. Both the Texas AirHogs and Cleburne Railroaders feature artificial surfaces in their ball parks.

MCGOVERN TAKES HIS ROLE AS OPENING NIGHT PITCHER SERIOUSLY WINNIPEG SUN – THURSDAY, MAY 16th The Winnipeg Goldeyes open the 2019 season on Thursday with the first of four against the Texas AirHogs on the road.

Left-hander Kevin McGovern takes the mound opposite Chinese-born right-hander Zhang Tao.

McGovern is one of the most accomplished pitchers in American Association history. The 29-year-old set the league’s career record for strikeouts by a left-hander in 2018, and delivered numerous clutch performances—both regular season and postseason—during the Goldeyes’ back-to-back championship runs.

Tonight will be McGovern’s second career Opening Night start, but his first in four years with the Goldeyes.

“It’s definitely something that I take seriously,” McGovern said on taking the ball in the season opener. “Being the No. 1 guy out of the gate, it’s something that’s pretty special. I’m always going to feel like the underdog, having never had a chance in affiliated ball. It’s definitely something that represents a little bit of respect that I’ve been trying to gain over the course of all my years that I’ve been playing.”

McGovern enters the season just 63 strikeouts back of Chris Salamida for the Goldeyes’ franchise record. The southpaw has fanned 100-plus batters each of the last five years.

When manager Rick Forney fills out his lineup card tonight, there likely will be a franchise record eight players who have triple-A or Major League experience. That level of depth has McGovern excited about Winnipeg’s prospects.

“This is such a veteran team and veteran lineup,” said McGovern. “I’m glad I don’t have to pitch against them. Our lineup is all double-A or triple-A guys. Then we have rookies throwing in the mid-90s. It’s something special to see. (The pitching staff) has a great defence behind us. This season is going to be really exciting.”

Forney shares similar optimism with his starting pitcher as the Goldeyes can officially put their difficult 2018 season in the rearview mirror.

“I’m really excited,” said Forney. “I’m happy that we scheduled the seven (exhibition) games and we got them all in. We got plenty of at bats for everybody, plenty of audition time. The last thing you want is to put your roster together and have weather problems, and you wind up having to make roster decisions without giving people an honest opportunity. I just feel a little better about the number of at bats that we were able to get heading into the season compared to what we were able to get in the past.”

Meanwhile, Tao and a large contingent of his countrymen return to the AirHogs for a special partnership.

Last year, the AirHogs allotted 13 of their 23 roster spots for members of the Chinese National Team as a means of accelerating their development and preparing them for future international competitions.

As of Wednesday evening, the AirHogs had just nine traditionally-signed American Association players. That means as many as 14 Chinese players could be at the disposal of first-year manager Chris Bando tonight.

EYES ON TORRES The Goldeyes were able to get an in-game look at left-hander Christian Torres during Tuesday’s spring training finale at Kansas City. Torres was acquired Monday from the Lincoln Saltdogs in exchange for a player to be named later, and retired all four batters to face him in Winnipeg’s 6-4 victory.

“He’s got versatility in his game where he can start or relieve,” Forney said.

“He has the ability to throw more than one inning out of the bullpen. There’s a lot of things that guy can do for you. He’s a strike-thrower, and a young pitcher that’s new to independent baseball. He had a really good run in affiliated ball. I’m not sure why it came to an end, but there’s some arm talent there. We’re just happy to have him be a part of our club.”

Tonight’s season opener can be heard live on 93.7 FM.

INFIELDER PRIME ONE OF GOLDEYES’ FINAL ROSTER CUTS TAYLOR ALLEN – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS – WEDNESDAY, MAY 15th Tuesday was the American Association’s roster deadline day, and the Winnipeg Goldeyes were busy.

The Fish had 27 players in training camp and needed to trim the roster down to 23 and meet all league roster-requirement rules by noon.

The Goldeyes released first baseman Correlle Prime and right-handed pitchers Kevin McAvoy and Landon Hughes. All three players cleared waivers and are now free agents. Pitcher Eric Carter was placed on the inactive list and is ineligible to return before June 3.

Prime, who was acquired in an off-season trade with the Can-Am League’s Rockland Boulders, was the biggest surprise of the roster cuts. Prime hit .279 with seven home runs and 42 RBIs last season with the Texas AirHogs, but was outplayed in spring training for the starting first baseman’s job by Dominic Ficociello.

McAvoy was fighting for a spot in the starting rotation, but his spring training got off to a rough start. In the team’s spring-training opener, McAvoy came on in relief and recorded one out while being lit up for four hits and three earned runs against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Hughes gave up the winning run in a 2-1 exhibition loss to the Lincoln Saltdogs on Sunday and left the game with an undisclosed injury.

The Goldeyes also announced they’ve added left-handed pitcher Christian Torres from the Saltdogs in a trade. Torres made 20 appearances for the Texas Rangers’ high-A affiliate last year, nine of which were starts, and finished with a 5-6 record and 3.36 ERA.

"We’re very short-handed from the left side of our bullpen, so we needed to find someone," Goldeyes manager Rick Forney said in a media release. "He’s done really well in affiliated baseball and was available, so I didn’t hesitate to move on it."

Each team must have a minimum of five rookies on the roster, and the Fish filled that quota with pitchers Mitchell Aker, Tyler Garkow and Brandon Bingel, as well as infielder Kevin Lachance and catcher Luis Touron.

The Goldeyes have no more room for veterans, as teams can only carry five on the roster. Third baseman Wes Darvill, relief pitcher Victor Capellan and outfielders Reggie Abercrombie, James Harris and Willy Garcia will be the club’s five veterans heading into opening day.

The Goldeyes closed out their exhibition schedule Tuesday night against the against the Kansas City T-Bones. The Fish swing into the regular season on the road against the AirHogs on Thursday.

GOLDEYES SET OPENING NIGHT ROSTER WINNIPEG SUN – WEDNESDAY, MAY 15th The Winnipeg Goldeyes set their 2019 Opening Night roster on Tuesday afternoon.

American Association clubs had until noon Tuesday to meet the 23-player regular season maximum, as well as all of the league’s classification requirements.

First baseman Correlle Prime and pitchers Landon Hughes and Kevin McAvoy cleared waivers and became free agents.

The Goldeyes will open the season Thursday night at Texas with 12 pitchers and 11 position players. Right-handed reliever Eric Carter is on the Inactive List and does not count against the 23-player max. Carter will be eligible to pitch on June 3.

The transactions Tuesday provide Goldeyes manager Rick Forney with some roster flexibility. In addition to the 23-man active roster, American Association teams can have no more than 11 players classified as LS-4 or higher. Seven of those 11 players can be classified as LS-5, while five of those same 11 are allowed to carry the “veteran” tag.

Winnipeg is at capacity in terms of veterans and LS-5s, but Forney has an available LS-4 spot on his roster, which creates room for a significant mid- season upgrade should the need arise. The American Association is considered on par with double-A, and it is rare for a player with double-A experience to be classified below LS-4.

Fourth-year Goldeyes left-hander Kevin McGovern is expected to start Thursday. Left-hander Mitchell Lambson and right-hander Parker French are also expected to work as starting pitchers. Righties Harrison Cooney and Tyler Garkow, plus left-hander Joel Bender, will vie for the remaining two rotation spots.

Victor Capellan (3.23 ERA in 2018), Marcus Crescentini (1.32), Jack Charleston (2.63), and Brandon Bingel (2.85) form a strong core of relievers, all coming off successful seasons in the American Association. The quartet of right-handers is joined by promising rookie Mitchell Aker and recently acquired left-hander Christian Torres. Aker’s 19 saves for the Evansville Otters last year ranked third in the Frontier League, while Torres finished with a 3.36 ERA at the class-A level in the Texas Rangers’ system.

Offensively, the Goldeyes projected Opening Night lineup will be the most experienced in the franchise’s 26-year history. Of the nine expected starters, eight have played in triple-A or the major leagues. The lone exception is incumbent catcher Kevin Garcia, who has reached double-A. The 2015 Goldeyes hold the current record for triple-A experience with six players, and coincidentally, that club also started the season in Grand Prairie, Texas.

First baseman Dominic Ficociello, second baseman Alex Perez, third baseman Wes Darvill, and shortstop Adrian Marin comprise an infield that could be among the best in the league. Former major leaguers Reggie Abercrombie and Willy Garcia are joined in the outfield by Josh Romanski and James Harris. The latter two have each won MVP awards within the past two years. One of the outfielders will likely serve as the team’s designated hitter on a rotating basis.

Garcia and utilityman Kevin Lachance are classified rookies with prior professional experience on their resumes.

The team is expected to work out this afternoon at AirHogs Stadium.

AUDIO: JOSH ROMANSKI DONVITO ROUNDTABLE INTERVIEW KEVIN OLSZEWSKI – TSN 1290 – TUESDAY, MAY 14th LINK: (interview begins at 45:30) https://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/donvito-roundtable-may-14-2019-1.1305685

GOLDEYES SET OPENING NIGHT ROSTER STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – TUESDAY, MAY 14th WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes announced several transactions Tuesday in accordance with the American Association’s roster deadline.

American Association clubs had until 12:00 p.m. this afternoon to trim their spring training rosters down to the regular season maximum of 23 players.

First baseman Correlle Prime, right-handed pitcher Kevin McAvoy, and right-handed pitcher Landon Hughes have all cleared waivers and are now free agents.

Left-handed pitcher Josh Norwood, who was added Monday as a non-roster invitee, has been removed from the roster as well.

The Goldeyes’ active roster currently stands at 23 players. Right-handed pitcher Eric Carter will being the season on the Inactive List, and is eligible to return on June 3rd.

2019 Winnipeg Goldeyes Opening Night Roster CF Reggie Abercrombie RHP Mitchell Aker LHP Joel Bender RHP Brandon Bingel RHP Victor Capellan RHP Eric Carter (Inactive List) RHP Jack Charleston RHP Harrison Cooney RHP Marcus Crescentini 3B Wes Darvill IF/OF Dominic Ficociello RHP Parker French C Kevin Garcia OF Willy Garcia RHP Tyler Garkow OF James Harris UTIL Kevin Lachance LHP Mitchell Lambson SS Adrian Marin LHP Kevin McGovern 2B Alex Perez OF Josh Romanski LHP Christian Torres C Luis Touron

The Goldeyes close out their exhibition schedule tonight against the Kansas City T-Bones. First pitch from T-Bones Stadium is at 7:05 p.m. All the action can be heard locally on 93.7 FM CJNU and worldwide at www.cjnu.ca

The Winnipeg Goldeyes open the 2019 season on May 16th against the Texas AirHogs on the road. The Goldeyes’ 2019 home opener is scheduled for Friday, May 24th versus the Kansas City T-Bones. 2019 season tickets, 10-game mini packs, and group tickets are on sale now. For more information, call the Goldeyes’ office at (204) 982-BASE, or visit the Goldeyes’ official website at www.goldeyes.com

GOLDEYES TRADE FOR LEFT-HANDER TORRES STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – TUESDAY, MAY 14th WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes acquired left-handed pitcher Christian Torres from the Lincoln Saltdogs on Monday in exchange for a player to be named later.

Torres was 5-6 with a 3.36 ERA in nine starts and 11 relief appearances last season for the High-A Carolina League’s Down East Wood Ducks (Texas Rangers). The Canovanas, Puerto Rico native walked 19 and struck out 55 in 61.2 innings pitched, and averaged 1.64 ground outs for every air out (the 2018 Major League average was 1.03).

“We’re very short-handed from the left side of our bullpen, so we needed to find someone,” said Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney. “He’s done really well in affiliated baseball and was available, so I didn’t hesitate to move on it.”

Torres was drafted by the Rangers in the 30th round in 2016 out of Faulkner University (Montgomery, Alabama). The 26-year-old is in his fourth season of professional baseball, and was a teammate of Goldeyes’ reliever Jack Charleston during his time at Faulkner. Torres is 12-12 with five saves and a 2.93 ERA during his career in 75 games, 60 of them in relief. The 6-foot, 170-pound left-hander has walked just seven percent of his career batters faced, and reached the Triple-A level with the Pacific Coast League’s Round Rock Express in 2017.

The Goldeyes’ active spring training roster now stands at 26 players. American Association clubs must trim their active rosters down to the regular season maximum of 23 by 12:00 p.m. this afternoon.

The Goldeyes close out their spring training schedule tonight against the Kansas City T-Bones. First pitch from T-Bones Stadium is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. All the action can be heard locally on 93.7 FM CJNU and worldwide at www.cjnu.ca

ROOKIES CATCH SKIPPER’S EYE WINNIPEG SUN – TUESDAY, MAY 14th A pair of rookies have impressed manager Rick Forney this spring.

Utility player Kevin Lachance and right-handed pitcher Mitchell Aker grew up less than 15 miles apart in the state of Virginia, and have played with or against one another for the better part of the last decade.

Lachance is aiming to rebound after a promising start to his 2018 season with the Frontier League’s Lake Erie Crushers was cut short in June due to injury.

The right-handed hitting Lachance is primarily a middle infielder, but Forney indicated the 24-year-old could see time in the outfield as well.

“He’s done a really good job for us,” Forney said on Lachance. “He plays the game hard. He extended our innings (Friday) night, hitting a groundball that banged off the third baseman’s glove and sprinting down the line. That would have been the final out, but the guy played hard. He’s really doing some good things.”

A native of Clifton, Va., Lachance posted a .347 on-base percentage for Lake Erie and was 10 for 11 in stolen base attempts. During his true rookie season in 2017, Lachance finished with a .387 on-base percentage while playing in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system.

Aker has made two relief appearances in exhibition play. After giving up a run last Wednesday versus Fargo-Moorhead, Aker worked a perfect frame on Friday in which he threw just five pitches.

Also 24, Aker ranked third in the Frontier League in 2018, saving 19 games for the Evansville Otters.

“Excellent, he just pounded the zone,” said Forney on Aker’s outing on Friday. “He threw some heat. The (radar) gun wasn’t working, but it was easy in that mid- to upper-90s. The arm speed was fantastic. The ball had good downhill tilt to it. He’s got great stuff. He just needs to learn how to be consistent every day.”

American Association rosters must be trimmed to at least 23 players by 12:00 p.m. this afternoon, and are required to carry at least five classified rookies.

“There’s going to be some tough decisions with what we’re going to do with our roster,” said Forney. “Lachance is pushing a lot of guys right now. It comes down to how many position players we want to start the season with. We like what we’re seeing from a lot of guys. We like the versatility. We’re just going to let this thing play out and see what happens.”

GOLDEYES ACQUIRE T-BONES’ CRESCENTINI MIKE SAWATZKY – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS – MONDAY, MAY 13th The American Association’s Winnipeg Goldeyes have acquired right-handed pitcher Marcus Crescentini from the Kansas City T-Bones for a player to be named later and cash considerations.

Crescentini was 5-0 with one save and a 1.32 ERA in 25 relief appearances for the T-Bones last season, helping them win the league championship.

The Tampa, Fla., native struck out 36 and walked 17 in 27 1/3 innings pitched. Crescentini did not allow a run in four post-season appearances.

GOLDEYES TRADE FOR CRESCENTINI WINNIPEG SUN – MONDAY, MAY 13th The Goldeyes traded for a power arm on Sunday, acquiring right-hander Marcus Crescentini from the Kansas City T-Bones in exchange for a player to be named later and cash considerations.

The hard-throwing Crescentini has averaged more than 12 strikeouts per nine innings over his first four seasons of professional baseball.

The trade comes at an opportune time as the Goldeyes pitching staff has been somewhat depleted over the first week of training camp.

Eric Carter is on the inactive list and will not be eligible to pitch until June 3rd, Trevor Charpie elected to leave the team on Thursday, and Dylan Thompson’s contract was purchased by the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

After joining the T-Bones last July, Crescentini was 5-0 with a 1.32 ERA while pitching high-leverage innings for the eventual American Association champions. The 26-year-old did not allow a run in four playoff appearances, and was the winning pitcher on September 15 when the T-Bones clinched the title against the St. Paul Saints.

“He had a really good year for the T-Bones,” said Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney. “He’s a big right-hander that comes right at guys. He pitched against us (last year) and looked real good. I’ve been calling around since we lost Dylan (Thompson) to see if there was an opportunity to pick up a quality arm. We were able to get a deal done, and he’s excited to join up with us.”

WEATHER WOES Even as they work their way down the continent, the Goldeyes haven’t quite escaped the carryover from this year’s frigid winter.

Saturday’s exhibition game at Fargo-Moorhead saw temperatures hovering just above 0 degrees and wind gusts clocked north of 40 kilometers per hour. The game itself was cut short due to a wet field as the teams played through a driving rain for several innings.

All things considered, Forney has been encouraged by his team’s defence, especially in less-than-ideal conditions.

“We’ve got to start playing the game a little bit faster,” said Forney.

“It’s tough to play at the speed you need to play when the temperatures are cold, and the ground is soft and wet. We’re not quite there yet. But at the same time, I’m certainly not disappointed. I think we’ve played pretty well. Our defence has been super for the early stages that were in. Defence is one of those things that can be pretty sloppy early on, but our guys seem to be pretty solid, which is how we built it.

“We just need to start picking up the pace a little bit as we go.”

MOTHER’S DAY EXTRA SPECIAL FOR GOLDEYES’ ROMANSKI WINNIPEG SUN – SUNDAY, MAY 12th For the better part of his lifetime, Mother’s Day has carried an extra special meaning for Winnipeg Goldeyes’ outfielder Josh Romanski.

Sheila Romanski was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, and is a four-time survivor of the disease.

“She’s obviously a fighter,” said Romanski. “She says all the time that her kids were the reason why she kept such a positive outlook and did her best to fight it.”

Sheila and her husband, Andy, have four children (three sons and one daughter), including Josh who has returned to the Goldeyes for a fourth season.

“It definitely brought our family closer together,” said Romanski, the 2017 American Association Most Valuable Player. “That’s about as real as it gets. She’s been able to come out on the other side. It was a battle for her for a while there, and now she’s able to give back and try to help other people in their fight.”

Sheila founded Crystal Roses in 2011, a non-profit organization that supports those affected by cancer.

“She helps out the family in any way possible,” Romanski explained. “Whether it’s with their hospital visits, their transportation, or if they need home care, her organization does anything they can to assist. It’s the type of assistance that she felt she would have benefitted from, or would have made her life or our family’s life easier.”

The organization is seeking to expand, and hopes to open a Crystal Roses house that would take in cancer patients and help them in areas such as nutrition and overall wellness.

Following an All-American career at the University of San Diego, Romanski was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth round in 2008. On the same day of his selection, Romanski learned his mother’s cancer had returned.

“Twenty minutes after we got the news that I had been drafted, she gets a call from the doctor saying her cancer had come back,” Romanski said. “That one was especially tough because she had beaten it already and it had been in remission for 12 years. It was a very surreal day all around with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. She felt bad and said, ‘This is what you’ve been working for, and I can’t believe it happened on the same day,’ but there are obviously more important things in life than baseball.

“She had to go into surgery about three weeks after the draft, and I wanted to be around for that,” Romanski continued. “I didn’t report to my affiliate, because I wanted to be there for her. I showed up late for the (baseball) season, but it was the right thing to do.”

Romanski, who was a crucial member of the Goldeyes’ 2016 and 2017 American Association championship teams, continues to draw inspiration from his mother’s story.

Eight years after his final season at the University of San Diego, the 32-year-old graduated with a Communications degree, and was able to have both parents by his side during the commencement ceremony.

“A lot of the battle is mental,” said Romanski. “Obviously, your brain can’t fix it, but if you keep your spirits up and keep your energy up, your body fights it differently. She’s a firm believer in that. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It hits everyone. Her organization is unique, and it’s starting to grow. I hope it takes off, because a lot of people need the help.”

Crystal Roses is based out of Corona, Calif. More information can be found at their website http://www.crystalroseshelps.com.

RED SOX PURCHASE PITCHER DYLAN THOMPSON FROM GOLDEYES WINNIPEG SUN – SATURDAY, MAY 11th American Association clubs are just seven days into spring training, but the Winnipeg Goldeyes already can claim their first victory.

Right-handed pitcher Dylan Thompson’s contract was purchased by the Boston Red Sox Friday afternoon. The announcement came shortly after the Goldeyes arrived in Fargo, N.D., for an exhibition game.

Thompson struck out five batters over two scoreless innings on Wednesday, and is expected to report to the class-A Carolina League’s Salem Red Sox.

“It’s great for him,” Goldeyes manager Rick Forney said. “He’s been a good arm in this league for a couple of years. He got himself in good shape this off-season, and went to a workout in April and threw in front of the Red Sox. Credit the Red Sox for putting something together for Indy ball guys and inviting him down there. It gives them a chance to see guys just in case they have some holes that they need to fill during the season.”

The North Carolina native was acquired from the Sioux Falls Canaries last fall, and is coming off a somewhat misleading campaign in which he finished with a 5.13 ERA in 21 starts. 23 of the 69 earned runs Thompson allowed were condensed into just two outings. In the other 19 starts, Thompson had a 3.64 ERA.

Thompson was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2014, and returns to the affiliated ranks for the first time since 2015. Forney selected Thompson to the 2017 American Association/Can-Am League All-Star Game in Ottawa.

The Goldeyes have experienced some attrition since the beginning of camp. Right-hander Trevor Charpie elected to leave the club on Thursday. Fellow right-hander Eric Carter will begin the season on the Inactive List, and is not expected to join Winnipeg until after the May 16 season opener.

Thompson becomes the 76th Goldeyes’ player to have his contract purchased by a Major League organization.

Winnipeg’s active training camp roster now stands at 24 players. American Association clubs have until noon Tuesday to trim their rosters down to the regular season maximum of 23.

POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA James Bennett enters his first season as Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks manager.

The 52-year-old has an impressive coaching resume that spans the globe. Bennett spent the majority of the 1990’s and 2000’s as a pitching coach in the California Angels’ and San Francisco Giants’ organizations.

In 2006, Bennett helped mentor Tim Lincecum while the eventual two-time Cy Young Award winner was pitching for the class-A California League’s San Jose Giants.

Bennett has served as a pitching coach in the Australian Baseball League since 2015, including ABL championships each of the past four winters.

Bennett’s son, TJ, played for the Lincoln Saltdogs in 2018, but was traded to Fargo last November. A month later, TJ’s contract was picked up by the Chicago White Sox.

While his son was preparing for affiliated spring training, the elder Bennett still followed the RedHawks on Twitter. When the RedHawks posted that incumbent manager Michael Schlact had accepted position in the Milwaukee Brewers’ farm system, Bennett reached out expressing interest in the opening.

Less than a month later, Bennett was introduced as the third skipper in the RedHawks’ 24-year history.

ALL-STAR THOMPSON HEADED TO RED SOX STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – FRIDAY, MAY 10th WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes learned Friday that right-handed pitcher Dylan Thompson’s contract has been purchased by the Boston Red Sox.

Thompson is the second Goldeye to have his contract purchased this off-season, and the 76th in franchise history.

All-Time Winnipeg Goldeyes to MLB Organizations

“It’s great for him,” said Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney. “He’s been a good arm in this league for a couple of years. He got himself in good shape this off-season, went to a workout in April and threw in front of the Red Sox. Credit the Red Sox for putting something together for ‘indy’ ball guys and inviting him down there. It gives them a chance to see guys just in case they have some holes that they need to fill during the season.”

The right-hander was acquired from the Sioux Falls Canaries via trade last October. Thompson was 5-9 with a 5.13 ERA in 21 starts for the Canaries. 23 of the 69 earned runs Thompson allowed came in two starts. In his other 19 starts, the Snow Camp, North Carolina native posted a 3.64 ERA.

Thompson was an all-star reliever for the Canaries in 2017, finishing with a 3.66 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 46.2 innings. The 26-year-old right hander made one appearance during the Goldeyes’ exhibition season, striking out five batters in just two innings versus Fargo-Moorhead on Wednesday night.

Thompson was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 31st round in 2014 out of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Greensboro, North Carolina), and is expected to report to the Red Sox’ High-A Carolina League affiliate in Salem, Virginia.

Additionally, the Goldeyes released right-handed pitcher Trevor Charpie who elected to leave the club on Thursday.

With right-handed pitcher Eric Carter placed on the Inactive List on May 4th, the Goldeyes’ training camp roster stands at 24 active players.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes continue their exhibition schedule Saturday afternoon against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. First pitch from Newman Outdoor Field is at 2:00 p.m. All the action can be heard locally on 93.7 FM CJNU and worldwide at www.cjnu.ca

DARVILL BRINGS BLING TO GOLDEYES TAYLOR ALLEN – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS – FRIDAY, MAY 10th Wes Darvill has more bling than a 1990s rapper, and the Winnipeg Goldeyes are hoping the third baseman will continue to add to his collection.

Darvill, a 27-year-old Langley, B.C., native, returns to the Fish after spending last season in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, where he predominantly played for their double-A affiliate, the Tulsa Drillers.

Darvill helped the Drillers win the Texas League championship, which gave him his fifth professional baseball title in six years. He now, literally, has a handful of championship rings. Darvill was a key contributor to the Goldeyes’ back-to-back American Association titles in 2016 and 2017. He also won a pair of single-A championships while with the Chicago Cubs organization. He won the Carolina League championship in 2015 with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and the Florida State League title with the Daytona Cubs in 2013.

"I put them on every once in a while," Darvill said with a laugh before Thursday night’s exhibition game at Shaw Park against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

"Just looking back, I’ve been fortunate to be in great organizations. First off, being with the Cubs, then coming to Winnipeg obviously, and then with the Dodgers. They’re all first-class organizations and they do it right. That’s why they win."

Darvill had a one-year deal with the Dodgers and they opted not to bring him back. In 49 games with Tulsa, Darvill hit .203 with two home runs and 13 RBIs. He also played five games for their triple-A affiliate, where he went 1-for-10 at the plate. Darvill struggled to get into a rhythm after missing two months of action due to a hyperextended knee.

"I was talking with (the Dodgers) all the way up until February. They were possibly trying to bring me back," Darvill said.

"It’s just one of those things that’s a numbers game, really. They have a ton of great players, a ton of young players coming up. I think every team in the organization made the playoffs from rookie ball to the major leagues. So, it’s just one of those things that might work out at a later time when spots open up."

The Goldeyes jumped at the chance to bring Darvill back into the fold to man the hot corner, signing him to a deal in January. In his last season with the Fish in 2017, Darvill was a mid-season and post-season league all-star. He played all 100 games that season, hitting .309 with four home runs and 49 RBIs. He also got the job done defensively with a .943 fielding percentage at third base. Fourth-year Goldeyes outfielder Josh Romanski said getting Darvill back will help the team mightily, as he was a key reason the Fish won league championships in 2016 and 2017.

"He was huge. Huge. You look at his numbers, especially in the playoffs. He hit, like, .380 in the playoffs in ’17. And in ’16, I know he had some huge hits down the stretch and in the playoffs," said Romanski, the league’s player of the year in 2017.

"Wes is just one of those guys who’s a good clubhouse guy. He plays the game the right way. He plays the game hard. You know you’re going to get the maximum effort level from him, and when you got a guy like that, it’s easy to rally around him."

Before joining the Fish for spring training, Darvill helped the Canadian national team qualify for this summer’s Pan Am Games in Peru. Darvill played alongside some major-league talent such as Dalton Pompey and Michael Saunders, as the red and white finished fourth at a qualifying tournament in Brazil in early February to earn a spot at the Games.

"We qualified, so we got the job done," said Darvill, who’s unsure if he’ll be headed to Peru. "At this point, they haven’t picked the team. But, hopefully, I’ll get to wear the Team Canada uniform one more time."

For now, Darvill will wear the red and white (and sometimes naby blue) for the Goldeyes. Despite already having more championships than most baseball players could dream of, Darvill has no plans to slow down.

"I think just love of the game and just trying to get better basically every day," Darvill said of what motivates him to keep playing.

"You don’t play for 10 or 11 years or however long I’ve played if you don’t truly enjoy the game and enjoy the process. I enjoy the off-season workouts and enjoy the grind every day. That’s one thing, probably the love of the game. That keeps me coming back."

GOLDEYES’ DARVILL ADDS MUSCLE AND EXPERIENCE WINNIPEG SUN – FRIDAY, MAY 10th Wes Darvill is passing the early-season eye test.

The Canadian-born third baseman always has been lauded for his athleticism, but Darvill’s workout regimen this past winter has caught the attention of both his manager and teammates.

“He takes good care of himself,” Goldeyes manager Rick Forney said. “He’s noticeably bigger in his upper body. He’s always been a thin guy, but he’s wiry strong now. You can see that he’s finally getting some man muscles on him. The way he’s swinging the bat—he’s got a little more thump now.”

Darvill played a pivotal role in the Goldeyes’ back-to-back championship seasons in 2016 and 2017. During the latter, Darvill hit a career-best .309 while stealing 30 bases in 33 tries.

The well-rounded campaign led to an opportunity with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

When an independent player’s contract is purchased in the middle of the baseball season, the Major League organization has a definitive need they are looking to fill at some level of their farm system.

That isn’t necessarily the case when a player is “picked up” in the off-season.

Since the MLB club has less invested in an independent player compared to its own draft picks, players signed out of leagues such as the American Association can find themselves squeezed out in the waning days of spring training, regardless of how well they performed.

Darvill managed to beat those long odds, and won a roster spot with the double-A Texas League’s Tulsa Drillers.

“I came into camp, and I don’t think (the Dodgers) knew what to expect from me as a free agent guy,” Darvill said. “But I think I competed and turned some heads, and played well enough to earn a spot. Unfortunately, I got hurt for a couple of months, but I think I’m a much better baseball player for the opportunity. Just playing for a first-class organization like the Dodgers was a great experience.”

Darvill refers to a lower-body injury sustained while trying to beat out a double play and limited him to just 58 games played.

There were still positives, however. In addition to making a roster out of camp, Darvill reached the triple-A level for the first time in his career during an early season stint with the Pacific Coast League’s Oklahoma City Dodgers.

Darvill also returned from his injury in time to help Tulsa win the Texas League championship.

Having won the back-to-back titles with the Goldeyes, and another two championships during his time in the Chicago Cubs’ organization, Darvill has won a ring five times in the last six years.

“I think I’m a much better baseball player for (the opportunity with Los Angeles),” Darvill said. “I got to cap it off with another championship. I’m just really happy to be back in Winnipeg, and can’t wait to get out there and interact with the fans again. Hopefully we’ll bring home another championship this year.”

Darvill’s workout program merged traditional strength training such as squats and deadlifts with exercises that are more functional and baseball-specific. On multiple occasions this winter, Darvill was even shown dunking a basketball on the Goldeyes’ Twitter account.

“I made some adjustments to my swing and some adjustments in the field that I felt were pretty effective,” Darvill said about his off-season programming. “Every year, you just learn new things. You make little adjustments to your approach that help you as a ballplayer. It’s another year of experience, and another year of growing into my body. I just think you’re going to see an improved player all around.”

VIDEO: WINNIPEG GOLDEYES JOSH ROMANSKI RUSS HOBSON – GLOBAL NEWS WINNIPEG – TUESDAY, MAY 8th LINK: https://globalnews.ca/video/5252484/winnipeg-goldeyes-josh-romanski-2

PAIR OF GARCIAS LOOKING TO GET BACK ON TRACK WITH GOLDEYES TAYLOR ALLEN – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS – TUESDAY, MAY 7th Their last name isn't the only thing Willy Garcia and Kevin Garcia have in common.

The baseball players, no relation, are looking to get their careers back on track this season with the Winnipeg Goldeyes. They’re hoping for some better luck, too.

Willy Garcia is a 26-year-old outfielder who last played with the Chicago White Sox in 2017. The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native got the call- up to the major leagues after putting up some impressive numbers at the White Sox's triple-A level earlier in the year. Willy played in right field, forming an all-Garcia outfield as the White Sox had Leury Garcia in centre and Avisail Garcia in left field."It was awesome because we felt like a family," said the Spanish-speaking Willy through Kevin's translation.

But it didn't last for long. Willy suffered a freak injury in his 40th game with the team. It happened on July 31, 2017 in the seventh inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays when a fly ball was hit to right field. Willy sprinted towards the ball and made a sliding catch. However, Willy didn't hang on to the ball as Chicago's second baseman Yoan Moncada, the club's top prospect at the time, was also sprinting towards the ball. When Willy got down and caught it, Moncada tried to jump over him, but he ended up kneeing him in the jaw. Willy was knocked out cold and suffered a broken jaw and concussion. Willy had to undergo surgery and have a metal plate inserted into his jaw.

"I really don't remember it," Willy said. "The only reason I remember it because I saw the video. But as soon as I got hit in the head, I completely forgot." Willy didn't return until mid-September. He played four more games but struggled mightily with just one hit in his final 12 at-bats. In 44 games with the White Sox, Willy hit .238 with two home runs and 12 RBIs. But the injuries didn't stop there, as Willy broke a wrist bone in the off-season. Chicago released him in spring training, and Willy sat out the entire 2018 season due to his injury.

"It's unfortunate," Willy said. "I was in Santo Domingo and that's when I hurt my wrist. I showed up to spring training with a bad wrist. It was a matter of bad injuries and bad timing."

In February, the Goldeyes signed Willy to a contract. He adds depth to what is an already impressive outfield that features Reggie Abercrombie, Josh Romanski and James Harris. According to the Goldeyes, Willy is the 45th former MLB player to sign with the club in franchise history.

"He's a good player," said Goldeyes manager Rick Forney. "He's young. He got to the big leagues and played a lot just two years ago. He's a high level of talent right there and you don't see guys of that talent in our league often and we're excited about having him."

Kevin Garcia, 26-year-old from Calexico, Calif., also knows what it feels like to suffer a freak injury during a game. Kevin was the starting catcher for the Goldeyes last year, his first season playing independent baseball. In 40 games with the Fish, Kevin was putting up career numbers, hitting .273 with a homer and 18 RBIs. But on June 30 in a game at home against the St. Paul Saints, Kevin tore a patellar tendon in one of his legs while running to first base. He was taken off the field in a stretcher — his season was over.

"I remember hearing it pop and just hitting the ground," Kevin said after Monday afternoon's training session at Shaw Park, which was his first time back playing on the field since the incident. "And then I remember trying to move my leg and not being able to move it. As soon as I saw the first baseman, and saw Reggie (Abercrombie) run and Tom (Vaeth), I just burst into tears because I knew it was a major injury."

Kevin, a 30th-round draft pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2014 MLB draft, was told he'd be unable to walk until November or December. But when Kevin left Winnipeg at the end of the summer, he was way ahead of schedule and walking with a brace. Hhe went through gruelling rehab in the off- season to get back to full health. He said he was in the gym for six to eight hours a day, five or six days a week.

"It was very, very devastating, not going to lie to you," said Kevin, a career .254 hitter. "But I feel ready. I'm back and stronger than ever." Kevin said it means a lot to him that the Goldeyes brought him back for a second season so he can show he's still the same player.

"I was actually talking to my agent and saying, 'Hey man, it's January and they haven't called. What do we do?' So, he called, and then Rick texted me saying, 'You really think I was going to forget about you?' They put a lot of faith in me. You feel like you're at home," said Kevin, who made it to the double-A level in the Minnesota Twins organization in 2017.

"To be honest, I don't think I've ever felt more comfortable playing baseball anywhere."

The Garcias were all smiles during practice on Monday, clearly thrilled and appreciative to have their injuries behind them and playing again. When asked what they'd like to accomplish in their return to action this season, Willy and Kevin echoed the same sentiments.

"I'm here to play with a team and bring that championship back to where it belongs," Willy said. "And hopefully, find another job next year and get back to the bigs."

And Kevin?

"Like Willy said, get the championship back where it belongs. And you know, if I come back, I come back. If I get picked up, I get picked up. I'm just going to try to get out there, have fun and play as hard as I can."

Willy and Kevin will get their first game action on Wednesday when the Fish take on the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in an exhibition game at the dowtown ballpark at 6 p.m. The two teams will play a second exhibition game on Thursday at the same time and place.

GOLDEYES WALK AWAY FROM PR NIGHTMARE, EVEN ONE WITH A MID-90s FASTBALL MIKE MCINTYRE – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS – TUESDAY, MAY 7th The Winnipeg Goldeyes found themselves facing a major moral and ethical dilemma during the off-season. One in which the goal of fielding the most competitive team possible was directly at odds with concerns about potential backlash from fans, sponsors and the community at large.

It certainly wasn't an easy decision. But was it the correct one?

Before you weigh in, some background is required as this story is made public for the first time. And for those who may not be baseball fans, this is about so much more than balls and strikes. It's about right and wrong, about crime and punishment, about second chances and lifelong consequences.

Let me tell you about Luke Heimlich, who could have been pitching this week down at Shaw Park as the Goldeyes get ready for the start of the 2019 season.

Now 23, Heimlich was an ace left-handed hurler who was named the 2018 Collegiate Pitcher of the Year while playing for the Oregon State Beavers, including an incredible 27-4 record over his last two seasons with a sparkling 1.89 ERA. He has all the tools to be a successful major-leaguer, including a fastball that can touch the mid-90s on the radar gun.

There was speculation Heimlich would be one of the top overall picks in last year's MLB amateur draft. Only he didn't get taken in Round 1. Or Round 2. Or even the 40th and final round.

What would possibly possess all 30 MLB teams to take a pass on such talent? In a word, fear.

Heimlich isn't just a heck of a baseball player. He's also a convicted sex offender.

Back in 2012 at the age of 16, Heimlich was arrested and charged with molesting his niece one year earlier, when she was just six and he was 15. The little girl told family members and authorities, that Heimlich had fondled her on at least two occasions while they were alone at his home near Seattle, ignoring her cries for him to stop.

The case never went to trial. Heimlich, represented by a public defender, entered a guilty plea later that year to one of two charges as part of a deal. The other was dropped. He was given two years of probation, had to write a letter of apology to the victim, took court-ordered counselling and was required to register as a Level 1 sex offender in the State of Washington for a five-year period. That's the lowest designation, used for people deemed low-risks and unlikely to reoffend.

As a juvenile, all of this was supposed to be sealed. But his background became public in 2017 when the Oregonian newspaper in Portland was tipped off that the star college pitcher in town was cited by local police after failing to notify probation officials he was now living in Oregon.

Since then, his record was expunged five years from the day of his guilty plea, as he had been promised. There are no outstanding charges or allegations, and he fulfilled all requirements of his sentence. But the issue hasn't gone away and, in fact, has only gotten more controversial as it made international headlines.

Heimlich spoke with the New York Times last year, proclaiming his innocence. "Nothing ever happened," he said.

He claimed he pleaded guilty on the advice of his public defender lawyer and parents — both to spare everyone the trauma of a trial, but also given the deal that was in place. He called it a "delicate family situation."

The mother of the child also spoke up, saying she believes Heimlich is guilty. "There is no way he didn't do it," she told the Times. "I don't think he is a terrible person. I think he did a terrible thing," she added.

Last summer, a pro team in Taiwan tried to ink Heimlich to a contract, only to have the Chinese Professional Baseball League quickly intervene and nullify it on the grounds it would hurt their image. Swing and a miss.

And that's where we bring you back to the Goldeyes. Both owner Sam Katz and manager Rick Forney have confirmed the local club was in serious talks with Heimlich and his agent earlier this year, and the pitcher was ready and willing to bring his talents north of the border.

There's little doubt Heimlich would have been a success on the field. He likely would have torn up the American Association competition while helping the Goldeyes — champions in 2016 and 2017 before having a franchise-worst season in 2018 — get back to the promised land.

But Katz, Forney and company ultimately took a pass.

"There's no question Luke would have been a game-changer in our league. He probably would have been one of the premier pitchers in the league," Katz told the Free Press Monday.

"But then, on doing some research and finding out a little more, the decision to me was obvious. We just couldn't sign him based on everything that had been going on. It just didn't feel right. You've got to do what you morally believe is the right thing to do."

I have no doubt this had the potential to backfire on the Goldeyes had they welcomed him to the fold. There may have been petitions, protests and boycotts, not to mention howls on social media. It could have got ugly, especially for a team that counts on widespread community support in order to continue to be successful.

It's worth pointing out there are many players in the American Association who have criminal records as adults, which often makes getting across the border into Winnipeg, the league's only Canadian franchise, difficult. Some have obtained waivers, while others are left behind. But I suspect none of them involve child sexual abuse.

It's also notable that the victim's mother, who is divorced from one of Heimlich's older brothers, has been adamant he shouldn't be allowed to pursue a professional baseball career, telling the Times "any accomplishment he makes will shine a light on (the victim)."

And that's really what this boils down to now. Even if he's guilty of the horrendous crime he admitted to as a teenager, should Heimlich be allowed to pursue his chosen career, with his unique talents? Keep in mind he's vying to be a baseball player, not a daycare attendant or gym teacher. If not baseball, what kind of job would society be comfortable with Heimlich pursuing?

Does the fact there appears to be some grey area here change anything? In my nearly two decades of covering crime and justice for this newspaper, I saw regular examples where people would take deals on the table rather than risk going to trial, even if there was some doubt about their guilt. Throw in the fact he was a youth, with all the family pressures involved here, and it isn't exactly black and white.

It's been said time heals all wounds, but in this case, does it really? Is there an acceptable amount of time that can pass before Heimlich can get back into the game? Or should he be blacklisted forever?

MLB, Japan and Winnipeg may have all balked, but Heimlich has recently found at least a temporary home with a team in Mexico. Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos signed him earlier this spring after the Goldeyes walked away. The president of the Mexican league initially suggested they might void the deal, but ultimately gave the green light as the season began in April.

Heimlich has now made five starts in a league comparable to Triple-A, going 2-2 with a 3.81 ERA, striking out 28 in 28.1 innings and walking just seven. It's enough to make you wonder what he would have done here in Winnipeg, playing in a non-affiliated league that is comparable to a Double-A level. All of which brings me back to my original question: Did the Goldeyes make the right call? Like the Heimlich case itself, the answer may be complicated.

OUTFIELDER BRINGS BIG BAT AND WINNING ATTITUDE TAYLOR ALLEN – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS – MONDAY, MAY 6th James Harris is new to Winnipeg and playing baseball in the cold, but the California native is no stranger to playing with big expectations.

After all, he was chosen in the first round (60th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. And he is coming off of his best season as a pro, being named most valuable player of the Frontier League after a stellar season with the Washington Wild Things.

So yeah, it’s safe to say the Winnipeg Goldeyes are expecting the 25-year-old outfielder to be a big contributor this campaign.

"It’s a new year. What’s done is done," Harris told the Free Press after Sunday afternoon’s training session at Shaw Park. "I can’t try and live on last year’s numbers and last year’s performances. I’m focused on whatever I have to do this year for this team and for this organization to win. It’s a new challenge. The goal is to get better every year."

There are 27 players in Goldeyes camp this week, with Harris being one of 18 new faces. Winnipeg traded infielder Jordan Ebert to Washington for Harris, who’s entering his ninth season of pro ball, in October.

Last year, which was his first full season of independent baseball, Harris hit .305 with 16 home runs and 64 RBI in 94 games. After the season, Harris told Washington he was looking for a new challenge, and once the word got out he was on the market, the Goldeyes were the first team to reach out. "I had a talk with the GM over there and I was looking for a new opportunity," Harris said. "I felt like in that league, I showed well and wanted a change of scenery where it might be a bit better competition-wise. The opportunity presented itself and I think everybody was happy in the end."

Harris was 17 when Tampa Bay drafted him in the first round. He opted to skip school and sign a professional contract. After three years in their organization, where he never made it higher than the single-A level, Harris was let go.

"Going into pro ball, I did (put more) pressure on myself than I think I should have. I think that came with the maturity for myself as a man and also a player to not try and be more than who I am," said Harris, who came out of Oakland Technical High School, the alma matter of Rickey Henderson, MLB’s all-time career stolen base leader.

"As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to realize that, you know, that all it’s really about is being me and allowing the game to come to me." Harris was given a second chance in affiliated ball, as his hometown Oakland Athletics picked him up shortly thereafter.

"I grew up playing Little League right down the street from the stadium," Harris said. "You could literally hear the cheers and the announcing of players and stuff during the game. It was literally that close. It was a dope opportunity for me and my family."

He spent just more than two seasons in Oakland’s farm system, reaching their triple-A level in 2015 to play a couple games. But Harris still found himself predominantly playing at the single-A level. In 2016, his last full season in the system, Harris hit .303 with seven home runs and 53 RBI in 119 games for Oakland’s single-A affiliate — the Stockton Ports. He was released after a slow start to the 2017 campaign where he was hitting .244 after 21 games. Harris didn’t get to fulfil his dream of playing for his childhood favourite team, but he believes he’s learned a lot from the experience and now he’s playing the best baseball of his career.

"I think when I was younger, I just had to mature. I think my last few years with Oakland, I feel like I was starting to grow into my own and it’s all starting to show now," Harris said.

"But I think that was coming along when I was affiliated. I just trust my abilities. I continue to work and get better. Obviously, being in indie ball, the goal is to get back out, so the desire and the grind doesn’t stop once you’re out of it."

What would Harris like to accomplish in his first season with the Goldeyes?

"Obviously the ultimate goal is to be able to perform at a level to be able to earn that opportunity with an affiliated team. But big picture, over a long season, we want to win a championship," Harris said.

"I like to win and I’m sure this organization does, too. I’ve seen that this is a winning pedigree. Winning two championships in the last three years, that’s hard to do. I’m hoping to help bring the organization back to that."

Goldeyes manager Rick Forney has a lot of options for his outfield and that’s how he likes it.

Two of the biggest off-season acquisitions were James Harris, last season’s Frontier League most valuable player, and Willy Garcia, who last played in 2017 when he made 44 appearances for the Chicago White Sox.

Harris and Garcia join 2017 American Association player of the year Josh Romanski and Reggie Abercrombie, the league’s all-time leader in home runs, base hits and RBI.

So which three are going to get the start on opening day? Will Harris, who played centre field last year for the Washington Wild Things, take over for the 38-year-old Abercrombie?

“I don’t think there’s going to be a main starting three outfielders,” Forney said after Sunday’s training session. “I think there’s going to be all four of them who play, or whoever is on my roster, who plays outfield.”

The Goldeyes also have the option to use Correlle Prime, who played outfield and first base for the Texas AirHogs last year. The 6-5 Florida native hit .279 with seven home runs and 42 RBI. Newcomers Dominic Ficociello and Kevin LaChance also have outfield experience.

“You got to have some versatility,” Forney said. “You see what happens when you get a couple people hurt or a couple people defect to a different league where they can make a little more money. You better have some people that can move around in a pinch.”

The Goldeyes will play exhibition games against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks on Wednesday and Thursday at Shaw Park at 6 p.m.

BIG FISH IN FRIENDLY POND MIKE MCINTYRE – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS – MAY 4th, 2019 Forget balls and strikes, pitching rotations and batting orders, or even wins and losses. Sure, they're important matters and constant concerns for the manager of any baseball team, but they won't be the biggest challenges Rick Forney faces this season. They never are.

The 47-year-old skipper of the Winnipeg Goldeyes said his usual painful goodbyes to wife, Erika, along with their four children: David, 22, Chris, 18, Rebekah, 15 and Erik, 13, before leaving his home in Walkersville, Md., with a one-way plane ticket in hand, knowing it could be close to five months before he sees them again.

"That's the hardest part, without a doubt," Forney told me on Friday as we sat down in his office for a nearly two-hour, wide-ranging chat about his club, the league and life, in general.

And yet, he keeps coming back for more, set to begin his 14th season as manager and 23rd season overall in Winnipeg. Nearly half his life.

"I love what I do. I love where I'm doing it. And who I do it for," said Forney. "The only drawback is the distance and time away from home, but there's not a lot of these jobs that are out there, available. For me, you've got a lot invested here. You've built a lot here. It's become a bit part of your life. You just don't walk away from something like that until you feel your job's complete."

The chaotic scene playing out inside the clubhouse Friday was as predictable and familiar as the cool, damp weather outside this time of year: there was a hub of activity as 27 players began filing in ahead of Saturday's start of spring training, poking their heads into Forney's den for a quick handshake and hello with the boss.

A few, such as returning vets Josh Romanski and Wes Darvill, were familiar faces, parking themselves on Forney's couch for an extended catch-up session. The majority were new recruits signed by Forney during a busy off-season, creating a first-day-of-school kind of feel.

"Every year is a new story," said Forney.

And far from glamorous.

Forney is living out of a hotel more than 2,400 kilometres from home, at the helm of a baseball team with no major-league affiliations, one where the salary cap for the entire 21, 22 or 23-man roster is set at a measly $125,000. His team will play 100 games in about a 110-day span, with few actual days off and dozens and dozens of hours spent going up and down the highways on a bus, travelling to and from the 11 other cities in the American Association.

Forney will also spend countless hours trying to put a roster together, due largely to the transient nature of the league, where the majority of players are hoping to spend as little time as possible. What might look like a good roster on paper today could be in shambles by next week as players defect to other leagues, sign contracts with MLB teams or simply decide it's not worth it and give up their big-league dreams. Not to mention all the competition with rival teams — and rival leagues — for available talent.

Then there's the various lineup restrictions in play, including a cap on veteran players and a minimum number of rookies. Combine that with trying to keep everyone happy and motivated under the minimal salary cap and it's a delicate balancing act.

Add it all up and you can see how a team like the Goldeyes can go from back-to-back championships in 2016 and 2017 to a franchise-worse record in 2018 (41-59), far out of the playoff picture.

"You get humbled really quick. It just lets you know, regardless of what club you are, you can be the great Winnipeg Goldeyes or St. Paul Saints, nobody's immune from having seasons like that. When you get hit with injuries and defections and if you can't get it replaced, that's what you look at," said Forney.

"There's no exact science to this. We all kind of identify players the same way, but at the end of the day, you're just kind of rolling the dice and hoping it all works out."

Forney has come up with plenty of snake eyes along the way. In his 13 seasons as manager, there have been nine playoff appearance and three championships, along with a career record of 698-583.

Not too shabby for a guy who arrived in Winnipeg in 1997 near the end of his playing career, knowing nothing about the city except they'd recently lost their NHL team.

"I played Winnipeg on Sega hockey," he said with a chuckle.

The 1991 draft pick of his hometown Baltimore Orioles never did make the majors, getting as high as Triple A in 1995 before eventually being cut loose and ending up on the independent circuit, which is what landed him in Winnipeg after being recruited by then-manager Hal Lanier. Once his playing career was over, Forney took over as pitching coach before becoming manager in 2006 when Lanier moved on.

Despite last year's struggles, Forney isn't putting any more pressure on himself to succeed this year. Although he admits it got the fire burning a little hotter over the winter, in which he juggled player recruitment with giving pitching lessons to youth players at a local baseball training complex in Maryland.

"If I'm winning all the time I still want to win. And if I'm losing I want to find every way I can to rectify the problem," he said. "Pressure is when you go to school, and you have a big exam, and you didn't prepare for it. I'm pretty prepared. I couldn't say the same thing when I took the job years ago, because you don't really know. It's hard to know the answers if you don't know all the questions."

The teacher was planning to deliver a familiar message to his students Saturday morning when he meets with the entire team before hitting the field for workouts.

"This isn't developmental baseball. We're here to win and we care about winning every night. And the expectation is high," said Forney.

Surprisingly, he said he's never had MLB aspirations as a manager, even if opportunities have presented themselves to join organizations in various roles. One example is Fargo manager Michael Schlact, a much less-accomplished manager who joined the Milwaukee Brewers this winter and is now a pitching coach at Triple A.

"Too many months away from home. It's a different job. When you're there you're part of the development program. You have zero control. You have to get approval from five, six different people above you before you can do anything," said Forney.

That's not the case here in Winnipeg, where it's Forney's show. And he has no plans to bring the curtain down anytime soon.

"I'm still pretty young. I'm only 47. No matter what you're doing as your job, if you're not enjoying it you're not going to continue doing it," he said. It helps that he's developed a real soft spot for his home away from home, creating a sense of family within the organization and community that helps offset the sting of what he's missing.

"People are very welcoming here. Very friendly. I've enjoyed every bit of it. I love it here," he said.