WhiteWings overhaul roster

Props to Harlingen Manager Caleb Balbuena.

Burdened with the worst team in United League Baseball, Balbuena is starting from scratch. He signed five players and released five players today in an effort to change the morale and attitude of the team.

Here's the full story from the WhiteWings' website:

Harlingen, TX – The Harlingen WhiteWings made major changes to the player roster today, signing right-handed pitchers Justin Staatz and Clint Smith, left-handed pitcher Bryan Herrera, and third baseman Trey Hendricks. The WhiteWings also re-signed catcher Carl Johnson.

“The season hasn’t been going the way we hoped so far, regarding the wins columns, so we’re making moves. We’re just trying to get better. With the guys that we’re bringing in, I think we’re going to be a lot better and get the job done,” Manager Caleb Balbuena said.

“It’s just an example of Caleb being aggressive, trying to make this team better and upgrading in all facets. Some of the moves he’s had to make were to clear cap space so we could go out and improve our pitching staff. To be successful requires making difficult decisions. It’s easy to be mediocre. It’s a challenge to be successful. I think everything that’s transpired today will make us a much better ball club,” General Manager Dave Kost said.

Staatz and Smith join the WhiteWings add depth to what had been a short bullpen over the last few days. Herrera will join the rotation and start in Alexandria on Friday.

Staatz opened the season in Laredo, posting a 7.24 ERA in nine relief appearances. In 13.2 innings, he allowed 12 hits and 17 walks while striking out 19. The graduate of Mount Olive College started his career in Rookie Ball with the Gulf Coast Twins and before moving onto Elizabethtown (Appalachian League) in 2006. He posted the best strikeout to walk ratio of his career at 37:13 in 33.1 innings. Despite showing such promise, Staatz ended up in Independent ball with Washington and Gateway of the Frontier League in 2007. After struggling with Washington, Staatz posted a 2.73 ERA in 23 games with Gateway, striking out 29 in 26.1 innings. Staatz is a 24-year old native of Woodstock, Maryland.

Smith is with his third team of his rookie campaign. Smith opened the season with Wichita (America Association), where he allowed one run in five innings over the course of five relief appearances before moving onto Edinburg (ULB), where he posted an 0-1 record with a 4.50 ERA. In ten games (one start), he threw 16 innings while allowing 17 hits and 11 walks to go with seven strikeouts. The 25-year old is a native of Johnson City, Texas, and graduated from Austin-Concordia.

Herrera opened the season with El Paso (American Association), but got to pitch in just one game, recording one out while allowing two runs on two hits and one walk. The 25-year old Austin, Texas, native attended the University of Texas, where he pitched in three games in 2005. In three and one-third innings, he did not allow a run, while giving up two hits and walking one.

Hendricks, whose full name is first name is Arthur, though he goes by Trey, becomes the second Harvard University graduate to join the team during the last week (though he graduated in 2004, months before Matt Kramer arrived). A native of Houston, Texas, who currently resides in Spring, Texas, Hendricks was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 24^th round of the 2004 draft. The now 25-year old started his career with Yakima (Northwest League, Class A, Short Season), where hit .226 in 65 games as a rookie. In 2005, the switch-hitter returned to Yakima, hitting .296 with eight home runs and 34 RBI in 76 games. He earned a promotion to South Bend (Midwest League, Class A, Full Season), where he hit .230 with six home runs and eight RBI in 103 games. Last year, Hendricks played with River City (Frontier), where he hit .258 in 96 games with ten home runs, ten doubles and 34 RBI.

Johnson rejoins the club after bring released six days ago. He’s 7-42 (.167) with one double, three RBI and five runs scored. He had the game winning hit in the 14^th inning of a 13-12 win in Edinburg on May 28^th.

To make room on the roster, the WhiteWings released right-handed pitcher Chris Street, left-handed pitcher Brandon Kling, infielder Terry Roblez, and outfielders Bub Bergstrom and Argelis Nunez.