Category: T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones announced they have signed outfielder C.J. Henry a former guard for the University of Kansas basketball team, to a contract for the 2015 season.

Henry, 28 (05-11-86), a native of Oklahoma City, Okla., is 6-foot-3 and 225-pound outfielder who spent 2013 with Evansville of the Frontier League.

He hit .332 with 71 hits, 29 RBIs and 38 runs in 57 games. He missed the 2014 season because of an injury, but played this offseason in the California Winter League, which finished its season last Sunday.

“We expect C.J. to come in and compete for a regular-season roster spot,” said T-Bones manager John Massarelli. “He is a hitter who can get on base, as he proved in Evansville. Defensively, he’s an athletic outfielder who has versatility to play in the infield, also.”

The New York Yankees selected Henry in the first round of the 2005 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Putnam City High School. He spent four seasons in the New York and Philadelphia minor-league systems, reaching high-A with the Yankees in 2008.

Henry is best known in the Kansas City area as a former guard for the University of Kansas basketball team, and older brother of Xavier Henry.

After starting his collegiate basketball career at the University of Memphis, C.J. Henry transferred to Kansas for the 2009 season, where he averaged 3.1 points per game in a limited role. He then finished his basketball career at Southern Nazarene, an NAIA school in Oklahoma, in 2011.

The T-Bones open the 2015 regular season at home on May 22 against Lincoln.

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones senior director of broadcasting and media relations

The Kansas City T-Bones announced they have acquired outfielder Kyle Robinson from Windy City of the Frontier League in exchange for a player to be determined.

Robinson, 26, who’s 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, batted .366 with 30 doubles, 13 home runs and 70 RBIs in 83 games for Windy City in 2014.

The Chicago White Sox selected Robinson in the 28th round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft out of the University of Arkansas. He spent three seasons in the White Sox organization, reaching single-A Kannapolis in 2012 and ’13.

In four professional seasons, Robinson is a career .300 hitter with 76 doubles, 23 homers and 167 RBIs.

“Kyle is a strong, athletic outfielder who can also play first base,” said T-Bones manager John Massarelli. “Offensively, he is a run producer who can drive the ball to all fields.”

In a separate move, the T-Bones traded infielder Matt Padgett to Amarillo for future considerations.

Amarillo then traded Padgett, who’s playing again in Mexico, to New Jersey of the Can-Am League where he will become a player-coach.

Padgett played in 82 games for Kansas City in 2013 and then, after spending much of the 2014 season in the Mexican League, played in 35 games for the T-Bones last year.

In 117 games with Kansas City, the 37-year-old Padgett was a .334 hitter with 25 home runs and 93 RBIs.

The T-Bones open the 2015 regular season at home in Kansas City, Kan., on May 22 against Lincoln.

– Story from T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones announced that the Kansas City Royals have purchased the contract of pitcher Derek Gordon.

Gordon, a 6-foot-6 and 220-pound right-handed pitcher, went 1-1 with a 6.49 ERA in 14 appearances last season after signing with the T-Bones on July 1.

Gordon, who threw 26 1/3 innings, was used as both a starter and reliever for Kansas City. In his first professional start, the second game of a doubleheader against Sioux Falls at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on July 5, Gordon threw a complete-game, four-hit shutout in the seven-inning contest.

“Derek has the intangibles and work ethic to succeed at the next level,” said T-Bones manager John Massarelli. “I’m very excited for his opportunity with the Royals.”

Gordon, who is a younger brother of Royals outfielder Alex Gordon, was a four-year starter at Park University, where he set the school record last year for career wins (24) and strikeouts (172).

Gordon is 24th T-Bones player whose contract has been sold to a Major League organization. The previous one was earlier this month, on Feb. 2, when the Los Angeles Dodgers purchased Chris Bianchi’s contract.

Gordon is the second T-Bones player whose contract has been purchased by the Royals. The other was Brad Correll in 2008.

“We’re really happy for Derek to get this great opportunity,” said T-Bones vice president and general manager Chris Browne. “I’d love to see Derek and Alex in uniform at the same time with the Royals. We’ll definitely be rooting for Derek this summer.”

Story from T-Bones