Category: T-Bones

The T-Bones, who play at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan., have announced the re-signing of pitchers Kyle DeVore, Jared Messer and Joe Van Meter, and the signing of infielder Jake Blackwood to contracts for the 2015 season.

DeVore, a 6-foot-3 and 220-pound right-hander from Sacramento, Calif., went 5-6 with a 3.90 ERA, 43 strikeouts and 20 walks in 92 1/3 innings for Kansas City in 2014.

The Texas Rangers selected DeVore in the 27th round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Sacramento City College.

Messer is a 6-foot and 180-pound right-hander from Massillon, Ohio. As a rookie in 2014 for the T-Bones, Messer went 5-3 with a 4.87 ERA with 55 strikeouts and 15 walks in 68 1/3 innings.

After the Washington Nationals picked Messer in the 38th round of the 2012 June Amateur Draft, he didn’t sign, opting to finish his collegiate career at Malone University in Canton, Ohio.

Van Meter spent most of the 2014 season with Frederick, the high-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. He joined the T-Bones during the last month of the season. Van Meter, who’s a 6-foot-2 and 195-pound right-hander, went 2-1 with a 6.03 ERA in seven appearances (six starts) for Kansas City.

Texas selected Van Meter in the 21st round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Virginia Commonwealth. He spent three-plus seasons in the Rangers organization, reaching double-A in 2012 and 2013.

He’s pitched in double-A for Tampa Bay, also, in 2013. In five professional seasons, Van Meter is 17-27 with a 4.15 ERA, 304 strikeouts and 127 walks.

Additionally, the T-Bones signed Blackwood, a 29-year-old Platte County High School graduate whose rights the T-Bones acquired in November in a trade with Winnipeg.

Blackwood batted .321 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs for the Goldeyes in 2014. He was one of the top players for the T-Bones during 2009-10, when the club still played in the Northern League.

During those two seasons, Blackwood batted .315 with 210 hits, 124 RBIs and 114 runs scored in 162 games. He was the Northern League MVP in 2010 after leading the league in home runs (31) and RBIs (86), and finishing third with a .331 batting average.

The then-Florida Marlins selected Blackwood in the 16th round of the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Maple Woods Community College. He is a career .268 hitter with 92 homers, 488 RBIs and 424 runs in 899 games.

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

– Story from T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones will hold an open tryout for the 2015 season at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 25, at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, Kansas City, Kan.

“There are talented and unsigned players throughout the Midwest, and this gives guys a chance to showcase their skills while possibly improving our club,” said T-Bones vice-president and general manager Chris Browne. “We’ve found some of our past players through the open tryout, so it’s always an exciting time for me.”

Members of the T-Bones coaching staff, former professional players, and college coaches will conduct this tryout. Pre-registration is $85 per player and is due before March 25. On-site registration, which begins at 9 a.m. on the morning of the tryout, is $100 per player.

The coaching staff will evaluate players for a possible roster spot with the T-Bones, or to recommend them for other professional teams. Former T-Bones who joined the club after an open tryout include Beau Stoker, Kyle Dahman and Drew Graham.

To register for the Kansas City T-Bones open tryout, or for additional information, contact Crystal McQuain Collins at 913-328-5618 or [email protected].
– Story from T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones announced they have acquired infielder Ryan Cavan from Wichita in exchange for utility player T.J. Mittelstaedt.

Cavan, 27, is a 5-foot-11 and 180-pound switch-hitting infielder from Belmont, Calif. He played in 92 games last season for Southern Illinois of the Frontier League, and batted .309 with 103 hits, 16 doubles, 44 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. The San Francisco Giants selected Cavan in the 16th round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft out of UC-Santa Barbara. He played five seasons in the Giants system, reaching double-A in 2012.

That season, while at double-A Richmond, Cavan was the 2012 Minor League Baseball Gold Glove Award recipient at second base. Cavan was selected as the best defensive second baseman among all affiliated minor-league teams that year after posting a .994 fielding percentage with only four errors in 684 chances. Although most of his time defensively has been at second, Cavan has played shortstop and third base during his career.

Wichita acquired Cavan, who is a career .277 hitter with 648 hits, 335 RBIs and 373 runs in six professional seasons, in a trade earlier this offseason.

“Ryan Cavan has an impressive resume, and all of my reports on him say that he plays the game hard and he plays the game right,” said T-Bones manager John Massarelli. “As far as T.J., he wanted to be closer to his family in Wichita, and we wish him the best.”

Mittelstaedt reached base in all 51 home games for Kansas City last season, and finished the season with a .268 batting average, 16 home runs and 52 RBIs.

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

– Story from T-Bones