Category: T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones have traded right-handed pitcher Matt Sergey to the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League for outfielder David Harris and traded Harris to New Jersey for first baseman-designated hitter Art Charles and left-handed pitcher Jose Jose, adding a pair of solid veterans to the T-Bones roster.

Art Charles is an eight-year minor league veteran who spent the 2017 season with three different clubs. He began the season at AA Biloxi in the Southern League for the Milwaukee Brewers organization, hitting .176 in 43 games before his release.

Charles then signed with the Vaqueros Laguna of the AAA Mexican League, blasting 10 home runs in with 21 RBI in 26 games and wound up closing the year with New Jersey in the Can-Am League, hitting .295 with four homers and 20 RBI in 12 games.

Charles was named the Independent Player of the year in 2016 by Baseball America after he hit .352 in 96 games with 29 home runs and 101 RBI for the New Jersey Jackals.

The Jackals were led by current T-Bones manager Joe Calfapietra during the triple-crown-producing season for Charles. He won the league batting title by 11 points and was 22 RBI ahead of the next closest pursuer in the league in 2016.

Charles was signed with the Cincinnati Reds organization following his monster season with New Jersey but was acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Triple-A Rule 5 draft before the 2017 season.

Charles was drafted three times, originally signed by the Baltimore Orioles in the 33rd round in 2008, again by the Kansas City Royals in the 39th round in 2009, and by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 20th round in 2010. He signed with and reported to the Gulf Coast Rookie League in 2010. Charles is a career .253 hitter with 115 home runs with 448 RBI, reaching as high as AAA in 2017 in Mexico.

Left-hander Jose Jose was a free agent signing of the Arizona Diamondbacks where he spent parts of five seasons, reaching high A. He also spent another two seasons with the Miami Marlins, reaching AAA before spending the last two seasons with New Jersey in the Can-Am League.

In 2017 Jose made 21 relief appearances with a 2.30 ERA in 27.1 innings. He struck out 31 batters with New Jersey and went 0-4 overall. In 2016 he saved five games in 29.2 innings with a 2.43 ERA going 2-2.

Jose has career 13-23 record with a 3.03 ERA in 291.1 innings in the minor leagues. He has struck out 346 batters over his eight seasons with 16 saves. He also was managed by Joe Calfapietra in New Jersey in 2016.

Matt Sergey was signed by Kansas City on June 20, 2017, after his release from the Oakland Athletics organization. The right-hander went 5-4 with a 3.30 ERA in 76.1 innings with 80 strike outs.

Sergey tossed the first no-hitter in T-Bones history on July 27,, a 2-1 walkoff win over Texas. He walked two and struck out 10 in the win. The game would earn Sergey the pitcher of the week honors in the American Association.

Sergey also made history for Kansas City on July 15th when he entered in relief for the T-Bones at Shaw Park in Winnipeg. Sergey, who pitched two days earlier in Fargo as a starter as a right-hander, worked in relief as a left-handed pitcher. A wild pitch on an intentional walk scored the winning run for the Goldeyes and ended the longest regular season game in American Association history with a score of 12-11 in 14 innings, lasting five hours and 25 minutes.

David Harris spent 2017 with Schaumburg in the Frontier League, hitting .344 in 76 games with 13 home runs and 65 RBI for the Boomers. He is a former Toronto Blue Jays farm hand, spending four seasons in the organization and hitting .254 in 221 games.

Full and half-season ticket packages for 2018, flex plans and group ticket sales are now on sale online or by calling 913-328-5618 or visiting in person the T-Bones Stadium Box Office.

– Information from T-Bones

Tickets for T-Bones group sales will go on sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Group sales start at 15 tickets, and include but are not limited to the various ticket-only packages, pre-game parties, nightly suite rentals, party decks, birthday parties and other premium seating options.

“These ticket offerings include some of the most unique packages to handle companies, reunions, churches and fan gatherings of any kind and size,” T-Bones vice president and general manager Chris Browne said in a news release. “Special pricing, fun experience-type opportunities and exclusive options. We also can accommodate large corporate ballpark buyouts where you can basically takeover the stadium for a night and make it uniquely your own company appreciation night.”

The 2018 schedule includes the promotional highlights including opening night on May 22, when the T-Bones are hosts to Gary SouthShore.

Returning for this season are nine post-game fireworks shows including July 3 and 4 and Kids Eat Free Mondays.

Throwdown Thursdays are back with $1.50 beers and $1.50 hot dogs – new for 2018.

Also returning this season are Post-Game Kids Run the Bases every Sunday. A full promotional schedule will be announced in 2018.

In addition, groups of 15 or more can enjoy special select level seating for only $5 per person with the T-Bones Select Saver Days, available on the following days: Thursday, May 24; Wednesday, Aug. 8; Wednesday, Aug. 15; and Sunday, Aug. 19.

A copy of the 2018 schedule and group ticket information can be found at www.tbonesbaseball.com or call the group tickets office at 913-328-5623.

Catcher Tucker Pennell and right-handed pitcher Jackson Lowery have been signed by the T-Bones for the 2018 season, according to an announcement.

Both players came to the team late in 2017 and were part of the late season roster push that helped lead the club to its second-best record in franchise history.

Lowery was added to the roster Aug. 4 while the team was on its longest road trip of the season. He retired all four of his batters in his debut at Lincoln that night and went on to have a 2-1 record with a 3.12 ERA in 17.1 relief innings. He made one start for the club, while adding 25 strike outs.

Lowery is from Little Rock, Arkansas, and pitched in college at the University of Arkansas in the SEC.

Lowery signed a free-agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays after his senior season with the Razorbacks. In 2015, he made three stops in the Blue Jays system and spent last winter with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League. For his career, the former Razorback is 6-4 with a 4.54 ERA in 85.1 innings. I imagine that sales of toronto blue jays tickets will be up this season, thanks to this new recruit!

Tucker Pennell was signed just prior to game time on Aug. 25 on the road in Gary, Indiana, and had a key double to spark the offensive attack in his first at bat in an 8-0 win over the RailCats.

He finished the season on a hot streak, including a game-tying home run against St. Paul on Sept. 4 in Kansas City, Kansas. He finished 5-for-13 in the last four game series with the Saints with three RBIs and a double. In 10 games, Pennell went 11-for-28 with three RBIs and a .393 average.

Pennell spent 18 games over two seasons with the San Diego Padres organization after signing as a non-drafted free agent in 2016. A native of Georgetown, Texas, he was a teammate of Jackson Lowery at the University of Arkansas.

Full and half-season ticket packages for 2018, as well as flex plans, are on sale online at www.tbonesbaseball.com or by calling 913-328-5618 or visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office. Group ticket sales for renewing accounts are also on sale, while group ticket sales will open to the public on Dec. 12.
– Story from T-Bones