The Kansas City T-Bones have traded left-handed pitcher Francisco Gracesqui to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks for a player to be named later and that right-handed pitcher Wirkin Estevez has signed with AAA Puebla in the Mexican League.
Francisco Gracesqui appeared in 24 games for Kansas City and posted a 1-2 record in 31.1 innings with a 5.74 ERA. The left-hander out of the Bronx, New York, struck out 36, walked 28, and picked up two saves for the T-Bones this season.
Prior to this season, Gracesqui last pitched in 2015 with the New Jersey Jackals of the CAN-AM League for current T-Bones manager Joe Calfapietra.
With the Jackals, the New York City native appeared in 24 games, working 38.1 innings of relief with a 2.58 ERA with 46 strike outs. The left-hander was part of a league-leading pitching staff that earned the lowest team ERA in the CAN-AM League and a part of a playoff club as well that season. Gracesqui began his professional career with the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 2012.
Wirkin Estevez made one start for KC last Thursday, Aug. 9, at Sioux City. He worked six innings, allowing nine hits with a walk and one strike out, getting a no-decision in a 7-5 loss for Kansas City.
Before coming to the T-Bones, Estevez, a native of the Dominican Republic, spent 2018 with the Harrisburg Senators, going 1-4 in 11 games with a 4.33 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 52 innings.
The 26-year-old Estevez was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He signed with the Washington Nationals on June 2, 2010.
In 2010, at 18 years old, he began his professional career with the Dominican Summer League Nationals, going 6-7 in 14 starts, with a 2.61 ERA. In parts of eight seasons with the Nationals organization, Estevez would go 28-26 in 108 games with 481 career innings and a 4.15 ERA.
The T-Bones return to action Tuesday night, Aug. 14, opening a three-game series with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at 7:05 p.m. at T-Bones Stadium. The club is in the thick of the playoff race with a one game lead in the South Division Wild Card race of the American Association.
Season, group tickets, mini-plans and nightly party suites are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting the box office at T-Bones Stadium. Call the box office at 913-328-5618 or purchase and print at www.tbonesbaseball.com. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
– Story from T-Bones