Skeeters Announce First Player Signings of 2013

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The Sugar Land Skeeters announced that the club has signed four players to the 2013 roster: right-handed pitchers Julian Tavarez and Greg Aquino, and infielders Josh Pressley and Ofilio Castro.

Tavarez spent 17 seasons in the Major Leagues with Cleveland (1993-96), San Francisco (1997-99), Colorado (2000), Chicago-NL (2001), Florida (2002), Pittsburgh (2003), St. Louis (2004-05), Boston (2006-08), Milwaukee (2008), Atlanta (2008) and Washington (2009). He owns an 88-82 career record and 23 saves over 828 Major League games, maintaining a 4.46 ERA (696ER/1404.1IP).

Aquino pitched in parts of six Major League seasons with Arizona (2004-06), Milwaukee (2007), Baltimore (2008) and Cleveland (2009). Originally signed by the Diamondbacks as a minor league free agent in 2004, the Dominican native owns a career 3-6 record with a 5.31 ERA (91ER/154.1IP) and 17 saves in 145 Major League games.

Pressley hit .275 (119×433) with 16 home runs and 74 RBI in 120 games with Sugar Land in 2012. Originally the first-ever player signed with the Skeeters, Pressley previously spent five seasons (2007-11) with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League. In 15 career minor league seasons, the infielder owns a .289 (1521×5263) average with 163 homers and 871 RBI in 1,492 games.

Castro played 124 games as the Skeeters’ primary third baseman last season. He led the club’s offense with a .306 (143×468) average, four home runs and 56 RBI in 2012 and was named a mid-season Atlantic League All-Star. Over nine minor league seasons, Castro owns a .265 (826×3114) average with 342 RBI in 889 career games.

“This group of players brings a wealth of experience to the club,” said Kirk. “We are looking to build a strong core of players that not only have experience in the Atlantic League but at the highest levels of baseball.”