The Kansas City T-Bones have signed rookie pitcher Steven Stewart to a contract for the 2010 season.

Stewart, 23, spent two seasons in the Washington Nationals organization. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2008.

During his career with the organization, he posted a 3.64 ERA, holding opponents to a .249 average.

“Steven is a right-hander that puts good sink on the baseball,” said Tim Doherty, manager of the T-Bones.  “He will add depth to the backend of our bullpen.”

The Wyandotte County Parks Foundation and the Kansas City T-Bones have teamed up in an effort to build more accessible playgrounds for those with disabilities across Wyandotte County.

Eight proposed sites would receive the new playgrounds, which will be funded by pledges and donations including a $200,000 contribution from the T-Bones baseball team.

“For children with disabilities, an equally important consideration is that accessible equipment be integrated with non-accessible equipment,” said Gary Salva, the director of parks and recreation. “Not every piece of play equipment needs to be accessible, but when non-accessible swings are located alongside accessible ones, it promotes social interaction between children with and without disabilities.”

Playgrounds at City Park, Quindaro Park, Emerson Park, Shawnee West, Wyandotte County Lake (by shelters 3,5 and 7), Pierson Park, Eisenhower Park and Riverview Park.

The planning for the project began last year when the foundation's Board of Directors approved a project to make playgrounds within the county's park system more assessable for everyone in the community.

“Because Kansas City sports fans have so heartily embraced the T-Bones’ brand of affordable, family entertainment, we are thrilled to reinvest in Wyandotte County’s recreational infrastructure and its future,” T-Bones Co-Owner Adam Ehlert said.

The T-Bones have generated over $500,000 for the recreation department based on a partnership where the team contributes a portion of all ticket sales to the county.

The Kansas City T-Bones and manager Tim Doherty have signed pitcher Erik Hamren to a contract for the 2010 season.

Hamren, 23, began his professional career in the Chicago Cubs organization after being selected in the 37th round of the 2008 amateur draft. 

An outfielder in high school, Hamren began the conversion to pitcher with the University of the Pacific in 2007.  He continued the transition in the Cubs system, appearing in 51 games while throwing 74 and two-thirds innings over the past two seasons.

“Eric is a converted outfielder that is still learning how to pitch,” said Doherty.  “He is a young rookie with a big arm and has spent the offseason working on his mechanics, and should be a good option for us this season.”

Hamren spent the entire 2009 season with Class A Peoria of the Midwest League.

The T-Bones begin their 2010 campaign against the RailCats in Gary, IN on May 20 and will host the RedHawks in their home opener on May 28.  Season ticket packages and mini plans are available now by calling 913-328-5618. 

For information on group outings, call 913-328-5623.  Single game tickets for the exhibition and regular season will go on sale later this month.  Visit www.tbonesbaseball.com to stay up-to-date throughout the year.

Courtesy of the Kansas City T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones and manager Tim Doherty have signed outfielder Brian Joynt to a contract for the 2010 season.

Joynt, 24, joins the T-Bones after three seasons in the San Diego Padres organization.  He was originally selected by the Padres in the 50th round of the 2004 amateur draft, but did not sign.

The Padres selected him again in the 29th round of the 2007 draft and placed him with their rookie-level affiliate in the Arizona League.  Joynt advanced as high as Double-A San Antonio while with the Padres, spending 65 games with the Missions last season.

“Brian is a versatile outfielder that could see some time at third base,” said Doherty.  “He has shown some power and could hit anywhere from third to sixth in our lineup.  He’s a hard-nosed player that will run through a wall for you.”

Joynt’s best season came in the California League with the Padres high-A affiliate Lake Elsinore in 2008.  In 76 games, Joynt hit .304/.382/.548 with 13 home runs and 67 RBI.

The T-Bones begin their 2010 campaign against the RailCats in Gary, IN on May 20 and will host the RedHawks in their home opener on May 28. 

Season ticket packages and mini plans are available now by calling 913-328-5618.  For information on group outings, call 913-328-5623. 

Single game tickets for the exhibition and regular season will go on sale later this month.  Visit www.tbonesbaseball.com to stay up-to-date throughout the year.

The Famous Chicken mascot will return to a Kansas City T-Bones game this August.

The famous mascot, which was named as one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Sports for the 20th Century (yes, a true story), the chicken last attended and performed for audience members at a 2007 T-Bones game.

He will be at the Aug. 3 game against the Juliet JackHammers.

Among the most notable appearances for the Famous Chicken came at the White House, as he was invited by President George W. Bush to perform at the White House T-Ball Game in 2001.

For more information on that game and other games next season, contact (913) 328-5618.

Caleb Balbuena – a former pitcher for the Kansas City T-Bones – has been named the team's new pitching coach.

Balbuena pitched portions of three seasons for the T-Bones during his career. He earned a 4-5 record with one save during his career. His career ERA with the T-Bones was 5.31.

Overall in his playing career, which spanned a number of independent leagues, Balbuena finished with an 18-22 mark with a career 4.57 ERA.

“Caleb and I have worked together before and he’s got experience as a coach,” said Tim Doherty, manager of the T-Bones.  “He’s familiar with the organization and community and will be a solid addition to the staff.”

The T-Bones begin their season on May 20. Season ticket packages are available by calling (913) 328-5618.

The Kansas City T-Bones have signed three players for the 2010 season this week.

The T-Bones signed former St. Louis Cardinal Rico Washington, former Washington National prospect Kevin Light and former Pittsburgh Pirates draft pick Keanon Simon.

Washington, who was drafted by the Pirates in the 1997 MLB Draft, most recently played for the Cardinals and made his major league debut in 2008.

He'll play a number of positions for the T-Bones.

“It’s good to have a veteran leader like Rico join the team,” said Tim Doherty, manager of the T-Bones.  “He brings experience and the talent to play either third or first and will be a good left-handed addition to the middle of the lineup.”

Washington has a career batting average of .278.

Light, who is just 22, had a 5-2 record and 3.76 ERA during two seasons in the Nationals organization. A lefty, he exhibits good control and can strike out batters, fanning 98 in 103 innings.

“He is a solid left-handed pitcher,”  Doherty said.  “He will enter camp with the chance to win a job as a starter, but could contribute as a long-reliever and lefty-specialist as well.”

Simon, 25, most recently played for Amarillo in the Independent United League.

Simon hit .352 for Dillas in 71 games last year. He also stole 32 bases in 34 attempts.

“Simon is a leadoff guy that brings good speed and defense to the team,” Doherty said.  “He has big shoes to fill in (Aharon) Eggleston but he is a hard-nosed, quality player that should do well in Kansas City.”

The T-Bones acquired Simon via trade for a player to be named later.

The Kansas City T-Bones will hold open tryouts for the 2010 season in May.

Tryouts will be held at 3 p.m. on May 2.

“Our annual tryouts are a great opportunity for players to showcase themselves and make an impression on our coaching staff,” said general manager Chris Browne.  “Specifically, it’s a great chance for players from the metro area to get noticed.”

In the past, those who have tried out made the roster, including Eric Vega and Brandon Jones.

Registration begins at 2 p.m. on May 2. The cost to register for the tryouts is $60 if paid prior to the tryouts. On-site registration will cost $70.

For more information, contact T-Bones Director of Baseball Operations Tim Doherty at tdoherty@tbonesbaseball.com. An application form can be downloaded at www.tbonesbaseball.com.

For the fourth straight season, the Kansas City T-Bones and Kansas City Kansas Community College Blue Devils will compete on the diamond in an exhibition series.

The T-Bones and Blue Devils will play on May 11 and May 12, with 7:05 starting times at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

“We are excited to continue this tradition with the Blue Devils,” said T-Bones general manager Chris Browne.  “Coach (Steve) Burleson and his staff do a great job with their program and these games give KCKCC fans a chance to see their team compete against a professional club.  This is also a good opportunity for T-Bones fans to get an early look at the 2010 squad.”

Parking is free for the game, with $1 hot dogs available.

F.L. Schlagle alum Damian Rolls will serve as the Kansas City T-Bones' hitting coach during the 2010 season.

He joins the staff of new T-Bones manager Tim Doherty, who was hired as the new manager last fall.

Rolls, a 2009 Northern League All-Star, hit .294 last year with 14 home runs last year for his home town team. He drove in 46 RBI last year in 90 games.

“Damian is a local guy that brings a great work ethic to the team,” Doherty said.  “He is a fan favorite with professional experience and hopefully this will help him begin his coaching career.”

Rolls was drafted in 1996 by the Los Angeles Dodgers and signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In Tampa Bay, he hit .248 and had a two-home run game against Roger Clemens in 2003.

 

The Kansas City T-Bones and Ryan Fox have agreed to a contract for the 2010 season.

Fox led the team in homers last year with 25, which was also good enough for the second most in the entire Northern League.

He drove in 65 RBI and hit .242. He also finished second in the league in extra-base hits with 44.

“Fox is a versatile player that will give us some options going forward,” said Tim Doherty, manager of the T-Bones.  “He demonstrated good power last season and we look for him to show more ability to put the ball in play this year.”
 
While Fox is known for his bat, he was selected as a pitcher in the 2003 MLB Draft. He spent four years with the Colorado Rockies organization, then played with the United League.

Combining the last three years, he's hit 63 home runs in 269 games.

Josh Wahpepah, a former third round selection of the Milwaukee Brewers, has been signed by the Kansas City T-Bones.

Wahpepah, a right hand pitcher who played at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kan., was originally selected by the Brewers in the 2004 MLB Draft.

“Josh is a sinker-slider guy that made it as far as Double-A with the Brewers,” said Tim Doherty, manager of the T-Bones.  “He’ll add a veteran presence to our bullpen this season.”

For his career, Wahpepah is 28-28 with a 4.23 ERA over 468.3 innings.

Jacob Blackwood, a former prospect in the Florida Marlins farm system, will return to the Kansas City T-Bones in 2010 after joining the team last year.

Originally from Platte County, Mo., Blackwood hit .288 in 63 games last season. He hit four homers and drove in 38 runs last season.

“Jacob is an outstanding defender and has a chance to have a very explosive offensive season,” said Tim Doherty, manager of the T-Bones.  “He will move to second base which completes what I believe will be a very solid double play combination.”

Twenty four, he was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 2006 MLB Draft.

A former Kansas City Kansas Community College baseball player will suit up for the Kansas City T-Bones next season. 

Jimmy Mojica, who played for the Devils in 2004 and 2005, was signed by the T-Bones this week. 

Beginning his career in the American Association, Mojica spent the 2007 season in the Milwaukee Brewers organization and spent time with the Seattle Mariners organization in 2009. 

An infielder, he hit .354 in the American Association in 2009 before his contract was purchased by the Mariners. 

“This is a fantastic signing for the T-Bones,” said Tim Doherty, manager of the team.  “Jimmy was highly sought after this offseason and we’re happy to bring a local talent back to Kansas City.” 

He was named the Freshman of the Year in 2004 while he was at KCKCC. 

The Kansas City T-Bones have made a major trade just before the Thanksgiving holiday.

The T-Bones traded Aharon Eggleston to the Winnipeg Goldeyes for right-handed pitcher Andrew Cruse, along with a "player to be named later"

Eggleston, who played in the outfield for the T-Bones, hit .324 for the T-Bones last season and made the Northern League All-Star game.

Cruse started 18 games last year for Winnipeg, building a 5-5 record with a 4.58 ERA.

“It’s hard to let a player like Aharon go, but we are getting a quality right-hander in return,” said T-Bones manager Tim Doherty.  “We see this as a deal that will work out well for both teams.”