With Opening Day vastly approaching, three more signings were officially unveiled today by the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Starting pitchers Michael Schlact and Ben Moore will return to Southern Maryland, along with outfielder Casey Benjamin.
Entering his eighth professional season, Michael Schlact will rejoin the Blue Crabs for his second season with the team and his second season in Independent baseball overall. Before coming to the Blue Crabs, Schlact spent his entire career as a starting pitcher in the Texas Rangers farm system, reaching as high as double-A Frisco from 2007-2010. A real driving force on the mound in 2011, Schlact went 6-4 with a 4.61 ERA.
Ben Moore will also rejoin the team for the 2012 season. Needing to win to stay within striking distance of Bridgeport, the Blue Crabs received a big boost from right-hander Ben Moore at the beginning of last September. Moore went 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in three starts. Signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Yankees in 2003, Moore spent time with the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association for the majority of last season. During his time with the Canaries, Moore was the team’s best pitcher statistically and was ranked #5 in the league.
Capping the latest round of signings is outfielder Casey Benjamin who will be returning to the Blue Crabs for his third season. Benjamin, who brings a left-handed bat and defensive versatility to the Blue Crabs, is a veteran of seven professional seasons with the Texas Rangers organization. In a period of 15 days during the 2011 season, Benjamin hit seven homers and drove in 18 runs before being plagued with an injury that would keep him out for most of the month of July. Hitting .283, Benjamin helped lead the Blue Crabs to within 1.5 games of Bridgeport after the final day of the regular season on September 18.
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs are a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, and play at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland. The franchise is entering its 5th Anniversary season in the spring of 2012, coming off the team’s third consecutive playoff appearance. Please call 301-638-9788 or visit www.somdbluecrabs.com for more information and to save your seat at the ballpark today!
