Southern Maryland Blue Crabs manager Butch Hobson has announced the first official signings for the 2010 roster. Hobson, in his third season as Crabs skipper, is looking to build on a 79-61 record in 2009, which included the first playoff berth and playoff series win in franchise history. Returning stalwarts Patrick Osborn (third base) and Jim Ed Warden (closer) are among the first to ink deals.
The immensely popular Osborn headlines the first round of acquisitions. Returning for his third season in a Blue Crabs uniform, the nine-year pro has been with the organization from the very first organized team workout in 2008. He enters 2010 as the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (253), hits (290), doubles (68), extra-base hits (105) and runs batted in (175) through two seasons. In the inaugural 2008 season, Osborn’s 162 hits, 39 doubles and 106 RBI all stand as single-season franchise records. Last season Osborn fought valiantly through an array of injuries to still blast 14 homers and drive in 69 runs. With just one stint on the disabled list, Osborn managed to play through pain and play in 121 games, missing only 19. The veteran sports a .282 lifetime average as a professional, and was originally selected by the Cleveland Indians in the second round of the 2002 draft after a star-studded college career at the University of Florida.
Ten year veteran Jim Ed Warden, will likely assume the closer duties to began the 2010 season as he did for the Blue Crabs in ’09. The 6-7, hard-throwing right-hander was an intimidating presence throughout the Atlantic League in the first half a season ago, before earning a contract with the New York Mets on June 12. Warden racked up 13 saves in 22 appearances and 24 innings before his departure, with a microscopic ERA of 1.13. The effort was so dominant that Warden still finished tied for fifth in the Atlantic League in saves despite being with Southern Maryland for about a month and a half. Warden would prove to be just as dominant at all levels in ’09; after joining the Mets he toyed with batters at Double-A Binghamton (1.42 ERA in 25.1 innings), and parlayed that into a promotion to Triple-A Buffalo (2.95 ERA in 21.1 innings.) A former teammate of Osborn in the Cleveland organization, Warden was selected in the sixth round of the 2001 draft by the Indians and has additional Triple-A experience with both Cleveland and the Washington Nationals during his career, accumulating 46 professional saves along the way.
“We fully expect to put another playoff caliber team on the field this season, and bringing back two guys who were a part of a great nucleus that we used to win the first half last year is an important first step,” said Blue Crabs General Manager Chris Allen. “We’re thrilled to have Patrick and Jim Ed returning, and with Butch’s abilities as a manager, I’m sure we’ll be in the running for our first championship this season.”
Additional signings will be announced by the team throughout the spring, leading up to Opening Day on Thursday, April 22 at York. The Blue Crabs home opener is slated for Friday, April 30 at 7:05 p.m. at Regency Furniture Stadium against Long Island. Season tickets and mini-plans are on sale now, by visiting the team’s official website, www.somdbluecrabs.com.