April 6, 2009 - LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Rockford RiverHawks announced Monday that they have signed three players, two with experience in major-league organizations.
Pitcher Jay Monti(above), first baseman Carlos Pupo and utilityman Mike Kalina will join the team for spring training, which starts May 7 at Road Ranger Stadium.
Monti spent two years with the Toronto organization as a reliever after the Blue Jays took him in the 25th round of the 2007 draft. The right-hander was 4-1 with a 5.17 earned-run average and two saves in 21 appearances last season with the Auburn Doubledays of the short-season Class A New York-Penn League. The Sacred Heart University product has 1-Year status in the Frontier League.
Pupo (below) signed with St. Louis as an undrafted free agent last season and split the summer between the Jupiter Cardinals of the Rookie-class Gulf Coast League and the Quad City River Bandits of the low A Midwest League. Pupo hit a composite .206 with seven home runs and 30 RBI in 48 games. The former Purdue Boilermaker has 1-Year status.
Kalina (below), a true rookie from Northwestern, was a third-team all-Big Ten selection last spring. He hit .384 with two home runs and 27 RBI.
The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, a 12-team independent professional baseball league that will play its 17th season this summer. The RiverHawks will begin their eighth season at 7:05 p.m. May 21 at Windy City and play their home opener at 7:05 p.m. May 26 against the Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti. The RiverHawks host the 2009 Frontier League All-Star Game at 7:05 p.m. on July 15. Advertising and season-ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit the RiverHawks at www.rockfordriverhawks.com.
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