“Transactions” is one category that sneaks up on me. I collect the names, and then, suddenly, it’s months later and I have a huge pile to sort through.

I began collecting these on January 30, and they are current through April 10. I’ll split this post into two sections so it won’t get too overwhelming.

1. Arizona released Eric Meyerchick (Harrisonburg 2011), Michael Lang (Haymarket 2009), and Tommy Manzella (Waynesboro 2003).

Meyerchick was signed as a free agent in 2012 out of St. Joseph’s (the Turks have a few players from St. Joseph’s every year). He pitched in rookie ball for two years, going 4-4, 5.46, with 2 saves, a 3.9 BB/9, and 8.3 K/9 in 59 1/3 innings pitched.

Lang was also signed as a free agent in 2012, after playing for Sioux City in the American Association. (He crushed it there- hitting

Michael Lang at Rutgers in 2009
Michael Lang at Rutgers in 2009

405/452/612 in 34 games.) Lang played for two season in low-A- for Yakima and South Bend. He ‘s best known in the Valley League as the sparkplug for the champion 2009 Haymarket Senators.

Manzella was a 3rd round draft pick of the Houston Astros in 2005, out of Tulane. He played parts of two seasons in the major leagues, but hit only 224/266/262 in 263 at-bats. He’s been bouncing around in the minors for a while, playing for six different organizations since 2011.

2. Minnesota Twins signed Tony Thomas (Harrisonburg 2005). Tony was a free agent after spending the past seven years in the Red Sox’s system. He was originally a 2nd round draft pick out of Florida State. He made it as high as Triple-A Pawtucket, but the Twins assigned him to Double-A New Britain in 2014.

3. The Colorado Rockies signed Joe Maloney (New Market 2010), and then released him again. They also released Tyler Kuhn (Luray 2006-7).

Maloney was a 10th round pick of the Texas Rangers in 2011 out of Limestone College. He reached High-A, playing for Myrtle Beach, and overall, he hit 221/291/389 in 655 at-bats.

Kuhn is a former Valley League MVP! He was a 15th round pick in 2008 by the Chicago White Sox. He also played in the Diamondbacks’ system, and then Colorado’s- he’s been mostly in Triple-A since 2011. He hit 295/349/408 in 2,461 at-bats over 6 seasons. His name is sprinkled throughout ATVL’s minor league record book.

4. Baltimore Orioles signed Joe Van Meter (Covington 2008), who had been released by the Tampa Bay Rays. A 21st round pick in 2010 out of VCU by the Rangers, Joe has gone 12-24, 3.78 over 255 innings, with 13 saves, a 3.4 BB/9, and 8.6 K/9.

Mike Volpe at Towson in 2012
Mike Volpe at Towson in 2012

5. The Atlanta Braves released Mike Volpe (Woodstock 2012). Mike was a free agent signee in 2013 out of Towson. Mike was awesome for the ‘Stock in ’12- ATVL named him the #5 starter in the league. He got to pitch a whopping 5 innings in the Gulf Coast League in 2013 for the Braves.

6. The Chicago Cubs were busy- they’ve released three former VBLers. Carlos Gutierrez (Luray 2007), Brad Zapenas (Winchester 2009), and Al Yevoli (Staunton 2010-11).

Gutierrez was a first round pick in 2008 (27th overall) of the Minnesota Twins (out of Miami). In six seasons in the minors, he went 15-20, 4.00, with a 3.7 BB/9 and 6.6 K/9 in 348 2/3 innings. He reached Triple-A.

Zapenas was a 42nd round pick in 2011. In three seasons in the minors, he only received 300 at-bats, and hit 243/345/313.

Yevoli has been a nomad of sorts. He was a free agent signing in 2012 after he had pitched for two seasons with Washington of the Frontier League. The Braves signed him first, and then released him. The Cubs grabbed him, and Al threw in 11 games for Kane County in the Midwest League in 2013. He was the #9 reliever in the league (according to ATVL) in 2010.

Well, that will do it for now. More transactions coming later- many, many more!