Still a ways to go to catch up on all the transactions involving former Valley Leaguers. Let’s tackle another batch:

1. The Miami Marlins released Pete Andrelczyk (Waynesboro 2007), and Tony Caldwell (Waynesboro 2009) and Alex McClure (Waynesboro 2009) retired. The Generals take a hit!

Andrelczyk was a 5th round pick of the Marlins in 2008. Over six seasons, he went 18-20, 2.98, with 32 saves, a 1.228 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9, and 9.2 K/9 in 286 2/3 innings pitched. He pitched in only one game in 2012 due to an injury. (If I remember correctly, it was a finger problem.) Pete has already moved on to his next gig- as a pitcher for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic League. Pete’s from Lancaster, so maybe he’ll have his own cheering section every night!

Caldwell was drafted in 2011 in the 24th round. He hit 241/338/330 in 427 over three seasons. He reached Low-A Greensboro in 2013.

Alex McClure when he was playing in Kansas City's system
Alex McClure when he was playing in Kansas City’s system

McClure, drafted in the 11th round in 2010, just never hit enough in pro ball. Over 4 seasons, he hit 214/267/263 in 1,172 at-bats. Alex was traded in 2013 to the Marlins. His dad, Gary, is the head coach at Austin Peay.

2. The Milwaukee Brewers released Jono Armold (Front Royal 2011). Armold, drafted in the 30th round in 2012, went 4-5, 3.61, with 3 saves, a 1.521 WHIP, 4.4 BB/9, and 9.5 K/9 in 72 1/3 innings pitched.

3. The New York Mets released James Roche (Front Royal 2009-10). James was a very good hitter in the Valley- he was the 10th best hitter in 2009, and the 12th best in 2010. The Mets signed him as a free agent in 2012 after he had played two years in the independent Canadian-American Association. He hit 243/325/383 in 235 at-bats for Brooklyn in the New York-Penn League.

4. The Philadelphia Phillies released Sam Dove (Harrisonburg 2011). Dove, the last VBL player in the Phillies’ system, was drafted in the 14th round of the 2013 draft. He hit 171/202/248 in 105 at-bats in his only year in the minors. (He was also the 12th best hitter in the league in 2011, according to ATVL.)

5. The Pittsburgh Pirates released Erick Fernandez (Woodstock 2010). Fernandez was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the

Check out James Roche's stirrups!
Check out James Roche’s stirrups!

25th round in 2011. The Pirates signed him last fall, I believe, but they’ve now released him before he appeared in a game in the Bucco system. Erick hit 224/294/264 in 250 at-bats in the Nationals’ system.

6. The Seattle Mariners released Jeremy Dobbs (Waynesboro 2009). Dobbs was drafted in 2011, and went 11-5, 5.46, with a 1.633 WHIP, 4.3 BB/9, and 7.2 K/9 in 161 2/3 innings.  (Notice that he’s the 3rd 2009 Waynesboro General on this list? A fourth, AJ Kirby-Jones, was also released (I’ll cover him next time). That General team went 18-26!

There will be one more installment of transactions, and then we’ll be caught up!