Signings bring YHC professional baseball players total to 25

 

 

Danny Sawyer

 

 

 

 

The 2007 Frontier League Champion Windy City ThunderBolts professional baseball team has announced the signing of catcher Danny Sawyer to a contract for the 2008 season. Sawyer will make his professional debut this season, following two seasons at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Sawyer was selected First Team All-Conference USA in 2007 when he hit .293 with 17 doubles, two home runs, and 33 RBI for the Blazers. He finished 2006 with a .305 batting average, 16 doubles, seven home runs, and 47 RBI.

Prior to UAB, Sawyer spent two seasons at Young Harris College, where he led the Mountain Lions to a 103-19 record including the 2005 Georgia Junior College Athletic Association and NJCAA Region XVII Championships. Sawyer was named first team All-Conference by hitting .344 with six home runs and 57 RBI.

 

"Danny is a very good defensive catcher with his best years ahead of him," commented ThunderBolts field manager Brian Nelson. "His experience at a top Division I program will ease his transition to the professional game." 
 

 

Ryan Addison

 

 

 

 

The 2007 Frontier League Champion Windy City ThunderBolts signed outfielder Ryan Addison and first baseman Cleveland Brownlee to contracts for the 2008 season. Both Addison and Brownlee will make their professional debuts with the ThunderBolts.

Ryan Addison spent the past two seasons as a starting outfielder for Elon University in North Carolina. Addison hit .286 each year, tying for the team lead with ten home runs in 2007 to go along with 43 RBI and 20 stolen bases. He finished with eight home runs and 40 RBI in 2006 while stealing 22 bases without being caught in leading the Phoenix to the Southern Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Addison finished fourth in the Southern Conference in stolen bases in 2006 and fifth in 2007.

 

"Ryan is a very versatile outfielder who can play all three outfield positions. He handles the bat very and is someone who puts a lot of pressure on the defense because of his speed," commented ThunderBolts field manager Brian Nelson.