Sports
3 Connecticut Pitchers Signed by New Britain Bees
Products of Xavier and Hamden Hall are among 4 ex-big league hurlers signed by the Atlantic League team, as well as a Newington resident.
NEW BRITAIN, CT - A pair of former Connecticut scholastic standout pitchers are among four ex-major league hurlers who recently signed with the New Britain Bees of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
Nick Greenwood (Farmington native and Xavier High School graduate) and Josh Zeid (Hamden Hall Country Day School) have joined the Bees' pitching staff, as have former big leaguers Josh Outman and Eric Fornataro and Newington resident Cole Johnson.
A 14th round draft pick by the San Diego Padres in the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft, the 6-foot-1, 180 lb. Greenwood appeared in 20 games with the St. Louis Cardinals during the 2014-15 seasons. The left-hander has made 72 starts in 277 professional games, striking out exactly 400 batters.
Zeid appeared in 48 games for the Houston Astros between the 2013 and 2014 seasons, all in relief. The New Haven native was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 10th round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft. He was named Gatorade Connecticut High School Player of the Year in his senior season, finishing his high school career with exactly 400 strikeouts. A member of the gold-medal-winning Team USA Youth National Team in 2003, Zeid has spent seven years in professional baseball, tallying 35 wins and 528 strikeouts across all levels.
Outman has pitched for the Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies, Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees, while Fornataro appeared in eight games for the Cardinals in 2014.
The right-handed Johnson spent five seasons in the Minnesota Twins organization after being drafted by the team in the 44th round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft. He struck out 280 batters in 262.2 innings in the minor leagues with a 2.88 earned run average. Johnson returns to New Britain after spending parts of the 2013 and 2014 season with the Rock Cats, registering 12 saves and 130 strikeouts.
“Today’s signings represent a great step forward for this season’s pitching staff,” said Bees’ Manager Stan Cliburn. “Outman, Fornataro, Zeid and Greenwood bring great MLB experience to our roster, while Johnson’s experience in New Britain is a fantastic asset. These additions give us great talent on our pitching staff, and we’re very excited to have them for our inaugural season.”
The Bees begin their inaugural season of play at New Britain Stadium April 21 against the York Revolution.
Photos courtesy of New Britain Bees
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