LINCOLN –The Saltdogs continued the bolstering of their roster, signing former Orioles minor league RHP Brandon Cooney and acquiring All-Star OF Asif Shah in a trade with Winnipeg on Monday.
Shah earned 2011 Frontier League All Star honors while playing for the Normal Cornbelters last season, during which he hit .331 with 11 home runs and 63 RBI.
The outfielder from Cincinnati boasts a career batting average of .326 and has notched 104 RBI in 202 professional games for Normal and Long Beach (Golden League). He played collegiately at Southeast Missouri State and Akron.
Cooney is a 6-foot-6 right-hander with a career ERA of 3.25 in five seasons for the Baltimore organization. He has totaled 230 innings and reached as high as Double-A Bowie (Eastern League).
A native of Miami, Cooney allowed just two earned runs in 30 1/3 innings for Class-A Advanced Frederick (Carolina League) over the course of the 2009-10 seasons. The big righty played his college ball at Florida Atlantic University and was selected in the 2007 MLB draft by the Orioles.
EX-CUB BARROSO AGREES TO DEAL WITH LINCOLN
On Monday, the Saltdogs also signed 26-year old Cuban shortstop Barroso, who was in Triple-A camp with the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Ariz. this spring.
Barroso, whose first name is Miguel spelled backwards, played for Industriales of the Serie Nacional before being signed by the Cubs organization. He helped lead the club – considered to be the Yankees of the Cuban league – to a championship in 2010.
The slick-fielding shortstop posted a career-best .315 batting average during the 2009-10 campaign.
The latest additions bring the Saltdogs roster to a total of 20 players – nine pitchers and 11 position players. Mandatory report date to Lincoln is set for May 4, with training camp scheduled to begin May 5. American Association rules allow for 22 players on the active roster during the regular season.
The Saltdogs open the 2012 campaign May 17 at Wichita with the home opener at Haymarket Park May 23 against Sioux City. Get your Saltdogs Five Pack (five lower-box tickets for just $50!) now by calling 402-474-BALL or by visiting www.saltdogs.com.