LINCOLN, NE – The Lincoln Saltdogs added depth to their pitching staff over the weekend by signing right-hander Brad Thoutt and RHP Joey Wagman. The Saltdogs also released LHP Brian Smith, activated RHP Derek Gordon from the Disabled List and placed OF Chad Hinshaw on the DL.
Thoutt (pronounced Tout) joins the Saltdogs after compiling an impressive career at Division Two Regis (CO) University. The righty went 23-14 with a 4.59 ERA over 52 appearances in his college career. He made 13 starts senior and notched a 9-3 record with a 4.44 ERA. He led his conference with 92 strikeouts over a team-high 77 innings pitched. He walked just 30 batters. His efforts as a senior were enough to earn him RMAC Pitcher of the Year and a spot on the All-Region team.
The 6’5” pitcher made 10 starts as a junior and tallied 64 strikeouts, the second-most on the team. He was 4-3 with a 4.02 ERA.
Thoutt 8-1 with a 2.49 ERA as a senior at Thunderridge High School in Highlands Ranch, CO. He led his team to the Colorado Class 5A State Championship in his senior season and garnered All-Colorado Honorable Mention as a senior.
Wagman signed on Sunday and made the start for the Saltdogs in the series finale against the Chicago Dogs. The 26-year-old went 4.1 innings and gave up three runs on six hits. He walked the first two batters he faced but recovered to strike out four batters in the outing.
The California-native is in his sixth professional season. He started the year with Southern Maryland in the Atlantic League. Wagman posted an 0-4 record with an 8.33 ERA over 12 appearances. Before this season, Wagman spent time in the White Sox and A’s organizations, reaching Double-A Midland in 2015 and ’16. He has a career record of 27-23 with a 4.43 ERA.
Wagman is one of the best pitchers in Cal Poly history. He set the school record with 13 wins as a senior. The righty was the Mustangs’ Friday night starter for two seasons and compiled a record of 22-6 with a 2.66 ERA over his last two years. His 27 career wins are tied for the second-most in school history and his 259 strikeouts are fifth in the record book.
Wagman was on the roster for Team Israel in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He gave up one run in one inning pitched.
Gordon was activated from the DL on Friday after injuring his leg at Texas on June 13th. The Lincoln Southeast alumnus appeared in two games over the weekend, posting 2.2 scoreless innings.
He was injured by a controversial slide when covering home plate against the AirHogs. Gordon is 3-0 with a 5.40 ERA over six starts this season. The Lincoln-native was the Saltdogs Pitcher of the Year in 2017 after going 9-4 with a 3.46 ERA.
Hinshaw is placed on the DL retroactive to June 16th. The former Angels farmhand started in center field in Lincoln’s first 28 games but hasn’t appeared since the 15th. He is hitting .184 with one home run and 12 RBIs. Hinshaw leads the league with four triples.
Smith leaves the Saltdogs with a 1-0 record and a 3.95 ERA. The southpaw made nine appearances out of the bullpen and gave up six earned runs over 13.2 innings pitched. He struck out 11 batters compared to eight walks. Smith joined Lincoln’s roster late last season, making two starts and registering a 4.63 ERA.
The Saltdogs (22-14) don’t play Monday but head to Kansas City on Tuesday to start a three-game series against the Kansas City T-Bones. Tuesday’s first pitch is at 7:05 PM with coverage beginning at 6:35 PM on ESPN 101.5 FM 1480 AM and http://www.espn1480.com/lincoln-saltdogs-baseball/.
For more information on the Saltdogs, follow the team on Facebook and Twitter/Instagram @saltdogsball. For ticket information visit https://saltdogs.com/tickets/ or call (402) 474-2255.