The Gateway Grizzlies have extended the contracts of right-handed pitchers Ross Spurgeon and Vince Molesky for the 2016 season.
Spurgeon, 23, returns to Gateway after posting a 2.37 ERA in 18 appearances out of the bullpen in 2015.
“It feels great to be back with a team that ended last season so well,” said Spurgeon, who was signed during July of 2015. “Hopefully, we can pick up from where we left off and show what we have as a team,” he said.
Spurgeon played a key role in the Grizzlies’ bullpen as the team won 16 of 21 games to end the regular season. He finished the campaign by allowing just one run in his final nine appearances on the mound.
Molesky comes back to Sauget after a promising rookie campaign in 2015, when he led the Grizzlies’ staff in innings pitched and strikeouts.
“My goal this season is to continue growing as a pitcher,” Molesky said. “I want to build on each start and it’s exciting to join a team that ended last year on such a high note.”
The 6’4” hurler tossed 108 innings and started 18 games for the Grizzlies while recording 96 strikeouts. Molesky was part of a rotation that featured five true rookies in the final month of the season.
“We had great chemistry as a group and were able to get a lot of feedback from some of the veterans on the team,” said Molesky, who grew up in Montoursville, Pa. “We will hopefully come together to form a strong, young pitching staff,” he said.
The Grizzlies begin the 2016 campaign on May 13 against the Washington Wild Things at GCS Ballpark. Group tickets are on sale now. For more information, please call the Grizzlies’ box office at (618) 337-3000.
