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| Cruz (Puerto Rico Islanders) |
Former Wolcott and Wilby High standout Manny Cruz has reappeared in professional baseball.
Cruz is suiting up for the Puerto Rico Islanders of the Empire Professional Baseball League. He has played in eight games and is hitting a robust .379. In 29 at bats, Cruz has 11 hits, including two doubles and two triples. He has five RBI, four runs scored, five walks and two hit by pitches. Those statistics were posted on the league website.
Cruz, listed at 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds by the Islanders, is a utility player. Puerto Rico is currently a traveling team while the logistics are figured out for a home presence on the island.
Cruz played just one game for the Billings Mustangs, a Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliate, before being released.
Kerski resurfaces in Can-Am
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| Kerski (Sussex County Miners) |
After being released in May by the Modesto Nuts of the Seattle Mariners organization, Kody Kerski has found a new home.
Kerski pitches for the Sussex County Miners of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. The former Crosby and Sacred Heart University standout has been outstanding for his new team since being signed on June 2.
Kerski has pitched in 18 games, including six starts. He has posted a 5-1 record with a 1.60 ERA and three saves. In 50.1 innings of work, Kerski has given up 45 hits, struck out 42 and walked 11.
Kerski’s last four decisions have been wins, including seven and eight strikeout efforts. He also had eight Ks in a no-decision on July 26.
Fitzsimons raises batting average
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| Fitzsimons (CCSU athletics) |
Connor Fitzsimons seems to be finding his swing in his second season with the Arizona League Angels (rookie level).
The former Bristol Eastern and CCSU standout is hitting .245 for the season, but a solid .294 over his past 10 games played. Fitzsimons has produced 10 hits and scored five runs over his past 10 games. In three of those games, Fitzsimons has had two hits.
Fitzsimons has played in 17 games and tallied 53 at bats. He has 13 hits, including one double, one triple and one home run to go along with two RBI and eight runs scored.
Blandino trying to get back on track
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| Blandino (Billings Mustangs) |
Baseball is a tough game, especially at the professional level, and Matt Blandino has hit a rough patch.
The former Bristol Central star was called up to the Dayton Dragons on July 13. In four starts since the roster move, Blandino is 0-2, and the losses have come in his last two starts. He was shelled for 11 runs in a July 26 loss, but bounced back in his next start to give up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts in 5.1 innings on Tuesday.
This is not Blandino’s first stint with Dayton. He was assigned to the Dragons from the Arizona League Reds on May 31. On June 9, Blandino was sent to the Billings Mustangs, but he went back to the Dragons on June 13. On June 20, Blandino was headed back to Billings. On July 13, the aforementioned assignment to Dayton was made.
Overall this season, Blandino is 4-4 with a 5.40 ERA in 12 games, 10 of which were starts.
