Bees Sign Two Former Major Leaguers

NEW BRITAIN—The New Britain Bees have added two players with Major League experience to their roster within the past week. Last Thursday, the Bees today acquired infielder Jason Rogers via trade from the Kansas City T-Bones of the independent American Association.

Rogers began the 2017 season with AAA Indianapolis of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization where he appeared in 69 games and posted a .289 batting average, scored 35 runs, hit nine home runs, and drove in 34. He then headed to Japan to play for the Hanshin Tigers of the Japan Central League, appearing in 40 games and batting .253, hitting five homers and driving in 23.

Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 32nd round of the 2010 MLB amateur draft, Rogers, 30, spent two seasons in the big leagues—with Milwaukee from 2014-15, and with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016. In 117 career MLB games, Rogers owns a .258 batting average with four home runs, 18 RBIs, and 24 runs scored. In his minor league career, Rogers has a .284 batting average with 89 home runs, 428 RBI, and 395 runs scored in 760 games.

“Jason will be a great addition to this team,” said Bees general manager Brad Smith. “He brings a power bat to the lineup and has proven successful at many professional levels during his career.”

Then, on Tuesday, the Bees announced the signing of outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo. This will be Tuiasosopo’s 15th year of professional baseball, and his first tour of duty in the Atlantic League. He spent the 2017 campaign with Gwinnett, the Atlanta Braves AAA team, where he appeared in 114 games, scored 51 runs, banged out eight homers, and drove in 45 runs.

Tuiasosopo, 32, began his pro career with the Seattle Mariners after being selected in the third round of the 2004 amateur draft. After five successful seasons in the Seattle organization, he made his Major League debut with the M’s in 2008, where he played until 2010. He also made appearances in the majors with the Detroit Tigers in 2013 and Braves in 2016. In 155 career big league games, Tuiasosopo has a .206 batting average with 12 home runs, 45 RBIs, and 41 runs scored. In the minors, he has played in 1,275 games and hit .251, hit 129 homers, drove in 613 runs, and has a .352 OBP.

“We’re excited to bring Matt on board,” said Smith. “He adds another power bat to our lineup and also brings a veteran presence to our ballclub with five years of big league experience.”

Chapman Signed By Detroit

On Monday, the Bees announced that pitcher Kevin Chapman has had his contract purchased by the Detroit Tigers organization and will report to Triple-A Toledo of the International League.

This season, Chapman has appeared in six games for the Bees, not allowing a run and collecting 11 strikeouts in 6.1 innings The 30-year-old southpaw was originally selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round of the 2010 MLB amateur draft. He spent two years with the Royals organization before being traded to the Houston Astros. After a couple successful campaigns with the Astros, Chapman made his Major League debut with Houston in 2013. He would spend parts of four seasons with the big league club, appearing in 58 games and posting a 3-1 record with a 4.09 ERA, 48 strikeouts, and one save in 55.0 innings. Chapman is the first Bees player to have his contract purchased during the 2018 season.

“Kevin has been one of our most reliable relievers this year,” said Smith. “It’s great to see him receive this opportunity, and we wish him the best of luck.”

The Bees are currently 9-16, and are in third place in the Liberty Division, 7.5 games behind the division-leading Somerset Patriots. Having just wrapped up a three-game set in Waldorf Maryland vs. the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, the Bees return home to open a three-game weekend set with the Sugar Land Skeeters on Friday. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.

Friday is Bark in the Park (bring your four-legged best friend to the park) and Fat Tire Friday ($5 Flat Tire drafts); Saturday is Fireworks Saturday and Military Appreciation Night (free admission for all military men and women), and Sunday is Family Fun Day (player autographs, kids run the bases after the game). For ticket information, please click HERE.

Bees on Boxcast

If you can’t make it to the game, or if the Bees are on the road, all Bees games for the 2018 season will be streamed live via Boxcast. Standard definition is free; there is a upcharge for HD. For a free preview, click HERE.

—Staff Reports