Bees Send Five To Organized Baseball in 2018

NEW BRITAIN—As members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), widely regarded as the top independent minor league circuit in the country, the New Britain Bees, while not a developmental organization, are a spot for players, currently out of organized baseball, hoping to get back into organized ball. And toward that end, the 2018 season was a resounding success in the Hardware City. In all, five Bees players had their contracts purchased by MLB organizations during the 2018 season. Here’s a look at how each of them did:

• Kevin Chapman was the first Bees player to have his contract purchased. The Detroit Tigers came calling on May 20, and he would report to Triple-A Toledo of the International League. In 14 games with the Mud Hens, the lefthander posted a 3.45 ERA with 13 strikeouts and two saves in 15.2 innings pitched before his campaign was cut short due to injury.
• Tyler Higgins was the next New Britain player to head to an affiliated organization when his contract was purchased by the Seattle Mariners on June 1. He reported to AAA Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League, where the righthander appeared in 28 games and posted a 2.83 ERA with 38 strikeouts and three saves over the course of 35.0 innings of work.
• Josh Thole followed suit and was the first position player to have his contract purchased in 2018. The backstop headed over to the Detroit Tigers organization on June 21, where he would appear in 21 games for their AA affiliate in Erie, PA. He batted .238 with 10 RBI and 11 runs scored for the SeaWolves.
• Zach Stewart was then called to duty by the Toronto Blue Jays on July 5, and he headed to AAA Buffalo of the International League. In 14 appearances (four starts), the righthander posted a 2-1 record with a 4.98 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 34.1 innings pitched.
• Brock Stassi was the final Bees player to head back to the affiliated ranks in 2018 when the San Francisco Giants signed the slugger on August 10. He would report to AAA Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League, and go on to collect a .391 batting average with 10 doubles, 11 RBI, 11 runs scored and a .536 on-base percentage in 21 games.

The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 38 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment. For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.

—Staff Reports