NEW BRITAIN—The
New Britain Bees have announced the acquisitions of a pair of right-handed pitchers, Grant Black and
Dakota Smith.This will be Black’s second season of professional baseball and first in the Atlantic League. Prior to joining the Bees, he appeared in 51 games for the Gateway (Ill.) Grizzlies of the independent Frontier League. There, he posted a 2.41 ERA with 65 strikeouts and nine saves in 52.1 innings. The 6-5, 25-year-old right-hander made his professional debut with Gateway last year after finishing up his collegiate career with Arkansas-Monticello. In 86 career minor league outings, the Newport, AR, native owns a 3.36 ERA with 128 strikeouts and 16 saves in 101.2 innings pitched.
This will also be the first voyage in Atlantic League
waters for Smith, who joins the Bees for his fifth season of professional
baseball after being acquired in a trade with Gateway. Earlier this season, he
appeared in 45 games for the Grizzlies,
posting 3.47 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 49.1 innings. The 26-year-old made his
professional debut with Gateway in 2015 after completing a successful
collegiate career at the University of Kansas. After two years with the
Grizzlies, the 5-10 right-hander was signed by the Boston Red Sox and spent parts
of two seasons with three Red Sox minor league affiliates, all in Class A. In
108 career minor league outings, Smith, a Lansing, KS, native, owns a 16-15
record with a 3.74 ERA and 251 strikeouts in 284.0 innings pitched.
“These are both big additions to our pitching staff as we close out the season and continue to make a postseason push,” said Bees General Manager Brad Smith. “Grant and Dakota have had very impressive seasons so far and we look forward to their continued success with our club.”
“These are both big additions to our pitching staff as we close out the season and continue to make a postseason push,” said Bees General Manager Brad Smith. “Grant and Dakota have had very impressive seasons so far and we look forward to their continued success with our club.”
The Bees are Connecticut’s team in the Atlantic League,
widely regarded as the top independent minor league circuit in the U.S. The Bees are in action tonight against the
Lancaster Barnstormers. First pitch is at 6:35, and it will be Fat Tire
Friday at New Britain Stadium, with all Fat Tire Belgian Ale drafts available
for $5 at concession stands for fans 21 and over. For tickets, please click HERE.
—Staff Report
@newbritainbee
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