MLB Infielder Giambrone Joins Quartet of Hurlers

(April 19, 2023, York, Pa.) — The York Revolution has signed former Chicago Cubs infielder Trent Giambrone along with pitchers Greg Minier, Blake Rogers, Justin Goossen-Brown, and J.P. Woodward to the 2023 roster. The signings were announced by Revs manager Rick Forney following the team’s first spring training workout at WellSpan Park on Monday afternoon.

Giambrone made it to the Major Leagues with the Cubs in 2021 and joins the Revs for his seventh pro season at 29 years of age. Giambrone appeared in five games for the Cubs after the conclusion of his minor league season at Triple-A Iowa and notched a pair of hits, including a knock in his Major League debut. Giambrone gives the Revs versatility in the infield, having spent time at second base, shortstop, and third base, and also brings both speed and pop to the lineup with 62 career homers, 92 doubles, and 72 steals. He has registered double-digit homers in a season three times, including a career-high 23 jacks for Iowa in 2019, while his best stolen base season came in 2018 with Double-A Tennessee when he swiped 26 bags. A native of Metairie, LA, Giambrone was selected by the Cubs in the 25th round of the 2016 draft out of Delta State (MS) University, where he hit .386 with nine home runs and 52 RBI during his final season.

“He’s a baseball player,” stated Forney. “I really enjoyed our phone conversations. He’s hungry and wants to compete. He’s going to put it out on the field every day.”

Minier slots as the Revs’ projected Opening Night starter when the season begins on April 28 at Lexington. The 27-year-old lefty was a 32nd round pick of the Chicago White Sox in 2017 out of the University of Washington and established himself as an All-Star in the American Association as one of the league’s top southpaws with Lincoln the past two years. A reliever for the UW Huskies and during his first two years in the White Sox system, Minier moved from the bullpen to the rotation with Lincoln and went 9-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 2021, striking out 90 batters in 86.0 innings. His 2022 season was even better as he rolled out a spectacular 2.48 ERA in 19 starts despite a hard-luck 6-6 win-loss record. The Oxnard, CA, native allowed just 92 hits in 109.0 innings and whiffed 116 while walking only 34 batters. He followed his standout summer with five more victories and a 3.19 ERA in 11 winter ball starts in Puerto Rico.

“He pitched against my ball clubs a couple of times,” remarked Forney. “He’s a great competitor. He was a pretty popular guy this offseason as a free agent after being one of the better pitchers in the American Association. I can’t wait for everyone to meet this kid, because he’s great to be around.”

Rogers is slated to join the Revs later in the week and is expected to fill a role in the backend of the bullpen. The 29-year-old began the year in Arizona Diamondbacks spring training and went 4-4 with a 3.61 ERA and 13 saves at Double-A Amarillo last season before being promoted to Triple-A Reno. It was a second consecutive season with double digit saves for Rogers, who was originally a 37th round draft pick of the San Diego Padres out of University of Oklahoma in 2015. The Lewisville, TX, native enters his eighth pro season with an 18-22 lifetime record, 37 career saves, and a 4.71 ERA in 245 appearances (four starts).

“I went really hard after him for the last couple of weeks,” explained Forney. “Everyone I talk to raves about this guy. He has great stuff and is a good competitor. I’m hoping he can be our eighth inning guy here. The velocity is there, and he has some swing and miss potential. He’s a really good right hander.”

Goossen-Brown is a 27-year-old right-hander out of San Diego State University. The Sherman Oaks, CA, native has spent his first four pro seasons in the American Association with the Chicago Dogs, appearing in 72 games with four starts while totaling a 2-2 record with three saves and a 4.81 ERA. He has walked just 1.8 per nine innings in his pro career. In college, the durable righty threw 152.2 innings and went 11-8 while also posting a 3.77 ERA. Among his career highlights was recording SDSU’s only complete game of his junior season in 2018 against San Jose State.

“He has pitched in long relief and high leverage situations and has been successful at both,” stated Forney. “In my opinion, Chicago is the toughest place to pitch in Partner League baseball because of the dimensions of the park and those Chicago winds. When Justin is throwing well, he keeps the ball on the ground. He throws from a lower arm slot, so he is a guy who contrasts very well on our staff.”

Woodward resides in Baltimore and makes the short commute back to the state in which he attended college having established himself as a pro prospect during his days at Lafayette College in Easton, PA. Woodward signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2020 and made his pro debut in 2021, combining to go 2-0 with a 2.97 ERA across three levels, spending most of his time between Class-A Clearwater and High-A Jersey Shore. The 6-foot-6 southpaw spent the entire 2022 season with Jersey Shore and struck out 41 batters in 38.0 innings for the BlueClaws. Just 24 years old, Woodward begins his third pro season and carries a 5-4 career mark with a 4.96 ERA in 60 career outings.

“He has low 90s velocity with lots of run and sink to his pitches,” commented Forney. “He has a sweeping slider and a split finger that he likes to use ahead in the count. There is a lot of ability in that arm. I feel he can give us a good inning every other day and give teams a little bit of a different look.”

The Revs currently have 24 active players in spring camp with Opening Day of the 2023 season just nine days away. After opening the season in Lexington and Lancaster, the Revs return to WellSpan park for their home opener against the Staten Island FerryHawks on Friday, May 5. Tickets are available at www.yorkrevolution.com.