SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — A day after unveiling Coop the Boomer, the Schaumburg Boomers have a trio of arms to introduce to the pitching staff with the signings of former Kansas City Royals farmhand RHP Robert Penny and former Pittsburgh Pirates prospect RHP Joe Parsons as well as the acquisition of LHP Andrew Weeks via trade.

Penny, 23, spent two seasons in the Royals system after being drafted in the 37th round of the 2010 June Free Agent Draft and got off to a very hot start in his professional career. In 46.1 innings with the Burlington Royals in the Appalachian League in 2010, the 6’3” right-hander posted a sparkling 1.75 ERA with five saves in addition to collecting 36 strikeouts and just 12 walks.

After the Royals were eliminated from playoff contention, Penny finished the 2010 season with the Idaho Falls Chukars allowing two runs in six innings good for a 3.00 ERA. As good as he was in 2010 was as much as Penny struggled in 2011. Over the course of 61.0 innings split between the Kane County Cougars, and the Chukars, Penny allowed 72 hits and 59 earned runs, however, despite his struggles, Penny remained strong in the missing bats department as he fanned 58 and issued 27 free passes, which gives good indication that a bounce back season is more than possible with the Boomers in 2012.

Penny earned all-state honors as a senior at Whiteville High School in 2007 after leading the state of North Carolina with 168 strikeouts. Penny redshirted at the University of North Carolina before transferring to Pitt Community College in Winterville, N.C. Penny had an outstanding final collegiate season going 10-1 with a 3.12 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 66.1 innings of work and helped lead PCC to its first ever birth in the Junior College World Series. Penny signed with the Royals after his second season at PCC.

Parsons, 22, also comes to the Boomers with prior professional experience. After signing as an undrafted free agent, Parsons played one season with the Gulf Coast League Pirates. The 6’1” right-hander appeared in 25.1 innings in 2011 and earned a 5.33 ERA with two saves, 19 strikeouts, and eight walks.

A Carmel, Calif. native, Parsons completed his college career with two seasons as a member of the Hokies Baseball Team at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). As a junior in 2010, Parsons pitched just 5.1 innings and allowed six earned runs but thrived as a senior the following season. In 75.2 innings, which included 13 starts, a complete game and a shutout, Parsons earned a 7-3 record for the Hokies and added 54 strikeouts to 29 walks. Parsons allowed 76 hits and just 27 earned runs in 2011, which was good for a 3.21 ERA in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

After an outstanding 22-3 career record at Carmel High School including a senior year highlighted by a paltry 2.20 ERA, 90 strikeouts and an all-county nomination, Parsons attended the University of Hawaii, where he made one appearance as a freshman. Parsons transferred to Cuesta Community College in San Luis Obispo, Calif. where he was named Western State Conference Pitcher of the Year after going 8-1 with a save in 107 innings pitched. Parsons tossed three complete games and finished with a 3.41 ERA and 76 strikeouts and transferred to Virginia Tech to complete his collegiate career.

In a separate move Friday, the Boomers sent INF Tyler Boling to the Lake Erie Crushers in exchange for LHP Andy Weeks.

Weeks, 25, broke into the professional ranks with Boomers owners Pat and Lindy Salvi’s other minor league team, the Gary SouthShore RailCats of the American Association, after attending the club’s Open Tryout in 2010. Weeks threw 46.1 innings for the RailCats in 2010 and earned a 1-2 record with a 5.83 ERA before being dealt to the Lake Erie in the offseason. With the Crushers, Weeks posted a 5.26 ERA in 63.1 innings and a 3-3 record.

Weeks was an All-North Coast Athletic Conference pick as a senior for Wabash College. Weeks won 10 times for the Little Giants in his four-year career and ranks fourth in school history with 166 career strikeouts. An All-State pitcher at LaPorte High School in Indiana, Weeks won 15 times as a senior in 2005 and played in the RailCats annual High School Challenge for the Slicers.

With the additions of Penny, Parsons and Weeks, the Boomers now have 16 players under contract for the Inaugural season. All three will be at Boomers Spring Training in May joining fellow pitchers Matt Collins, Wally Goodline, Vinny Lally and Patrick Mincey; catchers Brad Hawn and Mike Valadez; infielders Andrew Cohn, Brandon Hairston, Drew Heithoff, Ellis Lowe and John Wagle; and outfielders Nate Baumann and Raphael Turner.

The Boomers can have up to 34 players on the active roster in the offseason but must trim down to a minimum of 22 and a maximum of 24 during the season. Season Tickets and Group Outings are on sale now and for more information on the Schaumburg Boomers, be sure to check out www.boomersbaseball.com today!