SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The Schaumburg Boomers and Manager Jamie Bennett made three roster moves today with LHP Jose Rodriguez playing out his option, RHP Tyler Ware re-signing and OF Bobby Martin signing as a free agent.

In Rodriguez and Ware, the Boomers return two members of the bullpen with the coveted Frontier League Rookie status as both enter their second season as professionals. The left-handed Rodriguez earned 1-1 record and a 4.01 ERA over 24.2 innings pitched in 16 appearances. Ware, a six-foot-six right-hander out of Judson University in Elgin, Ill., posted a 3.46 ERA with seven strikeouts in seven appearances in 2012. The Boomers grabbed a a true rookie in Martin, who is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he batted .278 in 88 career games.

Rodriguez, Ware and Martin bring the total number of Boomers officially signed for 2013 to 11 as all three join pitchers Cody Griebling and Joe Parsons; infielders Gerard Hall, Steve McQuail and Frank Pfister; catchers Mike Valadez and Ty Nelson; and outfielder Sean Mahley.

Opening Day 2013 for the Schaumburg Boomers on Thursday, May 16 features the cross-town rival Windy City ThunderBolts invading the northwest suburbs for a 6:30 p.m. contest. Single-Game Tickets for the Boomers go on-sale on Saturday, March 16 at 9 a.m. and for more information, log on to www.boomersbaseball.com.  

PLAYER BIOS

LHP Jose Rodriguez

Rodriguez, 23, was the Boomers first round pick (4th overall) in the 2013 Frontier League Draft. Despite suffering a nasty ankle injury after getting his foot caught in a hole in the Joliet outfield while shagging fly balls, the southpaw finished with a solid stat line including a 1-1 record in sixteen appearances and a 4.01 earned run average over the course of 24.2 innings pitched. Rodriguez pitched more innings for the Boomers in 2012 than during his entire college career at St John’s.

Rodriguez came to the Boomers after pitching for St. John’s University for two seasons. In 2011, Rodriguez appeared in three games and allowed six hits in 2.1 innings and made seven appearances in 2010, all in relief, and earned a 3.38 ERA over 5.1 innings pitched. The 5’11” left-hander surrendered six hits and two earned runs en route to a 2-0 record after beginning his career as the St. John’s student manager.

Rodriguez also appeared in 10 games for the DeLand Suns in the Florida Collegiate Summer League in 2010. The lefty allowed 18 earned runs in 21 innings over three starts. Rodriguez gave up 22 hits and collected 13 strikeouts as a member of the Suns.

RHP – Tyler Ware

Ware, 23, became a member of the Boomers after a brief stint with the Joliet Slammers during his first season as a pro in 2012. The towering reliever threw just 13 innings combined is his rookie season with solid numbers earning him another chance to prove himself in Schaumburg in 2013. Ware posted a 3.46 ERA in seven appearances with seven strikeouts and 17 hits allowed.

Ware finished his college baseball career with two seasons at nearby Judson University. Ware earned an 11-7 record for the NAIA school with a 3.68 earned run average over 132.2 innings as a member of the Eagles baseball team. The Danville, Ill. native appeared in 25 career games with 24 starts and eight complete games to go along with 113 strikeouts against just 37 walks.

Prior to attending Judson, Ware spent his first two seasons at Kankakee Community College where he was named the team’s pitcher of the year in 2010. Ware went 9-2 with a 4.26 ERA over 82.1 innings to earn NJCAA All-Region 4 second team honors. In 2009, Ware pitched 28.2 innings with a 3-1 record and a 4.39 ERA for a squad that finished third at the NJCAA World Series. Ware helped lead KCC to a 99-28 record during his two seasons as a Cavalier.

OF – Bobby Martin, UNC-Greensboro

Martin, 23, joins the Boomers after graduating from UNC-Greensboro with two seasons as a member of the Spartans baseball team. The Redondo Beach, Calif. native batted .278 in 88 career games at UNC-Greensboro collecting 92 hits, 40 RBI and 65 runs scored. The fleet-footed outfielder was 28 for 32 in stolen base attempts and drew 45 free passes against just 49 strikeouts. 

Prior to UNC-Greensboro, Martin played his first two years of college ball at El Camino College in Torrance, Calif. Martin helped lead his team to a 32-11 record as a sophomore with a .333 batting average, 22 runs batted in and 24 runs scored.