SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Schaumburg Boomers Manager Jamie Bennett completed a busy week of roster moves this week with the signing of a trio of rookie infielders and a total of six players officially signed to 2013 contracts to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

This week, the Boomers added five new infielders to the 2013 roster starting with a trade that sent relief pitcher Adam Tollefson to the El Paso Diablos of the American Association (AA) for Louisiana college standout Jordan Marks, who batted .298 in 38 games for El Paso in his first season as a professional in 2012. The Boomers also welcomed back INF Brandon Gregorich, who will play out the option on his 2012 contract following 12 games with Schaumburg last season after being acquired in a trade with the Gary SouthShore RailCats on August 13.

Additionally, the Boomers signed three rookie infielders in Ray Hernandez out of Texas Southern University, Eric Barnes from Oakland City University and Ryan Miller out of nearby Wheaton College. Furthermore, right-handed pitcher Matt Kuna rejoined the Boomers for 2013 as the club announced his decision to play out the option on his 2012 contract.

In a pair of other moves, the Boomers traded RHP Patrick Mincey to the Grand Prairie AirHogs of the American Association for a player to be named later and sent Karexon Sanchez to the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association. Finally, the Boomers granted OF Nate Baumann his release.

With six new players signed to 2013 contracts, the Boomers now have 17 players signed for the 2013 season as the recent additions will join pitchers Cody Griebling, Joe Parsons, Jose Rodriguez and Tyler Ware; infielders Gerard Hall, Steve McQuail and Frank Pfister catchers Mike Valadez and Ty Nelson; and outfielders Sean Mahley and Bobby Martin.

Season Tickets, Group Outings and ticket packages we call Boomer Bundles are available now for the sophomore season of Schaumburg Boomers Baseball! Single-Game Tickets for the Boomers go on-sale on Saturday, March 16 at 9 a.m. and log on to www.boomersbaseball.com for more information.

TRANSACTION LIST

2/14: Traded LHP Adam Tollefson to the El Paso Diablos of the American Association for INF Jordan Marks
2/15: Released OF Nate Baumann
2/20: Traded RHP Patrick Mincey to the Grand Prairie AirHogs of the American Association for a player to be named later
2/22: Traded INF Karexon Sanchez to the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association for a player to be named later
2/22: Signed INF Eric Barnes, INF Ray Hernandez & INF Ryan Miller
2/22: Announced return of INF Brandon Gregorich and RHP Matt Kuna, both will play out the options on 2012 contracts.

PLAYER BIOS (Listed Alphabetically)

INF – Eric Barnes

Barnes, 23, played collegiately at Oakland City University where he earned NCCAA All Mid-East Region honors in 2011 and 2012. Barnes hit .365 as a junior, tallying 12 doubles, 6 HR, 33 RBI, 25 walks, and 2 steals in 32 games and as a senior in 2012, the six-foot-one utility infielder batted .326, with 7 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 27 walks, and 11 steals in 42 games.

For his efforts, Barnes earned 2012 All Mid-East Region honors, was named a North/South Indiana All-Star and was tabbed as the SIAC Player of the Year.

INF – Brandon Gregorich

Gregorich, 25, got off to an outstanding start to his first season as a pro in 2012 with the Sonoma County Grapes in the North American Baseball league in 2012. In 44 games, Gregorich batted .319 with the Grapes with 20 doubles, three home runs and 23 RBI and showed promise in 12 games with the Boomers to close out the season.

After two seasons at Los Medanos College, Gregorich finished his college career at the University of California-San Diego. The 6’2” corner infielder had a remarkable 2010 campaign as a senior. Gregorich batted .452 with 103 hits in 62 games to go along with seven homers, 30 triples and nine more walks than strikeouts. Gregorich holds countless baseball records at UC San Diego including career batting average (.424), hits in a season (103), doubles in a season (30) and runs batted in (84).

INF – Ray Hernandez

Hernandez, 22, joins the Boomers after a stellar career at Texas Southern University. The Houston, Texas native was a four-year starter for the tigers and boasts a .332 career average with 37 doubles, eight triples and 141 runs batted in. Hernandez earned a combined 103 free passes when you combine walks and hit by pitches against just 54 strikeouts to go along with a spectacular .400 on-base percentage.

Hernandez set the single season records in RBI (58), assists, and double plays turned in 2010. In addition, Hernandez is the schools’ all-time leader in at bats (731), runs scored (165), hits (243), assists (477) and sacrifice bunts (23).

RHP - Matt Kuna

Kuna, 23, returns after a solid pro debut with the Boomers in 2012. After graduating from the University of Toledo, the six-foot-three righty earned a 3-5 record and a 4.52 ERA in 75.2 innings pitched. Kuna struck out 47, walked 23 and surrendered 95 hits over the course of 13 starts and 15 total appearances as a first year professional.

Kuna pitched collegiately for the University of Toledo and sported a sensational 7-1 record with a miniscule 2.61 ERA and two saves last spring. The 2012 first-team All-MAC selection accumulated a team-high 79.1 innings of work, surrendering 28 runs (23 earned) on 67 hits with a squad-best 59 strikeouts. Kuna ranked second in the MAC in ERA, fourth in opponent batting average (.225, 67-for-298) and tied for fourth in wins. For his achievements on the field in 2012 for Toledo, Kuna was named to the 2012 ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region Second Team.

A Griffith, Ind. native, Kuna is a 2007 graduate of Griffith High School and a four-year letter winner in both baseball and tennis, while also playing two seasons of basketball. As a high school senior, Kuna was named Male Student-Athlete of the Year and also class valedictorian, all while posting an 8-3 record with a 1.79 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 74.1 innings on the bump.

INF – Jordan Marks

Marks, 24, enters his second professional season after spending most of 2012 with the El Paso Diablos of the American Association. The five-foot-nine infielder played primarily second base for the Diablos and figures to be in the mix for the second base job with the Boomers in 2013. Marks batted .298 in 38 games with El Paso adding 8 doubles, 2 triples and homer to go along with 18 runs batted in and a .339 on-base percentage.

Marks completed his collegiate career at Louisiana College where he batted .319 in 39 games as a senior. Playing primarily second base for LC, Marks collected 12 doubles, five homers and 31 runs batted in during a solid senior season. In 2011, the Alexandria, La. native was tabbed a NCAA Division III All-American and also earned All-West Region honors, National Gold Glove second baseman, ASC East Player of the Year and All-Louisiana First Team. Marks played his first two seasons at Louisiana State University at Alexandria where he was named Team MVP both in 2008 and 2009 and named All-Conference in 2009.

INF – Ryan Miller

Miller, 22, is a recent graduate from nearby Wheaton College who had a brief stint with the Copper State Prospectors of the Freedom Baseball League. Miller is a two-time All-Region selection at shortstop at Wheaton, earning First Team All-CCIW honors in 2012. The four-year starter hit .383 (62-for-162) as a senior, with 45 runs scored and 19 RBI. The California native stole a team-best 16 bases and tied for the team lead with 13 doubles.

For his career, Miller owns a .362 batting average in 154 games. The six-foot infielder is second on the school’s all-time list with 225 career hits and is also second on the all-time runs list with 174. Miller is also second in career doubles with 46 and second in stolen bases with 50.

Miller was also college teammate of Boomers Director of Marketing/Media Ed McCaskey for one season when the Thunder advanced to the CCIW Championship for the first time in school history and Boomers Stadium was the home of Wheaton Baseball in the spring of 2009.