SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Two key members of a strength of the 2013 Frontier League Champion Schaumburg Boomers, right-handers Dexter Price and James Bierlein, agreed to terms for another run in 2014.

Price, 23, will help solidify the back-end of the bullpen once again in 2014 after serving as the closer for the Boomers during the Championship run. The 6-foot-7 righty with a unique side arm delivery was stellar for Manager Jamie Bennett in 2013, earning a 6-1 record and 16 saves in 41.2 innings of work. The former Arizona Diamondbacks farmhand posted a 2.16 ERA in a Boomers uniform with 36 strikeouts against just seven walks.

Bierlein, 25, returns for his second season in Schaumburg after being a right-handed reliever the Boomers relied upon heavily in 2013. The 6-foot-1 hurler compiled the best season of his professional career with a 3.77 earned run average in 45.1 innings of work. Bierlein also added five saves to go along with 47 strikeouts while only issuing 18 free passes.

With the additions of Price and Bierlein, the defending champs have four players officially signed to contracts for the 2014 season. Both pitchers join infielders Jordan Dean and Ryan Normoyle on what will be a maximum 34-man roster when Spring Training begins in late April at Boomers Stadium in Schaumburg.

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COMPLETE PLAYER BIOS

RHP James Bierlein

Bierlein, 25, returns for his second season in Schaumburg after being a right-handed reliever the Boomers relied upon heavily in 2013. The 6-foot-1 hurler compiled the best season of his professional career with a 3.77 earned run average in 45.1 innings of work. Bierlein also added five saves to go along with 47 strikeouts while only issuing 18 free passes.

The right-hander joined the Boomers as a free agent with two prior seasons of professional experience. Bierlein spent part of the 2011 season with the New York Federals of the Can-Am League, striking out 11 batters in 16.1 innings pitched as a member of the Federals. In 2012, Bierlein made 12 appearances in the Pecos League with the Trinidad Triggers and racked up 24 strikeouts in 22.1 innings.

Bierlein played collegiately at Division III Randolph-Macon College where he played outfield in addition to his work on the mound for the Yellow Jackets. On the hill, Bierlein appeared in 41 games and amassed 109.2 innings pitched, including nine games started and holds a career 3.36 ERA to go along with 87 strikeouts and 35 free passes at Randolph-Macon. Bierlein also made 119 appearances in the outfield where he posted a .259 batting average with 69 runs scored, 28 doubles and 58 runs batted in.

RHP Dexter Price

Price, 23, will help solidify the back-end of the bullpen once again in 2014 after serving as the closer for the Boomers during the Championship run. The 6-foot-7 righty with a unique side arm delivery was stellar for Manager Jamie Bennett in 2013, earning a 6-1 record and 16 saves in 41.2 innings of work. The former Arizona Diamondbacks farmhand posted a 2.16 ERA in a Boomers uniform with 36 strikeouts against just seven walks.

Price joined the Boomers pitching staff after a pair of seasons in professional ball. The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted Price in the 30th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, and he spent two seasons with the team’s rookie affiliate, the Missoula Osprey. The 6-foot-7 Colorado native went 6-4 in his stint with Missoula with a 5.09 ERA. Over the course of 104.1 professional innings, Price has racked up 75 strikeouts against just 35 walks.  

Before turning pro, Price played for the University of South Carolina-Beaufort, where he recorded a 6-3 record with two complete games, one shutout and a 2.39 ERA in 2011, which earned him a Sun Conference First-Team All-Conference selection. Price spent his first two years of college ball at Auburn where he amassed a 7-3 record and 5.49 ERA as a Tiger with 50 punchouts against just 23 walks in 77.1 innings. Before entering college, Price was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 43rd round of the 2008 draft out of Air Academy High School in Colorado.