TAMPA, FL – The Empire State Greys of the MLB partnered Frontier League have added an experienced infielder to the roster today. Josue Herrera out of the Dominican Republic will get on the bus for the 2023 season.

The 25 year old from Santo Domingo signed in 2014 with the Baltimore Orioles where he spent 5 years in the system. He was a career .242 hitter in the minor leagues during his time with the Orioles and made it as high as rookie leaver in the Florida Gulf Coast League.

Herrera was signed to the Empire League where he lasted 3 days after hitting 3 homers in 2 games and was immediately moved to the York Revolution of the Atlantic League. He posted a .247 batting average with 19 total homers and 92 Runs batted in in the Atlantic League.

He played in 2021 with the Toros del Oeste in the Dominican Winter League.

He is a strong left handed batter who will play corner infielder for the Greys and is excited about the opportunity to be in the MLB Partnered Frontier League.

This is the first signing for the Greys in 2023 as the team has begun its search to complete a competitive travel ball club this year.

Article by Empire Media

GATEWAY – The 2023 Frontier League will host its annual tryout in Gateway at the Home of the Gateway Grizzlies.

As the draft order comes out, The Empire State Greys will have the number 1 overall pick as well as the 17th overall pick.

The team did not pick up options on most of its players which means there are many roster spots available for the upcoming season as the Greys look to improve their rosters with more experienced players behind new manager Mark Mason.

“I’m thrilled to have Mark as our leader of this ball club. This is a big step for us in the right direction and having the number one overall pick is huge for us. We will be making a lot of moves this off season to put together the most competitive ball club we can.” – Jerry Gonzalez

The Greys will start camp on May 1st this year shortly after the Frontier League Tryout. The Frontier League holds its annual Tryout Camp and Draft the last Monday and Tuesday of April each year, leading directly to the start of spring training camps.  All 16 Frontier League teams will participate, along with scouts from multiple Major League teams and representatives from other independent leagues.

Over the past 12 years, an average of 36 players per year are signed by Frontier League teams out of the Tryout Camp and Draft, with many others signed by other independent leagues.  MLB organizations have signed players from each of the past eight Tryout Camps.

For more information on Tryouts, visit the league Tryouts site at frontierleague.com

Article by Greys Media

Tampa, FL – The Empire State Greys are proud to announce that All Star Trainer for the Greys during the 2022 Frontier League has accepted a job with the New York Mets organization.

The Empire State Greys have been providing opportunities to players and staff to all year to get their foot in the door of professional baseball. Which includes trainers and coaches.

We are proud to announce Danny Degregorio as the new Minor League Associate of reconditioning for the New York Mets.

DeGregorio was selected to the 2022 Frontier League All Star Game and the Greys couldn’t be more excited for DeGregorio’s promotion.

Article by Greys Media

The Empire State Greys announced Mark Mason as the club’s new manager today, hiring the 4th most winningest coach in Atlantic League history.

Mark Mason was the head coach at Washington & Jefferson College through 2002. He was pitching coach and bullpen coach of the Washington Wild Things from 2002-2004, managed the Ohio Valley Redcoats in 2005 and guided the Chillicothe Paints in 2007-2008.

Mason most recently guided the Revs during their return to the field in 2021. The skipper steered the team through a season filled with roster turnover to a late-second half playoff push that saw them in contention all the way until the next-to-last day of the season. Some of the turnover came for good reason as York saw six players’ contracts purchased by MLB organizations, tied for the most in franchise history (2007, 2011).

Mason recruited a club record eight mid-season All-Stars, three post-season All-Stars, and the Atlantic League Player of the Year for the second time in three seasons. It was all part of leading the franchise to its eighth postseason berth and fourth under his guidance. Mason also managed the Freedom Division to victory at the Atlantic League All-Star Game for the second consecutive season, this time in York at PeoplesBank Park.

Mason guided the Revolution to a 76-win season in 2016. Mason’s squad became one of the most exciting in the league, setting a club record with 11 walk-off wins and nine extra-inning wins, while leading the league with 29 home runs in the month of September. The Revs’ 34 comeback wins fell just short of matching a then-club record of 36, tied the season before. York finished the season ranking second in the league in batting average and homers, and tied for second in stolen bases in 2015.

His first stint in Washington began in 2002 as pitching coach, where he remained for three seasons. In 2005, he became manager of the Ohio Valley Red Coats and was named Frontier League Manager of the Year in his lone season as skipper of the team. In 2006, Mason returned to Washington as pitching coach, before taking the managerial reins of the Chillicothe Paints, also of the Frontier League. He managed the Paints for two seasons before joining the Wild Things for a third stint, this time as manager. Mason’s pitching staffs led the Frontier League in wins in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006.

He will take over the managerial duties for the Greys for the 2023 season.

“I’m excited to work with Eddie and Jerry because of our relationship. I’ve known them for a very long time and we have done great work together. This is a great opportunity for all of us and I’m excited for the opportunity to return to the Frontier League and build a competitive ball club.” – Mark Mason

Article by Empire Media

Information from York Revolution

Little Falls, NJ — The New Jersey Jackals (41-41) entered Saturday’s tilt with the Empire State Greys (6-77), with their playoff hopes still very much alive, but needing to take care of business at home in order to make the necessary push. 

Unfortunately for the red and black, the climb to the top got a bit steeper as the Jackals fell to the Greys by a score of 10-5 on the team’s final fireworks night at Yogi Berra Stadium.

The game started off well enough for the Jackals, with a leadoff home run by Edward Salcedo on the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning. The solo blast was his first with the team, extended his now six-game hitting streak, and gave the home side a 1-0 lead.

New Jersey’s second run came the very next frame with another moonshot to left field, this time off the bat of catcher Jason Agresti. The equalizing shot brought the score to 2-2, and would end up being the closest thing the Jackals would have to a lead for the rest of the contest.

From the top of the third inning to the middle of the eighth, Empire State outscored New Jersey eight to one, thanks to contributions from multiple sources. Four Greys had at least three hits in the game, including an incredible three-for-six day from third baseman John Benevolent, adding a double, triple, home run, two runs scored, and three RBI. Trey Woosley added a homer as
well within his trio of hits, to go with a pair of runs scored and RBI.

Taking on a starring role was former Jackal Mizuki Atkatsuka, who put together his best outing since coming over from Japan. The switch-pitcher operated exclusively with his right arm, tossing seven innings of three run baseball, on just six hits, one walk and six strikeouts, earning his first victory in the Frontier League.

Empire State and New Jersey will square off tomorrow at 2:05pm in the rubber match of the three-game series. You can stream the game live on FloSports.com for full video.

Article by New Jersey Jackals Media

ALBANY, NY – The Empire State Greys have made a trade with the Ottawa Titans that will send Top hitting Outfielder Liam McArthur in exchange for RHP Jared Strait and UTIL Jordan Garr.

McArthur is one of the leagues best hitters where he is batting .326 in the year in 299 plate appearances. Liam had a .411 on base percentage with 84 hits and 34 base on balls. He had a team leading 38 runs scored and a total of 98 bases. He also added 12 stolen bases.

McArthur contributed heavily to the Greys and will now be heading to the Ottawa Titans of the division.

In return, the Greys will be receiving RHP Jared Strait and Util Jordan Garr.

Garr has played in 5 different teams this season in the American Association and in the Frontier League while RHP Jared Strait comes from a trade to Ottawa from the Florence Yall’s.

Both players will be available on day 1 of the Sussex County Miners series that starts on August 16, 2022.

Article by Greys Media

The Empire State Greys signed Infielder Manny Garcia and he has been a huge part of the recent success of the Greys.

Since joining the team, in just 7 games, Garcia has 5 home runs and has already surpassed as the leader in homers in the Greys team.

Manny is a 6’0 195 pound Louisiana Tech University product born and raised in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He was previously signed to the Windy City Thunderbolts where he batted .180 with 3 home runs but spent a short amount of time on the team.

Since joining the team, Manny is batting .310 with 5 home runs and 10 Runs batted in. Garcia will look to continue his hot streak and a strong finish to the season.

Article by Greys Media

Picture by: William J BuggeIn

CRESTWOOD, IL – The Empire State Greys have won their first series of the season by defeating the Windy City Thunderbolts in the first two games of the Series.

Manny Garcia returned to his former team with something to prove. In Game one he went 3 for 5 with a double, a home run, 2 runs and 4 runs batted in. John Benevolent joined the party with 4 hits of his own with one being a triple and a home run with 4 runs batted in. Johsson Arias earned another victory tossing 5 innings allowing 3 runs on 7 hits while striking out 7 Thunderbolts batters. The Greys won the game by a score of 10-4.

Game two of the series was a tight one as the Greys would pull off a 3-2 late inning win! Willie Estrada and Camden Williamson both with 3 hits a piece in this one leading the offensive attack. Andres Rodriguez was spectacular as he tossed his second victory of the season going 6 innings pitched giving up just 2 runs on 8 hits striking out 2 batters.

The Greys nearly pulled off the sweep as the Thunderbolts walked-off on game 3.

The Greys will head back to the east coast to face the Sussex County Miners with game one at 7:00pm ET.

Article by Greys Media

WASHINGTON, PA – Empire State Greys Starting Pitcher Johsson Arias has officially been selected to his first Frontier League All Star Game.

Arias, a 6’1 190 pound right hander out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic who can reach up to 96 miles per hour on his fastball, has been the most dominant and consistent throughout the Greys season and is the team leader in wins and innings pitched with a 2.1 earned run average.

He will be amongst the relievers in the Frontier League All Star Game that will be taking place in Washington, PA on July 19th.

This will be a spectacular event at Wildthings park where the best players of the Frontier League will meet for a matchup that includes a home run derby competition!

Tickets can be purchased online by visiting WashingtonWildthings.com or at the Gate on the date of the event. This event will sell out so it is recommended that you purchase yours today!

Article by Greys Media

Empire State starting pitcher Johsson Arias held Tri-City to only one hit over five shutout innings as the Greys rebounded from a walk-off lose on Friday nightwith a 9-3 victory over the ValleyCats at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on Saturday. 

56 of Arias’ 89 pitches were fastballs, with a top velocity of 95.5 mph and average of 92.5. 

Empire State jumped out early.  A first inning, two-out single by Jordan Holloman-Scott was immediately followed by an RBI double to right center by Trey Woosley.  The Greys recorded two more hits in the second and two in the third, starting with a leadoff single by Robbie Carling.  Holloman-Scott singled Carling to second, who then advanced to third when Woosley hit into a fielder’s choice.  With two outs, Carling came home after Woosley was caught in a rundown. 

After Tri-City plated a run in the bottom of the 6^th, Empire State responded with a seven-run 7^th inning. Jose Mercado led off the inning with a single to left and then stole second base along him to score on double to left field by Liam McArthur.  Carling then singled in McArthur for the second run in the inning.  Will Decker later drove in two runs with a single, giving the Greys six runs before their first out.  13 batters came to the plate for Empire State, with Carling both scoring and driving in a run. 

Jason Pineda tossed a perfect 8^th inning before Luis Pacheco finished the game for Empire State. 

The Greys look for the series win on Sunday afternoon, a 5:05 PM Eastern start.