Barnstormers Add Big League Lefty, Catcher to Roster

The Lancaster Barnstormers have signed left-handed pitcher George “Buddy” Baumann and catcher Parker Morin, it was announced today by manager Ross Peeples.

Baumann, 31, has appeared in 38 Major League games, all in relief, over the past three seasons with the San Diego Padres and New York Mets.  He is 3-3 with a 5.58 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 30.2 innings at the big league level.

The left-hander from Missouri was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2009 and spent three seasons (2013-15) at the Class AAA level in the KC organization.  He became a free agent following the 2015 season and joined the Padres that winter.  He made his Major League debut, July 16, 2016 against San Francisco, retiring Brandon Crawford on a grounder to first base to get starter Luis Perdomo out of the fifth inning.

Baumann recorded his first big league win on August 6, 2016 against Philadelphia and appeared in 11 games total for San Diego in 2016.  He allowed only one run in 9 2/3 innings at Petco Park and was scored upon in only two of 11 appearances.  The following year, he gave up runs in only three of his 23 big league outings.

Last year, the Missouri State University product, posted a 0-1 record and 4.78 ERA in 34 minor league appearances and was 0-2 in four big league outings.

“Baumann has pitched out of the bullpen the last several years,” said Peeples.  “He has started earlier in his career and we are going to give him that opportunity again.  He has some really good career numbers.”

Morin, 27, was drafted by the Royals in 2012 and spent seven seasons in their organization.  The left-handed hitting catcher appeared in one game with Omaha in 2014.  He again reached the Royals’ Omaha affiliate in 2016.  Morin spent all of the 2016 and 2018 seasons with the Golden Spikes while splitting 2017 between there and Class AA Northwest Arkansas.

Last season, Morin batted .265 with one home run in 53 games.  His best season at the plate came in 2015 when he hit .309 over 56 games for Northwest Arkansas.

This spring training, he played in one Major League game for the Cincinnati Reds.

The defensive specialist has thrown out 33% of the opposing base stealers who have challenged him in his career.

“Morin is a really good catch-and-throw guy,” said Peeples.  “His defensive skills are his best asset, and he was graded as a big league backup by several organizations.”