Barnstormers Add Two to Infield

The Lancaster Barnstormers have signed infielders Joey Terdoslavich and Carlos Garcia to contracts for the 2018 season, it was announced today by manager Ross Peeples.

With the signings, the Barnstormers will have 31 players in their spring training camp which is scheduled to open on Monday.

Terdoslavich, 29, spent a portion of three seasons at the Major League level with the Atlanta Braves and will rejoin former teammate Matt Marksberry in Lancaster.  The switch hitting corner infielder has appeared in 92 big league games.  He has a game winning, pinch hit home run off San Diego’s Joaquin Benoit to his credit.

The native Floridian signed with Atlanta out of Cal State-Long Beach in 2010 as the Braves’ sixth round pick in that year’s draft.  In 2011, his first full season, he finished among the top five in the Carolina League in doubles (52), homers (20), RBI (82) and batting average (.286).  The nephew of former Boston Red Sox outfielder Mike Greenwell hit .315 with Class AA Mississippi in 2012 and .318 with Class AAA Gwinnett in 2013 but fell just short of the required number of plate appearances to qualify for the batting title in both cases.

Since leaving Atlanta, Terdoslavich has been with the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates minor league systems.  He batted .277 with seven home runs and 47 RBI at Class AAA Indianapolis last season.

“We are told that Joe is a professional hitter who loves to compete,” said Peeples.  “We are very excited to see what he can do in the Barn.”

Garcia, 26, spent the first eight seasons of his professional career in the Kansas City Royals farm system.  Over that time, he finished second in the Pioneer League in batting with a .333 mark for Idaho Falls in 2013 and tied for third in the Class A Carolina League with eight triples in 2015, despite playing in only 78 games.

He also stole 50 bases to capture the Dominican Summer League crown in 2010, one of six players under contract with the Barnstormers for 2018 to have swiped at least 40 bases in a previous season.

Last season, the Venezuela native hit a combined .232 between Class A Augusta and Class AA Richmond in the San Francisco system.  He hit a career high six home runs.

“Carlos will pretty much be our utility guy,” said Peeples.  “He will play at second, short and third.  I think he will fit in very well with what we are trying to do.”