BARNSTORMERS ADD VETERAN OUTFIELDER

Outfielder Logan Schafer, who has spent part or all of five Major League seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, has been signed to play for the Lancaster Barnstormers in 2016, it was announced today by manager Butch Hobson.

Schafer, 29, was first promoted to Milwaukee in September, 2011 and worked his way into 134 games in 2013.  Overall, the left-handed batter played in 292 games at the big league level, rapping out 43 extra base hits in 562 at bats.

The California native was a consistent hitter climbing through the Brewers’ organization.  He batted .313 for Class A Brevard County in 2009.  Two years later, Schafer hit a combined .315 at three different levels of the Milwaukee farm system, including a .331 mark in 40 games with Class AAA Nashville, earning that first Major League promotion.

In 2012, he slugged a career-high 11 home runs for Nashville while adding 23 doubles and nine home runs.  

Last year, with the Brewers new Class AAA affiliate in Colorado Springs, Schafer hit .258 in 72 games.  He also batted .221 in 69 games for the big league club.

“Logan comes in with a great track record as a solid hitter and outfielder,” said manager Butch Hobson.  “He adds tremendous depth to our already strong outfield.”

Doyle, 30, has pitched in four different organizations, reaching Class AAA in all four.  The product of Boston College won 12 games in the White Sox system in 2010.  He has also had stretches with the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves, but it was in the Baltimore system last year where he put together a dream season.

The right-hander put together a 12-1 record and 1.97 ERA for the Eastern League champion Bowie Baysox and 4-1 mark with a 2.57 ERA at Class AAA Norfolk.  While with Bowie, he won his final 10 decisions, throwing quality starts in 11 of his last 12 games.  His ERA over that span was a miniscule 1.30.  Doyle threw two complete game shutouts for the Baysox.

He was promoted to Norfolk at the beginning of August and threw six of seven quality starts for the Tides.

Doyle opened the 2016 season at Norfolk and was 0-2 in four starts before being released by the Orioles.

He is scheduled to start this evening’s game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.

“Doyle is coming off a tremendous season,” said Hobson.  “He is a proven winner.”

Lancaster has released left-handed pitcher Jason Stevenson to make room on the roster.