The Lancaster Barnstormers have made major strides toward filling out their 2016 Opening Day pitching staff with the addition of four right-handers, it was announced today by manager Butch Hobson.
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Bryan Evans and Bryan Woodall, who both opened the 2015 season in Lancaster before heading elsewhere, will be returning in 2016. Â Lancaster has also added Justin Jackson, a former infielder/outfielder, who was a supplemental first round draft choice for Toronto in 2007, and well-traveled right-hander Mike Lee.
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The signings give Hobson 11 pitchers and 18 players overall on contract for the 2016 season.
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Evans, 29, was Lancaster’s Opening Night starter in 2015.  The right-hander from California went 1-2 with a 6.04 ERA in five starts with his lone win coming on May 8 with seven shutout innings against Southern Maryland.  He was signed by the Colorado Rockies and went 6-5 with a 3.33 ERA for Class AA New Britain.  Ten of his 12 starts for the Rock Cats were “quality” starts, including a 12-strikeout effort against Altoona (Pirates) on June 3.
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Prior to joining the Barnstormers, Evans spent seven seasons in the Miami Marlins system, reaching Class AAA New Orleans where he was 5-8 in 2014.
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“Bryan is a strike thrower who had a really good year at Double-A after leaving us last year,” said Hobson.  “We’re really glad to have him back.”
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Woodall, 29, opened the 2015 season in Lancaster’s bullpen but took on a starting role after Evans’ departure.  He finished with a 3-4 record and 3.54 ERA before leaving for Taiwan.  Nine of his final 10 starts with Lancaster were quality starts, and he ended with back-to-back shutout efforts against York, totaling 14 innings of work.  His ERA over those 10 starts was 1.86.
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The product of Auburn University spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, reaching Class AAA Reno in both 2012 and 2013. Â He was used exclusively as a reliever until 2014.
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“Woodall keeps the ball down in the zone which plays well in our park,” said Hobson.  “He’s a real bulldog on the mound.”
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Jackson is the fourth former first round pick for the Toronto Blue Jays signed by the Barnstormers over the past two seasons. Â The 45th player taken overall in 2007, Jackson, now 27, played a variety of infield and outfield positions for the Blue Jays through 2012 but batted ,230 in 624 games. Â The Blue Jays took his strong arm and moved him to the mound for 2013.
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He was acquired by Atlanta last season. Â After starting at Class AA Mississippi, the Asheville, NC native went to Class A Carolina. Â He was 3-1 with six saves and a 2.05 ERA in 27 appearances for the Mudcats. Â He yielded only 10 hits in his final 28 1/3 innings.
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“Jackson throws hard but is working on his secondary pitches,” Hobson said.  “He had some success last year, and I think there is a lot of upside with him.”
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Lee, 29, signed with Boston as the Red Sox’ eighth round pick in 2008.  He reached Class AA Portland in 2011 and returned there in 2012.  After a short stint with Rockford in the Frontier League, he went to the Atlanta Braves.  They gave him his first taste of Class AAA with a start late in 2013.  He was with Arizona and Toronto in 2014 and spent last season in the Blue Jays’ organization battling back from an injury.
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“Lee is a big righty who throws 94-96 when he is working out of the pen,” Hobson said.  “He’s been a starter for much of his career, but he wants the chance to go out there for an inning and put everything into it.”
