It seems that infielder Lino CONELL will be back with Fortitudo Bologna. There are rumours about an agreement for an extension between the club and the player. The 35-year-old former minor leaguer in the California Angels organization impressed in his first Italian Baseball League season last year with a batting average of .318 (OBP .422/SLG .394) with 27 runs scored and 24 RBI. He filled in as a first baseman and was used as their cleanup hitter. With the addition of new outfielder Joseph MAZZUCA Bologna would have an interesting middle of the batting order. However the deal is not official yet.
There is nothing new to report in the case about a possible return of ace Jesus MATOS. He is supposed to throw again for scouts of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, which want him in their affiliated team in the Mexican Summer League. Nevertheless his tendencies are directed into an extension in Italy.
Besides the possible comeback, Fortitudos club president Marco MACCIAVELLI is also talking to four other pitchers. They are interested in Jason OLSON, Renny DUARTE, Martin VARGAS and Americo PEGUERO.
OLSON is currently playing for York in the Atlantic League. The reliever is 29 years old and had a 6-5 record with an ERA of 4.03 in 2007. He was selected by the LA Dodgers in the 17th round of the 2000 amateur draft. He was later traded to the LA Angels. He appeared in 91 minor league games, reaching Triple A in 2005. He struck out 164 in 169 innings pitched with an ERA of 4.58. He was released and joined Somerset (Atlantic League) in 2006.
DUARTE was pitching for Cardenales Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League. He had a 1-5 record with an ERA of 5.29 in nine games (six starts). He struck out 10 in 34 innings pitched. The 29-year-old was the pitching coach of the Spanish champion Marlins Puerto Cruz in 2007. He also had nine appearances, winning six games with an impressive 1.26 ERA. He struck out 28 in 43 innings pitched.
PEGUERO is pitching in the Dominican Republic. He is a former minor leaguer out in the Baltimore Orioles organization. Between 1996 and 1998 he had an ERA of 4.70 in 56 games (41 starts). He never pitched higher than High A. He had 239 strikeouts in 243 innings pitched. He is 31 years old.
The Dominican VARGAS signed with the Cleveland Indians organization in 1995. He pitched on the Double A and Triple A Level between 2000 and 2002. He had a 4.50 ERA in 129 games, striking out 133 in 184 innings pitched. His fastball reaches 92 to 94 miles per hour. He later went on to Japan and Mexico.
Statistics:
Lino CONNELL
Jason OLSON
Renny DUARTE
Martin VARGAS (Cleveland/Japan)
Americo PEGUERO
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February 28, 2008 | 12:38 pm
[...] We already had reported that Fortitudo Bologna would be interested to bring in Martin VARGAS if Jesus MATOS signs in Mexico. However now they have both on their roster. They also confirmed that first baseman Lino CONNELL and pitcher Alfredo DELGADO indeed would play for the club from the Emilia Romagna. [...]