The Italian Baseball League club REGGIO EMILIA acquired two more players for the upcoming season. They signed catcher Pete Farina and infielder Taber Lee with both having collected experience in the American minor leagues.
The 25-year-old Farina from Culver City, California went to the Virginia Commonwealth University, was drafted in the 21st round in 2005 and spent two seasons in the Chicago Cubs system in 2005 and 2006, batting .232 (OBP .283/SLG .250) in 56 at bats over 25 games between the Rookie and Double-A level. In 2008 Farina played in the independent Golden Baseball League for the Yuma Scorpions. He batted .272 (.352/.387) with five homeruns, 36 runs scored and 42 RBI in 65 games.
Lee was born in Glendale, California and is 28 years old. The infielder was the 73rd pick overall (3rd round) out of San Diego State in the 2002 amateur draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He stayed six seasons with Pirates affiliates until 2007, reaching Triple-A in 2006. He batted .238 (.337/.325) in 535 games. He mostly was used as a shortstop or second baseman.
Last week REGGIO EMILIA already brought in William Juarez, a former pitcher in the Arizona Diamondbacks system.