At a press conference with their new sponsor andré media AG on Monday, the reigning German champion BUCHBINDER LEGIONAERE REGENSBURG announced that they bolster their roster with two Californian players. Right-handed pitcher Scott Lonergan is 25 years old and is supposed to give the pitching staff a boost in the European Cup and the early stages of the Baseball-Bundesliga season. Matt Vance is 22 years old and takes over as shortstop for Simon Kudernatsch, who is not coming back after finishing the college season.
Lonergan only will play for REGENSBURG in the European Cup from March 31st to April 4th and the first few weeks of the Bundesliga, before leaving for the independent Golden Baseball League in mid-April. He attended Santa Clara (2004/2005) and Rice Universities (2007). After graduating in 2007 he was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 37th round of the amateur draft. He made his debut during the same summer in the NY-Penn League (Low A) and even appeared in one Triple-A game. In 2008 Lonergan split time between the Gulf Coast League, NY-Penn League and California League affiliates of the Red Sox.
Vance split time at short and the outfield during his time with the Harvard University. He played in the Ivy League from 2005 to 2008 and is the career league leader with 65 stolen bases and 37 doubles, batting .295 in 162 games. He also was named to the all-star team twice.