Godo Knights
The Italian Baseball League club Godo Knights has signed the 34-year-old utility man Carlos Enrique Villalobos for the upcoming season. The Colombian played affiliated minor league ball for the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros between 1994 and 2000. Afterwards he joined the independent league circuit and the Mexican League, where he stayed until 2006. In 2007 and 2008 he split time between the Colombian League and the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan. Last year Villalobos played for the Yuma Scorpions of the independent Golden Baseball League before winning the Winter League title in his home country.
Career Minor League Stats Carlos Villalobos
Montepaschi Grosseto
The Orioles Grosseto bring back William Horn into the Italian Baseball League. The 30-year-old right-handed pitcher, who was born in New York, returns after five years. In 2003 and 2004 he took the mound for T&A San Marino. In two seasons Serie A1 baseball he had a 9-11 record with an ERA of 3.91, while striking out 100 batters in 147 1/3 innings (37 walks). Due to his history in Italy he is eligible to pitch in game three for Montepaschi each week.
Telemarket Rimini
It was already a topic in the Italian hot stove over the past few weeks, but now it is official. Clinton Balgera returns to Telemarket Rimini. The 34-year-old Australian with Italian passport already played in the Italian elite league between 2002 and 2008, splitting time with Parma and Rimini. He has a career batting average of .281 (OBP .377/SLG .372) in 316 games. The Pirates are expected to use him at first base. Balgera is scheduled to arrive after finishing the season with the West Australian Black Ducks at the end of March.