Wingnuts Bolster 'Pen

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts announced three transactions on Monday, signing right-handed pitchers Cephas Howard and Matt Petty as well as catcher Jeff Christy.

Howard dominated the Northern League last season with the Schaumburg Flyers, going 3-1 with a 1.71 ERA and 47 strikeouts in just 42.0 innings of work.  The Augusta, GA native was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 37th round in 2007 out of the University of South Carolina at Aiken.  Howard spent parts of three seasons in the Angels organization, reaching High-A early last Spring.  Howard has 102 strikeouts in 89.0 career innings.  Howard's rights were acquired over the Winter when Wichita traded Kelly Hunt to Schaumburg.

"When we traded Kelly Hunt, we knew we had to get some value in return and I think we received that with Cephas", said Wingnuts' manager Kevin Hooper.  He's going to be our setup man to start the season and that's a role he's comfortable in.  He could make Justin Dowdy's stuff look even better in the ninth inning and has a chance to do some special things in our bullpen."

Petty served much of 2009 as a bridge to Wingnuts' closer Justin Dowdy while the two were teammates with the Shreveport-Bossier Captains.  The 25-year old went 5-1 with a 3.71 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 51.0 innings pitched.  A native of Kansas City, KS, Petty proved durable, finishing second in the American Association with 47 appearances, working more than one inning 14 times.  Petty spent two seasons with the Frontier League's Windy City Thunderbolts where he won back-to-back Frontier League championships alongside Wingnuts' shortstop Josh Horn.  Petty finished first (26) and second (15) respectively in the Frontier League in 2007 and 2008.  The Wingnuts acquired Petty's rights earlier in the offseason in a deal that sent Brenan Herrera to Fort Worth and Justin Young to Shreveport-Bossier.

"Matt's a local guy from Kansas City I've had my eye on for a while.  He pitched at Emporia State and I've heard nothing but good things about him not only as a player, but as a person as well.  He could be our seventh inning guy depending on matchups and could fill in on the back end if needed with his closing experience."

Christy enters his fifth season of professional baseball, all of which were spent in the Minnesota Twins organization.  The 25-year old backstop was ranked as the best defensive catcher in the Twins' farm system in 2009 and has thrown out 31% of potential base stealers over the last two seasons.  The Lincoln, NE native has played at either AA or AAA over the first four seasons of his career.  The Twins selected Christy in the 6th round in 2006 out of the University of Nebraska where hit .284 with eight home runs as a senior for the Huskers.

"Jeff is another local guy who lives just outside of Great Bend.  Joe Muich was going to be tough to replace, but I think we've found a guy in Jeff who can do that.  He's very good defensively and has the experience I want from the catching position to run our staff.  You don't play four years at Double- and Triple-A without having ability.  I also think he has the chance to do well offensively now that he will be given the opportunity to play everyday."

The Wingnuts have 19 players under contract for 2010 and can carry up to 27 players during spring training which begins on May 1st.

Wichita opens the season on May 13th at St. Paul and plays its home opener on Tuesday, May 18th versus the Sioux Falls Pheasants.  Season, group, and picnic packages are on sale now.  For more information, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS.

-Wingnuts-