WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts have made another significant addition for the 2009 season, signing veteran outfielder Greg Porter.
Drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 45th round in 2001, Porter has spent the last four seasons in the high minors. A left handed hitter, Porter is a .292 career hitter, with more base hits (788) than games played (749). In eight years of professional baseball, all of them in the affiliated minor leagues, Porter has hit .286 or better six times, while eclipsing the .300 mark four times.
Porter spent the first seven years of his career in the Angels' organization, before splitting time with the Washington Nationals' and New York Yankees' AAA affiliates in 2008. Last season, Porter hit .255 in a combined 92 games with Scranton-Wilkes Barre and Columbus, both members of the AAA International League. Porter reached AAA for the first time in 2007, hitting .345 in 56 games with seven home runs and 33 RBI for the Salt Lake Bees of the Pacific Coast League.
Prior to reaching AAA, the West Point, NY native was one of the top hitters in the AA Texas League, playing with the Arkansas Travelers for three seasons. Porter hit .286, .298, and .294 respectively from 2005-2007, which included a career-high 20 home runs and 71 RBI in 2006. Porter is a lifetime .317 hitter with 16 runs scored and 19 RBI in 31 games at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
Porter, who stands at six feet four inches, 225 pounds, began his career in the Rookie level Pioneer League in 2001, hitting .331 with 10 home runs and 34 RBI in just 39 games. After a rough season in 2001 in which he hit .229, Porter rebounded in 2003 and hit .305. The 76-point improvement earned him a promotion to the High-A California League where he hit .318 in 2004 with Rancho Cucamonga.
Porter played three seasons of college baseball at Texas A&M University from 1999-2001. The 28-year old has played most of his professional career in the outfield, while also possessing experience at first and third base. Porter's left handed bat will help balance the Wingnuts' lineup. He is expected to play left field for the Wingnuts in 2009.
Porter joins returning Wingnuts players Michael Thompson, Dustan Mohr, Richard Salazar, Brenan Herrera, Brad Davis, Steve Pearson, Blake Gailen, Doug Hurn, Justin Young, and Amad Stephens, as well as fellow newcomers Derek Jennings, Zach Goldberg, Scott Daniels, Bill Duffy, Jeff Reekers, Gabe Medina, Dustin Smith, Tyler Rhoden, Nathan Parker, Derek Blacksher, and Kelly Hunt to give Wichita 22 players under contract for the 2009 season. American Association teams can carry up to 28 players through Spring Training.
The Wingnuts open their second season on May 14th when they host the Lincoln Saltdogs at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium at 7:05 p.m. Season tickets and ticket packages are on sale now. Meanwhile, the Wichita Thunder returns home this weekend for two games, beginning with a contest versus Texas on Friday at 7:05 p.m. at the Kansas Coliseum. For more information, call the Wingnuts/Thunder office at (316) 264-4625.
-Wingnuts-
