York Revolution manager Mark Mason announced three new player signings this week.
Infielder/outfielder Rubi Silva will return to York. He had a key role in the team's 2017 title run.
The Revs also signed pitchers Nick Baker and Jeremy Holcombe.
A player who had a pivotal role in the York Revolution's run to the Atlantic League championship in 2017 is among three signings announced by the team this week.
Infielder/outfielder Rubi Silva is returning to the Revs. Manager Mark Mason also announced that right-handed pitchers Nick Baker and Jeremy Holcombe will join the team.
The signings were unveiled by Mason on Tuesday night's episode of "Revs Hot Stove Weekly presented by Shipley Energy" on SportsRadio 1350 WOYK.
Rubi Silva: Silva returns after joining the Revs last September for the stretch run. In seven regular-season games, Silva hit .379 (11-for-29) with a home run, a triple and double each, and four RBIs. He then hit a sizzling .452 in seven postseason games with 14 hits in 31 at-bats, scoring seven runs. He went 4 for 4 in the clinching game against Long Island to fuel York's championship run.
Silva previously spent five seasons in the Chicago Cubs' minor league system, reaching Triple-A Iowa in 2015, where he hit .282 with 11 homers and 48 RBIs in 98 games. Silva hit .305 in 98 games with Sussex County in the Canadian-American Association in 2017 before being traded to York.
"He's an outfielder by trade and played a fantastic second base for us last season," Mason said. "He made some unbelievable plays going to his left, in the whole, up the middle, laying out for balls, and offensively he was like a magician sometimes. Those kind of players are really fun to have on your team because they bring a lot to the table. He's a guy that can put it in play, get on base and do some damage, and defensively he's going to help you no matter where you put him, and that just makes life easier when you're working with your roster."
Nick Baker: Baker comes to York after spending the last four seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system, going 18-8 with a 3.55 ERA in 136 games (19 starts).
The right-hander logged at least 56 innings of work in all four seasons and has thrown 291 1/3 total innings in his pro career. A product of California State University Chico, Baker started his career in Low-A in 2014 before dominating with a 10-1 record with 59 strikeouts at Single-A Kane County in 2015. In 2016 and 2017, Baker mainly pitched at High-A Visalia and also made three combined appearances for Triple-A Reno. Baker was selected in the 29th round of the 2014 draft by the Diamondbacks.
"We're going to give him a chance to come in and be a starter. He throws a lot of strikes and goes after hitters, low-to-mid 90s fastball with a good breaking ball," Mason said. "I know there was interest for him by teams other than us. The reports have all been good and his overall numbers. A guy that can go multiple innings, and that's something that we always look at. Especially early on in the year, that's a good thing."
Jeremy Holcombe: Holcombe comes into camp with three pro seasons under his belt.
He spent the 2017 season in the United Shore Professional Baseball League with the Westside Woolly Mammoths, posting a 7-3 record with a 2.68 ERA. He totaled 78 strikeouts over 94.0 innings in 17 games and worked eight shutout innings with six strikeouts in a playoff game and got the win.
In 2015 and 2016, Holcombe pitched for the Washington Wild Things and Normal Corn Belters of the Frontier League. The right-hander combined to make 16 appearances, including six starts, and threw 42.0 innings with Washington and Normal. Holcombe played his college ball at Faulkner University.
"I talked to some Frontier League people just to try to get a handle of what they thought of him, got a scouting report from them. Just a fierce, competitive guy. Another hard-throwing right-hander," Mason said. "This year starting pitching-wise, we have some guys that can really bring the velocity. Another guy that pounds the strike zone really well. That's kind of the theme we're going for. It's nice to have guys out there that keep the game moving, keep it crisp, and attack the hitters."
The Revs now have 24 players under contract for the 2018 season and will unveil additional signings next Tuesday, April 3.
York's season starts Thursday, April 26, vs. the Lancaster Barnstormers at PeoplesBankPark.