The Barnstormers have added two former big leaguers to the roster: infielder Roberto Mejia and relief pitcher Phil Norton.
Mejia, a lifetime .287 hitter, is in his 18th professional season. He started his career with the Dodgers as a nondrafted free agent in 1989. The Dominican native played 133 games in the big leagues with the Rockies and Cardinals. He played in Mexico from 2000-06.
Norton started the season with the Somerset Patriots. The lefthander was released last month after posting a 7.11 ERA in eight games. He appeared in 92 big-league games with the Cubs and Reds in 2000, 2003 and 2004.
Mejia, Norton and outfielder Vince Blue, who was signed on Wednesday, were all in uniform for Sunday night’s game against the Road Warriors.
Mejia’s addition gives Lancaster a much-needed backup infielder, which the team has lacked since Bo Hart was picked up by the Cubs on June 15. The 35-year-old has played mostly second base and third base in his career. He’ll fill the role of utility infielder for Lancaster.
“I see him getting his at-bats that way,” Barnstormers manager Frank Klebe said. “I like his actions. He has good hands, I can see that.”
Norton, 31, becomes the fourth lefthander in the Barnstormers’ seven-man bullpen. The others are Eric Ackerman, Ross Peeples and Jason Norderum. It will be interesting to see how that logjam is addressed in the coming days.
Klebe said the Barnstormers wanted to add another pitcher because of the shortage of off days between now and the All-Star break. Norton was the choice.
“We needed an extra arm or we’re going to kill our bullpen,” Klebe said. “That was important. It didn’t matter if he was a lefthander or righthander. Can he get outs?”
Blue has been compared to Quincy Foster because he’s a left-handed hitting speedster. The outfielder was released by the Detroit Tigers’ Triple-A club in Toledo earlier this month.
Will Blue be the leadoff hitter in Lancaster?
“I have no idea yet,” Klebe said.
“Right now I’m staying with the hot lineup, the hot hand until it cools off. … I’m just happy to have some new faces in here, so I feel like if we get into a situation were somebody gets hurt we’ve got somebody in the bench that can fill in.”
