BARNSTORMERS SIGN TWO PITCHERS, MAKE TRADE

Ex-Diamondback Reliever Sittinger Joins Club

The Lancaster Barnstormers have signed right-handed pitchers Brandyn Sittinger and Gray Fenter, it has been announced by manager Ross Peeples.

In addition, the club has traded right-handed reliever Cole Aker to the High Point Rockers for catcher Chris Proctor. Proctor will join the team when it returns home to face the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs beginning Tuesday.

Sittinger, 28, appeared five times for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2021. The right-hander made his Major League debut on September 8 against the Texas Rangers. Over his first four appearances, he allowed two hits and a run in four innings. He lost at Houston in his fifth and final outing on September 19. The Ohio native allowed five hits and two walks in his 4 2/3 innings.

He was 1-2 with a 4.12 ERA between Class AA Amarillo and Class AAA Reno earlier in the 2021 season. Lancaster teammates West Tunnell and Cameron Gann were also on the Reno squad last year.

This season, Sittinger was with Class AAA Gwinnett in the Atlanta system. He was 1-3 with a 6.26 ERA in 23 relief appearances for the Stripers.

Sittinger, who attended Marshall University and Ashland signed with Detroit in 2016. He has struck out 241 batters in 195.1 innings in his minor league career.

Fenter, 26, signed with Baltimore as their seventh round pick in 2015 and spent seven years in their organization. In 2019, the Arkansas native 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA, mostly as a starter for Class A Delmarva. He was 6-4 with a 5.47 ERA in a swing role with Class AA Bowie last season.

During the off-season, the right-hander signed with the San Francisco Giants. He spent the year with Class AA Richmond. Fenter was 0-4 with a 5.13 ERA in his 22 appearances in a swing role.

In his career, Fenter has struck out 402 batters in 347.2 innings.

“Both pitchers come highly recommended,” said manager Ross Peeples. “We are going to try to build Fenter back up to a starting role, and Sittinger will fit right into our bullpen with another quality arm.”

Aker, a resident of North Carolina, leaves the Barnstormers after making 20 relief appearances. He was 2-2 with a 5.64 ERA. In return, the Barnstormers pick up Proctor, who was batting .296 with no homers and 17 RBI.

Proctor is a product of Duke; Aker attended the University of North Carolina.