Right-handed pitcher Scott Gracey, voted by fans as the Barnstormers’ Player of the Year in 2015, has been signed for a second season in Lancaster by manager Butch Hobson, it was announced today.
Also returning to Clipper Magazine Stadium for the 2016 season will be catcher Charlie Cutler, who played a big role in Lancaster’s second half surge last summer.
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With the signings, the Barnstormers now have 20 players under contract with spring training arriving in less than three weeks.
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Gracey, 29, posted a 5-0 record and 1.93 ERA in 53 regular season appearances for the Barnstormers in 2015. Â He was credited with 20 holds. Â The Albuquerque native only yielded six hits to the first batter he faced in his 53 appearances. Â From May 14 thru September 17, the right-hander surrendered only five earned runs in 45 innings of work for a 1.00 ERA.
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He beat out fellow relievers Pete Andrelczyk and Marcus Walden, shortstop Lance Zawadzki and outfielder Brian Cavazos-Galvez for the Player of the Year honors.
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After not recording any saves during the regular season, Gracey notched one in the second game of the playoff series against Southern Maryland.
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Prior to coming to Lancaster, Gracey spent seven seasons in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Â His best season was 2013 when he went a composite 8-1 with a 2.70 in 41 appearances at Class A Dunedin, Class AA New Hampshire and Class AAA Buffalo.
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“Gracey was just phenomenal last year,” said Hobson.  “He just dominated with his cutter-curveball combination.”
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Cutler, 29, joined the Barnstormers on July 24. Â The Barnstormers were 40-16 after Cutler was activated and 24-10 with him in the lineup. Â The lefty batter hit .222 with six doubles and 16 RBI in his 34 games. Â In the second last game of the season, Cutler capped a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth, tying the game against Long Island at 5-5. Â The Barnstormers would go on to win, 8-7.
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A former University of California Golden Bear, Cutler signed with St. Louis in 2008. Â He later played in the Pirates, Cubs and Angels organizations. Â The San Francisco native hit a combined .306 over his eight seasons with affiliated clubs, including a .380 mark at Class AAA Salt Lake in 2015. Â He has walked nearly as often (234) and he has struck out (243) in his playing career.
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“Cutler is an experienced catcher,” Hobson said.  “He didn’t have the year he wanted to have offensively for us, but he still is a .300 career hitter.  And I think he was a .300 hitter for us behind the plate, and that’s where it really matters.”
