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BARNSTORMERS BRING BACK HERR, WATSON
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Lancaster-area Stars To Help Anchor Lineup
Two familiar faces will be in uniform for the Lancaster Barnstormers at the start of the 2010 campaign.
Third baseman Aaron Herr and outfielder-DH Matt Watson, both Lancaster natives, have been signed to contracts for the 2010 season, it has been announced today by manager Tom Herr.
Herr, 28, opened the 2009 season sluggishly following a hand injury in spring training but recovered to put together a strong season, finishing with a .265 average, 14 home runs and 83 RBI. The former first round pick of the Atlanta Braves out of Hempfield High School belted a walkoff three-run homer against the Long Island Ducks on September 4 to keep Lancaster in the playoff chase and also tied a franchise record with seven RBI, June 3 at Somerset.
This is the third time that Herr has signed with the Barnstormers. In 2005, he was with the club during spring training but signed with the St. Louis Cardinals just prior to opening the Atlantic League season. Herr went on to post the best numbers of his career with Class AA Springfield that season, batting .298 with 21 homers. He later played at the Class AAA level with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians organizations.
Watson, 31, signed with the Barnstormers last year after three stops in the New York Mets organization and time in the Pacific Rim. The McCaskey grad returned home to bat .269 with eight homers and drive in 43 runs. All eight of his homers were belted at Clipper Magazine Stadium, including four against York and a walkoff shot against Southern Maryland in September.
Initially drafted by Montreal, Watson won the Florida State League batting title in 2001 with a .330 mark on his way to two stints in the Major Leagues. Watson played 15 games with the New York Mets in 2003 and 19 with Oakland in 2005.
“I am very excited that Matt is coming back,” said the elder Herr. “He’s been working very hard this off-season and has indicated that he wants to give it one final shot. He’s as good a hitter as you will find in this league, and I think he’s going to have a big year.
“As for Aaron, I think his performance the second half of last season is indicative of what we’re going to get – a good run producer in the middle of the order and defense that is much improved.”
Herr and Watson will join Adam Witter and Eric Ackerman as the first four players signed by the Barnstormers for the 2010 season.
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