Barnstormers return LHP Novoa, Blue Crabs add two

The Lancaster Barnstormers and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs announced signings on Monday, Feb. 20. Lancaster has welcomed back left-hander Yunior Novoa, while Southern Maryland brought back infielder David Espinosa and signed Atlantic League newcomer Mike Daniel.

LANCASTER – Novoa, 27, was 5-5 with a 5.33 ERA in a variety of roles for the Barnstormers in 2011. The former Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals prospect from the Dominican Republic made 13 starts along with 20 relief appearances and posted a stellar ratio of 76 strikeouts to just 24 walks in his 82 2/3 innings of work.

His most notable outing came on July 9 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader at York. Novoa, making a spot start, fired five shutout innings on just three hits helping the Barnstormers clinch the first half Freedom Division title with a 4-3 victory over the Revolution that afternoon.

To read more about the signing, check out the story on the Barnstormers’ website. Lancaster now has six players under contract for the 2012 campaign. To check out the Barnstormers’ roster, click here.

SOUTHERN MARYLAND -Daniel, 27, is a speedy outfielder with a good glove but has struggled to produce at the plate in his seven years in the minors. The left-handed batter topped out at Class AAA with the Washington Nationals in 2009 and 2010. A career .257 hitter, Daniel batted .258 with a homer and eight RBIs in 26 games with the Colorado Rockies’ Class AA affiliate Tulsa in 2011. He played for the Class AA Harrisburg Senators all of 2008 and in parts of seasons in 2009 and 2010.

Southern Maryland had acquired the rights to switch-hitter Espinosa, 30, on Feb. 6 in a trade with the Grand Prairie Air Hogs (American Association) for a player to be named before May 1.

A former first round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds, Espinosa batted .324 in 100 games for Grand Prairie last season before the Blue Crabs acquired him in mid-September. He went on to bat a collective .333 in seven regular season games and four playoff games for Southern Maryland, going 15-for-45 at the plate with 10 RBIs.

To read more about the signings, check out the story on the Blue Crabs’ website. Overall, the Blue Crabs have 14 players under contract through Feb. 20. To check out the Southern Maryland roster, click here.

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