WICHITA, KS – Shortstop Alberto Gonzalez became the second Wichita Wingnut to have his contract purchased this season when he signed with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon. Matt Nevarez joined teammate Anthony Capra, who departed for Mexico on Monday, with Acereros de Monclova. Relief pitcher Scott Shuman was also released from the club’s roster. The Wingnuts signed pitchers Scott Richmond, Frankie Reed, and Alex Boshers as well as utility player Tyler Coughenour to help fill the void created by the previous transactions.
The 35-year old Richmond spent four years in Major League Baseball with the Toronto Blue Jays between 2008 and 2012. After finishing his college career at Oklahoma State, the 6’5 right-hander was undrafted and signed with Edmonton of the independent Northern League. After signing with Toronto in 2008, the native of Vancouver made is big league debut only a few months later, quickly ascending the ranks after beginning at Double-A.
He combined for a 9-14 record and 5.27 ERA in 36 MLB appearances, 29 of them starts. He struck out 139 batters in 169.0 innings over his four years with the Blue Jays. Last season, the veteran pitched within the Texas Rangers organization at Triple-A Round Rock and appeared in 21 games. Richmond will start the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday evening.
Reed, a native of Simi Valley, California, was drafted in 2011 out of California Polytechnic State University in the 27th round by the Florida Marlins. He began the campaign at Double-A Jacksonville and was 1-0 with a 4.43 ERA in 14 relief outings before being released. The current season is his fifth in pro baseball.
Boshers will be making his professional debut after five seasons of college ball at the University of Tennessee-Martin. The right-hander received an extra season of eligibility after he injured his arm six innings into his senior season. He recovered and went 1-4 with a 6.15 ERA in 19 games, six of them starts for the Skyhawks.
The Wingnuts re-signed Coughenour who was hitting .100 in eight games with the team earlier this year. He impressed the coaching staff in an open tryout held before the season and was first signed in late May. The former Wichita State Shocker is in his second professional season after spending 2014 with the San Angelo Colts of the United League.
Nevarez was in his fourth season in Wichita and had allowed just one earned run in 13.1 innings. He was perfect in eight save opportunities and 30 for 31 over the past two seasons, with the only blown save occurring because of two unearned runs.
Gonzalez will report to Double-A Erie in the Tigers’ farm system. He spent seven years in Major League Baseball with four different clubs including three years with both the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals. From 2009-11 he played three consecutive seasons of over 100 games at the MLB level. This season he was batting .296 with a home run and 13 RBI for the Wingnuts. He also led the team with 12 stolen bases.
Gonzalez is the 30th Wingnut to be signed by a Major League organization.
For information on season tickets, group outings, and party packages, call the Wingnuts’ main office at (316) 264-NUTS, or visit the Wingnuts’ official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.
