Goldeyes acquire pitcher, OutFielder

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This article was published 10/08/2019 (2277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes have swung a trade they hope will help get them back into the playoffs.

Starting pitcher Kevin Hilton and speedy outfielder Jonathan Moroney, both from the Texas AirHogs, were acquired by the Fish on Friday in exchange for future considerations, specifically four players to be named at a later date.

Hilton, 27, is 3-8 with a 4.62 ERA in 15 starts, but those numbers are somewhat deceiving considering he played for a terrible Texas team that is last in the American Association with a 20-56 record. He was the AirHogs’ lone representative at last month’s All-Star Game in St. Paul. Hilton is in his second year of pro baseball and is classified as a rookie. The 6-2, 180-pound righty from San Diego, Calif., is third in the league with 97.1 innings pitched.

Moroney, 25, is hitting .315 with three home runs and 26 RBIs in 65 games this season. He also has stolen a dozen bases with 16 doubles and six triples. The Houston native was at spring training with the Goldeyes in 2018, but was released and signed with the expansion Chicago Dogs.

To make room for the two newcomers and remain at the 23-player maximum, the Goldeyes released rookie infielder Jordan Hovey. Outfielder James Harris has also been placed on the inactive list.

Winnipeg began the day with a 44-31 record, just outside the playoff bubble with 25 regular-season games left. They trailed first-place Fargo by four games and second-place St. Paul by a half-game in the North Division. The top two teams make the post-season.

The Goldeyes won the league championship in 2016 and 2017 only to miss the playoffs in 2018 with a franchise-worst 41-59 record.