Experienced pitching could change Fish fortunes

Advertisement

Advertise with us

New Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Logan Watkins thinks he has the roster to get the team back to their winning ways in his first year at the helm.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Monthly Digital Subscription

$1 per week for 24 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Monthly Digital Subscription

$4.75/week*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

No thanks

*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/03/2024 (583 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Logan Watkins thinks he has the roster to get the team back to their winning ways in his first year at the helm.

The 34-year-old from Wichita, Kan., has signed 16 players so far this offseason with a strong emphasis on bringing in names with experience — especially when it comes to his pitching staff.

“I think the league is going to be younger this year so getting some older, veteran guys, you’re hoping that works to your advantage,” said Watkins. “I think a lot of these younger guys in the league haven’t seen guys this level as far as pitching goes.”

Cleburne Railroaders Winnipeg Goldeyes’ new manager, Logan Watkins. (Cleburne Railroaders)

Cleburne Railroaders Winnipeg Goldeyes’ new manager, Logan Watkins. (Cleburne Railroaders)

One of those proven arms is right-handed starter Zac Reininger, a former major leaguer who saw action in 53 games with the Detroit Tigers between 2017-19. The 31-year-old made his American Association debut last summer in a pair of appearances with the Cleburne Railroaders.

Watkins, an infielder who played 58 games for the Chicago Cubs between 2013-14, also spent some time in Detroit’s system and played with Reininger in 2017.

Watkins guided Cleburne to the postseason the past two years before taking over in Winnipeg for Greg Tagert.

“I’ve known him a long time. He’s on the older side, but he’s still throwing the ball really hard, so he’ll be a good one to have for us,” said Watkins.

Fellow necomers Marshall Kasowski, a 29-year-old from Conroe, Texas, and Colton Eastman, a 27-year-old from Fresno, Ca., bring Triple-A experience to the rotation.

“There’s going to be far and few guys with that kind of experience in the league and we’ve got three of them,” said Watkins.

Returning Goldeyes Landen Bourassa and Travis Seabrooke are also in the running for to be weekly starters. Seabrooke, a lefty from Peterborough, Ont., posted a 6-6 record with a 6.30 earned run average last year. Bourassa is also Canadian, hailing from Lethbridge, Alta., and went 11-6 with a 4.62 ERA.

After spending 2023 between Fargo-Moorhead and Kane County, closer Tasker Strobel returns to Winnipeg where he was an all-star in 2022.

Offensively, Watkins has a major hole to fill with star outfielder Max Murphy taking his talents to Mexico.

Watkins is hoping Canadian outfielder Adam Hall can soften the blow as the 24-year-old owns a career .279 batting average with 10 home runs and 118 runs batted in during his six years in the Baltimore Orioles’ system.

Born in Bermuda, Hall grew up in London, Ont., before being selected in the second round of the 2017 MLB June Amateur Draft by the AL East club.

“I’ve heard from multiple people that if the injury bug hadn’t him that he had a chance to get to the big leagues. The feedback I’ve got on him and kind of looking at his numbers and seeing what he’s capable of, you can tell he’s a talented kid,” said Watkins.

“He’s still pretty young, he was drafted out of high school so he’s a guy who’s young in age but has a lot of experience since he’s been in pro ball since he was 18 or 19 years old.”

Infielder Edwin Arroyo is another bat with potential as he was chosen in the second round of the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Seattle Mariners. The 20-year-old Puerto Rican has 29 home runs, 154 RBI, 60 stolen bases, and a .268 batting average in three seasons of minor league ball.

Spring training begins in early May and Watkins plans to add eight more players by then.

The Goldeyes have not won a playoff series since winning the 2017 league crown.

“I keep pretty close tabs on the rest of the league. As far as what we’ve signed so far compared to other teams, I think we’re right there,” said Watkins. “I feel pretty confident in who we’ve signed. We haven’t signed a bad player yet, that’s for sure.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.

Report Error Submit a Tip

Sports

LOAD MORE