August 5, 2021

By Steve Schuster

Winnipeg Goldeyes

Winnipeg, Man. – The Winnipeg Goldeyes made several transactions this week in preparation for their return home, including the acquisition of former Major League left-handed pitcher Donnie Hart.

Hart was 2-2 with two saves and a 3.48 ERA in 22 relief appearances earlier this season for the Atlantic League’s Gastonia Honey Hunters. The Bedford, Texas native struck out 26 and walked eight across 20 2/3 innings pitched.

Hart pitched four seasons in the Major Leagues from 2016-19 for the Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, and New York Mets. The 30-year-old left-hander is 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA in 98 Major League relief appearances totaling 89 innings. As a Major League rookie in 2016, Hart posted a 0.49 ERA in 18 1/3 innings for the Orioles before making a scoreless appearance in the American League Wild Card Game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The following season, Hart made 51 appearances for Baltimore and finished with a 3.71 ERA.

Hart was drafted by the Orioles in the 27th round in 2013 out of Texas State University (San Marcos, Texas). The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Hart is in his eighth season of professional baseball, and is 25-13 lifetime with 37 saves and a 2.89 ERA in 345 career appearances, 342 of them in relief.

Hart was acquired from Gastonia in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jose Jose. Jose was 2-1 with 11 saves and a 1.21 ERA for the Goldeyes this season in 27 relief appearances.

“We were forced to make some change because of the border requirements,” said Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney. “We weren’t exempt from any of that, and unfortunately, we’ve had to make some changes to our roster. It’s not an easy thing to do. I love and admire Jose Jose, and he could pitch for me until he decides to retire. He’s a good player, a good teammate, and my heart’s broken not having him, but that’s unfortunately the way it has to be for now.”

The Goldeyes also signed catcher Deon Stafford, who appeared in 20 games in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization earlier this season. The Harrisburg, Pa., native hit a combined .245 with four home runs and eight RBI for the Double-A Northeast League’s Altoona Curve and the Rookie Florida Complex League’s Pirates Gold team.

“We had an opportunity to get someone with some experience, and someone who maybe we’ll continue to have in the future,” said Forney. “I’m anxious to see him. He does really well catching guys, and he can swing the bat if you can get him some consistent at bats. He’s a really good guy and I’m looking forward to watching him play.”

The 25-year-old Stafford was drafted by the Pirates in the fifth round in 2017 out of St. Joseph’s University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). A right-handed batter and fielder, Stafford hit .251 with a .407 slugging percentage across 238 games during his four seasons in the Pirates’ farm system. Stafford was twice voted an all-star in the affiliated minors, garnering honours in 2017 with the Short Season-A New York-Penn League’s West Virginia Black Bears and in 2018 with the Low-A South Atlantic League’s West Virginia Power. The 5-foot-11, 211-pound backstop has thrown out 23 percent of opposing base stealers during his career, while committing just 17 passed balls in 198 games behind the plate. Stafford appeared in Major League spring training games for the Pirates in both 2019 and 2020.

Additionally, the Goldeyes traded outfielder Jay Gonzalez to the Atlantic League’s High Point Rockers in exchange for a player to be named later, placed right-handed pitcher Joey Gonzalez on the Reserve List, and released catcher Sonny Ulliana.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes open a three-game series against the Milwaukee Milkmen at Shaw Park on Friday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.