The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs have announced the signings of RHP Jake Hale, RHP Lloyd “DJ” Slaton and OF Craig Maddox for the 2015 season.
An Athens, Ohio native, Hale is a former three-time MLB Draft pick, having most recently been selected in the 29th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009. The Ohio State University product pitched at three different levels in the Diamondbacks organization before playing for both Camden and Southern Maryland in 2014. As a starting pitcher, the 29 year old went 7-3 with a 3.89 ERA, while logging 53 strikeouts in 115.3 innings of work between the two Atlantic League clubs in 2014.
Lloyd Slaton was a member of the Florida State League Charlotte Stone Crabs in 2014. Slaton, a 37th round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays out of San Jose State University in 2013. The 97th player drafted in San Jose State University Baseball history, Slaton played two seasons in the Rays organization before making it to High-A Charlotte last season.
Maddox spent the previous four seasons with the Gary South Shore Railcats in the American Association and has spent more than nine seasons in independent baseball. The 29 year old hit .258 with 6 home runs and 40 runs batted in during the 2014 campaign.
“It’s exciting to know that our team is adding three guys with extensive professional experience” said Blue Crabs Manager Stan Cliburn. “Slaton is young and has the potential to bring a lot to the pitching staff, and we’re going to rely on him to be a key figure for our staff. Maddox has good tools and has power potential to go along with his lengthy resume in professional baseball. I’m excited to have them all on this club’s roster.”