SCHAUMBURG, IL- The Schaumburg Flyers continue to retain key core players from their 2005 team as OF-IF Jarrod Patterson and IF Chris Weekly have re-signed with the club for 2006. The Flyers have now announced the re-signings of ten members of last year’s club.
Patterson, 32, became the 10th ex-major leaguer to play for the Flyers dating back to 1999 when he arrived in Schaumburg on July 5, 2005. He batted .285 with 9 HR-37 RBI last season while appearing in 51 games. Formerly of the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals, Patterson has the ability to play in both the outfield and infield, appearing mostly in the outfield last year (43 G). “J.P. was really swinging a hot bat down the stretch last year and he gives us another veteran threat in the middle of the order,” said Flyers Manager Andy McCauley. “He had been off for a bit when we signed him and he was really able to find his stride and contribute. We feel like he also gives us versatility with his ability to play at different spots.”
2005 highlights for Patterson included a pair of two-home run games, a 4-for-5 performance vs. Edmonton on August 27 and two sets of back-to-back homers with slugger Justin Hendrickson.
Patterson’s most recent big league duty came with the Royals in 2003. He was first called up by Detroit in 2001 and hit his first major league home run off Curt Schilling, then of the Arizona Diamondbacks, in a June 17, 2001 interleague game. Patterson, a left-handed batter and right-handed thrower, holds a combined 26 games of major league experience with the two clubs. He is entering his 13th professional season in 2006. Patterson resides in Clanton, AL.
Weekly, 29, returns for a third consecutive season at Alexian Field. He has been the regular Flyers third baseman over the past two years, playing in a total of 179 games at the ‘hot corner’. The former Cubs minor leaguer played in the Northern League All-Star Game for the second straight season last year, making the South Division team as a reserve. For the year, Weekly batted .274 with 13 HR-47 RBI.
“Chris was swinging the bat well in the first half of the season, and we’re looking for a big year from him in ’06,” said McCauley. “It’s hard to find stability with the changeover in this league and we’re really happy to have the left side of our infield back with Weeks and Geoff McCallum (SS). They’ve been together three years in a row now and we’ll have a very experienced infield defense.”
Weekly had a 13-game hitting streak in June and was the NCAL club’s nominee for Northern League Player of the Month (Not chosen). He was also a key member of Schaumburg’s Northern League runner-up team in 2004.
Like Patterson, Weekly bats left-handed and throws right-handed. He has ‘Triple A’ experience and enters his eighth professional season in 2006. Weekly played college ball at New Mexico State. He resides in Mesa, AZ with his wife and son.
DUROST ADDED TO PITCHING STAFF
RHP Kenny Durost has signed a 2006 contract. Durost, 24, spent his first three professional seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He pitched at Class A Brevard County in 2005.
Notes: After drafting RHP Ian Holman at last month’s Northern League tryout camp in Tampa, the Flyers have now officially signed Holman to a Northern League contract.
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