Pelfrey says three returning infielders will contribute to depth of Freedom roster


Infielders Travis Weaver, Mason Salazar, and Elvin Rodriguez are returning to Florence for the 2016 season.

Weaver was a superb defensive shortstop last season, committing only five errors in over 600 innings (.983 fielding percentage). At the plate, he set career-highs in RBIs (19) and walks (19), while also totaling 39 hits, 21 runs scored, five doubles, and 10 stolen bases in 76 games.

Freedom Manager Dennis Pelfrey raved about Weaver’s fielding prowess and hopes a solid offseason will add to his effectiveness at the plate.

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“Travis is an athletic, smart player who is one of the best defensive shortstops I’ve ever seen in independent baseball,” Pelfrey said. “I expect him to win the starting shortstop job and we would be in good hands if that is the case. Travis has worked hard with AJ Cicconi on his offensive approach in hopes of finding the swing that made him so successful in Amarillo in 2014 (.285 batting average in 47 games).
I can tell he is back in a good mental place and, as good as he is defensively, he just needs to get on base and produce some runs.”

Salazar played in 24 games as a middle infielder for the Freedom in 2015, recording eight hits, including two doubles, while scoring seven runs and driving in four. Pelfrey thinks that Salazar’s team-first attitude will help him succeed even more in his second season with the team.

“Mason is the type of player who will do anything to help the team win,” Pelfrey said. “I know he is hungry to have a great year and push for a starting job in the middle infield.”

Prior to an early season-ending injury, Rodriguez pushed for the starting shortstop job in 2015. In 2014, he hit .287 in 30 games for the Bisbee Blue of the Pecos League, while totaling 16 stolen bases, 23 runs scored, 20 RBIs, nine doubles, and two triples.

Pelfrey is high on Rodriguez and excited to see him battle for a starting infield spot again.

“We had high hopes for Elvin being a key utility infielder with his ability to play second, short, or third,” Pelfrey said. “He battled for the starting shortstop spot, but broke a bone in his hand and had to sit out the rest of the season. I expect him to push Travis Weaver for the starting shortstop role because of how dynamic he is.”

The Freedom begin their 2016 campaign at home against the Windy City Thunderbolts on May 13th at 7:05 p.m. Tickets for all games at UC Health Stadium, including opening day and the 2016 Frontier League Y’all Star Game, can be found here.

The Florence Freedom are members of the 12-team professional Independent Frontier League and play a 96 game schedule, with 48 home games at UC Health Stadium, located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, Kentucky. In 2015, the Frontier League recognized the Freedom as the league’s organization of the year and awarded the team with the league’s All-Star event.

The 2016 season will mark the 13th year the Freedom have played in Florence.

From Freedom Communications


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