Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Manager Butch Hobson has announced the acquisition of four new faces to the 2010 roster. Relief pitcher Brian Dumesnil, infielder Casey Benjamin and outfielders Ben Harrison and Brian McFall will each make their Atlantic League debut with the Blue Crabs this season.
Dumesnil, a lefty middle-reliever, spent the majority of last season with the Atlanta Braves organization at Double-A Mississippi, before finishing the season with Double-A New Hampshire (Toronto Blue Jays) and Quebec of the Can-Am League. After also pitching out of the Quebec bullpen in 2006 and 2007, Dumesnil spent most of the last three seasons in Atlanta’s system. Dumesnil debuted as a professional in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system in 2002, and also spent two years in the Baltimore Orioles system in 2004 and 2005. A native of Nanaimo, British Columbia, he pitched for the Canadian National Team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Entering his ninth professional season, Dumesnil sports 206 career appearances all in relief and 23 professional saves.
Casey Benjamin brings a left-handed bat and defensive versatility to the Blue Crabs, a veteran of seven professional seasons with the Texas Rangers organization. In that time, Benjamin played primarily at shortstop, but also saw time at second, third, first and in the outfield. After debuting as a professional in 2003, Benjamin advanced as far as Triple-A Oklahoma City in the Rangers system, playing there the majority of the last two seasons. In 639 games as a pro, Benjamin boasts an on-base percentage of .353.
A former teammate of Benjamin’s the last several seasons with the Rangers, the Blue Crabs have also added righty outfielder Ben Harrison. Harrison was originally selected by Texas in the seventh round of the 2004 draft after a star-studded career at the University of Florida. With the Gators, he was also a teammate of Blue Crabs third baseman Patrick Osborn. Harrison too reached Triple-A Oklahoma City in each of the last two seasons, and was also at Double-A Frisco with the Rangers last year before finishing out the season with the Florida Marlins organization, appearing in 68 games with Jupiter in the Florida State League (A-Advanced). Entering his seventh professional season, Harrison has accumulated 80 pro home runs and 322 RBI with a .345 on-base percentage.
Rounding out the latest signings is outfielder Brian McFall. Originally selected in the third round of the 2003 draft by the Kansas City Royals, McFall has spent the last seven seasons in that organization, including the last two at Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Entering his eighth professional season, the right-hander can also play first base, and has demonstrated a decent amount of power during his career. In 666 career games, McFall has accumulated 93 home runs and 418 RBI.
The Blue Crabs have now announced the first 11 official signings for the 2010 roster. The team is expected to begin spring workouts with at least 30 players, and will start the season with 27 active players before Atlantic League rosters must be trimmed to 25 by June 1.