Ferreira and Godinez Join RiverDogs from Staten Island as Injury Bug Strikes

CHARLESTON, SC - With the RiverDogs coming back into form and trying to get back to .500 in the second half, the club will tap into the depth of the Yankees' farm system to try and keep the momentum going as two RiverDogs will be temporarily out of action. The Yankees have announced that outfielder Ricardo Ferreira and infielder Chris Godinez have each been called up to Class A Charleston from Short Season Staten Island.

In two corresponding moves, shortstop Kyle Holder and outfielder Jhalan Jackson have each been placed on the 7-day disabled list with lower-body injuries. With Chris Gittens placed on the DL yesterday, three key cogs in Charleston's lineup now sit on the disabled list.

Ferreira, 21, climbs the ladder to Charleston after making his stateside debut with the Staten Island Yankees this year. The switch-hitting Dominican joins the RiverDogs ranks after hitting .221/.346/.302 with one home run, four doubles, and two RBIs in 23 games to begin his third pro season in the New-York Penn League. Primarily an up the middle infielder his first two seasons in the system, Ferreira has converted full time to playing in the outfield this year.

Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Yankees in 2014, the 5'11" native of Santo Domingo Norte spent his first two seasons in the Dominican Summer League including a monster year in 2015 when he won the DSL batting title and posted a .382/.513/.492 line with one homer, nine doubles, and seven triples while leading the league in on-base percentage, walks (59), and runs scored (76). Ferreira reached safely in 60 of his 62 games, recorded 31 multi-hit games, and also finished second in the league in hits (91) and total bases (117).

Godinez, 23, also joins the RiverDogs from Staten Island where he hit .189/.297/.226 with two doubles and two RBIs in 15 games with the Baby Bombers before garnering promotion.

Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 18th round out of Bradley University in 2015, Godinez began his career with the Pioneer Rookie League Ogden Raptors. The right-handed hitter held a .226/.385/.301 slash line with 11 RBIs in 30 games. The Evanston, Illinois native was assigned to the Arizona League Dodgers at the end of the 2015 season and was released on March 10th of this year.  Just eight days later, the New York Yankees called and signed Godinez to a minor league contract with his first assignment being in Staten Island. 

Prior to beginning his professional career, Godinez spent four seasons with Bradley and hit .291 with a .418 on-base percentage with 33 doubles, 10 homers, and 45 stolen bases in 149 games with the Braves. The 5'9" 180-pound righty had an impressive freshman season, posting a .320/.370/.426 slash line while scoring 33 runs in 41 games to earn Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American honors before missing the majority of his sophomore year due to injury and receiving a medical redshirt. His redshirt senior year in 2015, Godinez hit .297 and ranked sixth in the nation in on-base percentage (.500) thanks to a school record 44 walks and 14 HBP's. Godinez still ranks fifth in school history with his 31 career HBP's.

Ferreira and Godinez join the RiverDogs (51-37, 9-10) as they continue a weeklong homestand at The Joe with a three game series against the Rome Braves from July 12-14 and four game tilt with the Lakewood BlueClaws, the Class A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, from July 15-18.

Ticket information for the RiverDogs homestand and any of the remaining home games can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com.  RiverDogs playoff tickets for game two of the SAL Divisional Series on Friday, September 9 are now available. Those that can't make it to the park can follow every pitch of the RiverDogs season on WTMA 1250 AM and streaming online at riverdogs.com. Listen on WTMA 1250 AM in the tri-county area.