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MLB

SISK & WOOD ADDED TO FALL LEAGUE

Wilmington's 2008 Opening Day Starter & 2009 Pitcher of the Year to Pitch in AFL
By John Sadak
September 21, 2009
Wilmington, DE - The Kansas City Royals have announced the addition of two former Wilmington Blue Rocks to the Surprise Rafters' roster in the prestigious Arizona Fall League. Brandon Sisk and Blake Wood will join former Blue Rocks Jeff Bianchi, David Lough, Mike Moustakas and Ben Swaggerty. They will be mentored by another familiar face, as 2009 Wilmington manager Brian Rupp will skipper the team comprised of players from the Cardinals, Yankees, Rangers, Mets and Royals organizations.

Sisk, 24, continues to impress as he rockets up the Royals' chain. Plucked away from independent baseball, the former Azusa Pacific University star notched a system-high 21 saves that ranked second in the Carolina League, even though he did not assume full-time closing duties until the promotion of Juan Abreu to Double-A on July 20. He converted 18 straight save opportunities to end the year and took Pitcher of the Year honors for the Blue Rocks. Sisk also stifled opposing sticks, holding the Carolina League to a .151 average. The hard-throwing lefty whiffed 78 batters in 61.0 IP (11.5 K / 9.0 IP). He also walked just 18 men and allowed only five of his 24 inherited runners to score.

Wood, Wilmington's Opening Day starter in 2008, missed significant time in 2009 due to injury. The 24-year-old Georgia Tech product went 2-8 with a 5.83 ERA in 17 games (13 starts) for the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals. He also made three rehab appearances in the Rookie Arizona League. The former third-round selection in 2006 paced the Kansas City farm with 139 strikeouts in 2008, including a 3-2 record, 2.67 ERA and .168 batting average against in 10 starts for the Blue Rocks. He struck out 63 men in 57.1 innings pitched for Wilmington.

Former Blue Rock Danny Gutierrez had been slated to pitch for Surprise, but the Royals traded the right-hander to the Texas Rangers for a pair of fellow minor leaguers on Sept. 3.

The 18th annual Arizona Fall League season begins on Oct. 13 and runs through Nov. 19, with the Rising Stars game on Nov. 7 and the championship game set for Nov. 21. Every game can be followed live on Gameday on MLB.com and MLBFallBall.com.

Blue Rocks Baseball - It's Showtime!
www.bluerocks.com