Andrew Parker will be back for his second season with the Stompers in 2015.
Staff Photo/Sonoma Stompers
Theo Fightmaster, General Manager
The Sonoma Stompers Baseball Club has announced Andrew Parker, voted the top defensive catcher in the Pacific Association in 2014, will return for the 2015 season. Parker was voted the league’s defensive catcher of the year after his remarkable season behind the plate during the Stompers inaugural season. Parker earned seven of 10 possible first-place votes in the balloting, earning the top honors
“Andrew was instrumental in solidifying our pitching staff and improving our defense last season” said Stompers Vice President and General Manager Theo Fightmaster. “We are lucky to have a player of his caliber return to our organization.”
In 42 games in 2014, Parker was second in the league in put outs with 287, and led all catchers with 34 defensive assists. He also threw out 50-percent of would-be base stealers.
The 24-year-old Baltimore native and Towson University graduate was fantastic down the stretch for Sonoma, boosting his average more 49 points after July 31, 2014. Parker belted all eight of his home runs and drove in 18 runs in the month of August alone. He finished the year with 24 RBI, 33 walks, six doubles and eight homers. He also scored 26 runs, slugged .440 and boasted an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of .831.
Parker spent 2013 in the Atlanta Braves organization, and made his Stompers debut on June 19, 2014 in Pittsburg. That night he caught a 91-pitch complete game gem by Sonoma starter, Will Krout. Krout allowed just five hits and one earned run as Sonoma won 6-2, in a brisk 2 hour and 24 minute affair.
Thanks to the efforts of players like Parker, the first-year Stompers finished 42-36, good enough for third place in their inaugural season.