It has been exactly 20 weeks since the 1-run semi-final defeat to the Harlow Nationals in the 2013 National Championships and Herts baseball fans still feel the pain. The best way to bring the energy back into the club is to unveil a big player signing and that’s exactly what Herts have done this evening.
Abel Salas will be joining the Herts Falcons for the 2014 NBL season. He plays in the Left Field, First Base and Pitcher positions. He pitches and bats left handed adding to a Falcons batting line-up packed with hard-hitting lefties such as Ryan Bird, Phil Clark and Dave Tretheway.
35-year-old Salas is from Mexico and has previously played in the NBL for the Mildenhall Bulldogs during the 2011 season. In that year he had a batting average of .405 and slugging average of .568, with 12 runs batted in and only 2 strikeouts in 37 at bats. He also picked up 7 stolen bases.*
As a pitcher, in 22 and 2/3 innings of work he had an ERA of 4.76 with a record of 1 win and 2 losses, 2 complete games, striking out 19 batters (7.5 strikeouts per 9 innings).*
When he joins up with the players shortly there will be familiar face for Salas as he will be reunited with his 2011 Mildehall Bulldogs teammate, John Blose, who joined Herts last year.
The NBL teams are preparing for the new season and the next two months are critical as everyone looks to strengthen ahead of Opening day on 6 April. Will the balance of power in the NBL shift in 2014? We will keep you updated as soon as Herts make any further announcements.
* – NBL statistics courtesy of Project COBB