The Southern Illinois Miners have signed two veteran players in Gold Glove-winning shortstop Ryan Cavan and catcher Jose Gonzalez.
Cavan joins the Miners following five seasons with the San Francisco Giants organization. Originally drafted in the 16th round of the 2009 draft, he owns a .272 career batting average and is coming off an all-star season in 2013.
Playing primarily for the high-A San Jose Giants, Cavan hit .311 with 20 doubles and three home runs. He was named to the 2013 California League All-Star team.
Cavan won the Rawlings Gold Glove award as the best defensive player at his position in all of minor league baseball in 2011 with the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels.
“Ryan is an excellent defensive shortstop who has hit throughout his entire professional career,” said Miners manager Mike Pinto. “He is coming off a great season and will be a tremendous addition to our club. I expect that he will be one of our leaders on the field and in the clubhouse. He is a huge addition to our club”
Gonzalez joins the Miners for his ninth year of professional baseball after playing in the Colorado Rockies organization for eight seasons. He split the 2013 season between the Rockies’ AA team in Tulsa and their AAA team in Colorado Springs.
A career .216 hitter, Gonzalez is a strong defensive catcher. He carries a career fielding percentage of .987 and he has thrown out 45 percent of runners, including 50% of runners at the Double-A level.
“Jose has been one of the best defensive catchers in professional baseball during his career,” Pinto added. “Reports from the Rockies are that he is an exceptional defensive catcher who not only is first class person but has plus skills in game- calling and working with a pitching staff. His throwing numbers are off the charts. Jose is a very big signing for the Miners”
