The first place Evansville Otters (42-20) announced the signing of former Major League pitcher Brett Marshall on Thursday. Marshall is the first player to join the Otters after appearing on a Major League baseball roster.
A Texas native, Marshall was a 6th round pick (200th overall) of the New York Yankees in the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft. The right-handed pitcher worked his way through the minor leagues, reaching the Major League level with the Yankees for three games in 2013 and appearing on the Cincinnati Reds’ Opening Day roster in 2014.
“We are happy to have Brett join our team,” said Otters manager Andy McCauley. “We are looking forward to working with him and having him on the staff. Brett will jump in to the starting rotation which should also help bolster our bullpen.”
Most recently, Marshall pitched for upper level affiliated teams with the Louisville Bats (CIN, AAA) in 2014 and New Britain Rock Cats (COL, AA) in 2015. Only two ex-Otters players, pitchers George Sherrill and Andrew Werner, have played at the MLB level.
Marshall is the third former high Yankee draft choice to play for Evansville, following outfielders Estee Harris (2nd round, 2003) and C.J. Henry (1st round, 2005). Harris played for Evansville in 2010, Henry in 2013.
In an unrelated move on Tuesday, Evansville also reinstated left-handed pitcher Blake Monar from the Injured List.
The Otters will hit the mid-week point of their six game road trip tonight in the series finale against the Gateway Grizzlies. The Otters Took game one 16-14 in 13 innings and then faltered in game two 9-7. Marshall will make his debut tonight with the Otters looking to take the series against the Grizzlies, if they do so, it will be their sixth series win in a row. They will then head to Marion, IL for a three game set against the second place Southern Illinios Miners.
