The 2007 Frontier League Champion Windy City ThunderBolts professional baseball team has announced that left-handed pitcher Isaac Hess, right-handed pitcher Anthony Rebyanski and shortstop Wes Long have agreed to contract extensions for the 2008 season.
Isaac Hess completed his rookie season with a 10-2 record, one save, and a 3.28 ERA, striking out 60 batters in 57.2 innings over 32 appearances. Hess pitched a scoreless inning in the Frontier League All-Star Game and was the MVP of the Frontier League Championship Series last season. Hess appeared in four of the five Championship Series games, holding the Washington Wild Things scoreless in each outing.
Anthony Rebyanski finished second on the club with 41 appearances in 2007, posting a 3-0 record with one save and a 3.50 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 43.2 innings. Entering his fourth professional season, Rebyanski has a career record of 5-4 with two saves, a 3.80 ERA, and 100 strikeouts in 73.1 innings pitched and has held opposing hitters to a .214 batting average.
Wes Long was a major cog in the ThunderBolt offense in 2007, leading the team in hitting (.334 average, sixth in the Frontier League), doubles (36, first in the League), and stolen bases (31, third in the League) to go along with seven home runs and 67 RBI. A 29th round draft pick of the Oakland Athletics out of the University of Alabama-Huntsville, Long spent three seasons in their organization before signing with Windy City prior to the 2007 season.
“Isaac and Anthony are two of the top bullpen guys in the Frontier League, while Wes is one of the top players in the League and a cornerstone for the ThunderBolt franchise,” analyzed ThunderBolts field manager Brian Nelson. “Being able to bring back three All-Star players along with our recent signings of closer Matt Petty and outfielder Michael Coles will shorten games for us and provide stability to the middle of our lineup.”
