Former Windy City ThunderBolts pitcher Sean Heimpel has been signed by the San Diego Padres.
Heimpel signed with the ThunderBolts on July 29 and pitched in five games with Windy City going 0-0 with a 4.26 ERA. His best outing was a three inning stint at Evansville where he allowed just one hit and no runs while striking out five on August 1.
The right-hander started the season with the Washington Wild Things where he struggled with his control, walking 22 in 36 innings. For Washington he went 1-5 with a 9.25 ERA. Heimpel started his professional career in the 2008 season with the Nashua Pride in the Can-Am League where he went 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in five appearances.
A teammate of current Windy City catcher Pete Paris in college, Heimpel had a 7-4 record in two seasons at Georgia College & State University. His best season for the Bobcats came in 2007 when he went 4-0 in 18 games (11 starts) with a 3.64 ERA.
Heimpel is the fifth former ThunderBolt/Cheetah to be signed to an affiliate this season joining (in alphabetical order) Dylan Axelrod (Chicago White Sox), Brandon Kloess (Chicago White Sox), Kris Regas (Detriot Tigers) and Shane Zegarac (Texas Rangers)
The ThunderBolts are hosting a bus trip to Rockford for the final regular season game ever against the RiverHawks. Tickets for the “Road Trip” are a flat rate of $60.00. This ticket reservation includes sandwiches from Jimmy Johns, soft drinks, beer, t-shirt, and a ticket to the game to be played at Road Ranger Stadium. The bus will leave the Standard Bank Stadium parking lot at 1:00PM for the 4:05 game at Road Ranger Stadium and return following the game.
(The bus will leave Rockford no later than 10:00PM). For information or to book your trip, call Steve Lorenz with the ThunderBolts at 708-489-BALL stop by the Standard Bank Stadium ticket office or go to the team’s website at
www.wcthunderbolts.com.
