The Kansas City Monarchs and Manager Joe Calfapietra would like to announce the signing of catcher, J.C. Escarra. The 26-year-old played at AAA Norfolk Tides and AA Bowie Baysox in 2021 hitting .223 with 8 homeruns and 14 doubles while stealing 6 bases.
The Florida native was drafted in the 2013 draft out of high school but chose to attend Florida International University, where he was drafted in the 15th round by Baltimore in 2015.
Welcome to KC, J.C.!
2021 American Association Manager of the Year Joe Calfapietra announced that Monarchs backstop Alexis Olmeda has signed for the 2022 campaign. Olmeda had 3 home runs and 19 rbi since joining the ballclub on June 8, 2021. In his first action as a Monarch, Olmeda got off the plane in Chicago, took the team bus to Gary where he proceeded to go 2 for 4 with a walk. With Olmeda catching the Monarchs staff had a 3.73 earned run average.
In the 2021 postseason, the Puerto Rican native hit .227, caught all six game and had 2 doubles and 4 runs batted in.
Calfapietra said “We are very excited to have Alexis back for the 2022 season – he added a lot to the championship season – we will need even more out of him in the upcoming season.”
Olmeda was drafted in the 21st round of the 2015 Major League draft out of Yavapai College (AZ) by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Right-handed relief pitcher Jameson McGrane will be playing out his option with the Kansas City Monarchs in 2022. McGrane won 6 games over 70 plus innings with the 2021 Champion Monarchs. McGrane totaled a team leading 90 strike outs over just 33 walks. Recorded 9 saves in 9 opportunities including saving 3 straight games in Cleburne at the end of the season. On July 7th vs. Sioux Falls McGrane struck out 9 in the win. Did not allow a run in his last 13 appearances.
Calfapietra, the 2021 American Association Manager of the Year said “We are very excited to have Jameson back for 22 – he was a key component on our Championship club and filled many different roles. We expect him to be just as important moving forward next season”.
In the American Association Playoffs McGrane threw 4 scoreless innings over 4 games with 3 hits and 5 strike outs. McGrane got the final out in the Championship game to earn the title and saved Championship Series game 2.
