Posted: May 06, 2024
THE SLAMMERS GEAR UP FOR A NEW ERA OF BASEBALL DOMINANCE IN JOLIET
The Slammers enter a new era with Mike Pinto, the winningest manager in Frontier League history, at the helm in the Steel City. He comes in with the goal of building The Slammers Way, using reliable starting pitching, overpowering relievers, pressure-creating offense and an aggressive mindset in all facets of the game to create a consistent contender. Pinto, who recorded 13 winning seasons in his 14 years with the Southern Illinois Miners from 2007 to 2021, will be tasked with returning Joliet to the playoffs for the first time since its 2018 Frontier League Championship season.
One of the players leading the charge will be power-hitting first basemen Matthew Warkentin, who hit 27 home runs last season to lead the team and finish fifth in the Frontier League. He hit .294/.364/.638 with 64 RBI and a 1.002 on-base plus slugging percentage, leading the Slammers in both categories. Another key returner is leadoff hitter and center fielder Liam McArthur, who started 92 games last season to lead the team in that category. He hit .309/.400/.369 with 35 RBI and led the Slammers in batting average.
Two veteran additions, Zac Westcott and Dwayne Marshall, promise to transform the starting rotation into one of the league's best. Westcott is a two-time Frontier League all-star who is approaching several Frontier League all-time records, including wins, innings pitched and strikeouts. This year will be his seventh in the league. Marshall is another experienced Frontier League starter and former all-star. His best season came in 2022 with the Sussex County Miners, dominating hitters for a 2.67 ERA and tying for the second-lowest ERA in the league that year.
Another established Frontier League player moving to Joliet from the East Division is outfielder Giovanni Garbella, who spent the last two seasons with the New York Boulders. He hit .259/.356/.441 with 18 home runs and 98 RBI during that time and brings extensive international experience with parts of six seasons played in Italy and Australia. Garbella was born in Italy and represented the Italian National Baseball team at three world championships.
With several key members of last season's team returning and a strong group of newcomers, Mike Pinto is poised to lead the Slammers into a promising, new era of baseball in Joliet. He aims to use The Slammers Way to build an exciting, dangerous team and bring another title to the City of Champions.
