KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The Kansas City T-Bones announced they have acquired infielder Jake Blackwood from Winnipeg in exchange for relief pitcher Patrick Mincey.
Blackwood, a 29-year-old Kansas City native who’s played mainly third base and second base for the past three seasons, batted .321 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs for the Goldeyes in 2014.
He was one of the top players for the T-Bones during 2009-10, when the club still played in the Northern League. During those two seasons, Blackwood batted .315 with 210 hits, 124 RBIs and 114 runs scored in 162 games.
He was the Northern League MVP in 2010 after leading the league in home runs (31) and RBIs (86), and finishing third with a .331 batting average. Following the ’10 season, San Diego selected Blackwood in the Rule 5 Draft.
He spent the next three seasons in the Padres’ organization, reaching double-A San Antonio, where, in 2013, he led the Missions in RBIs (61), and was second on the club in hits (124) and doubles (24). Blackwood, who was a 16th-round selection by the Florida Marlins out of Maple Woods Community College in 2006, is a career .268 hitter with 92 homers, 488 RBIs and 424 runs in 899 games.
“Jake wanted to come back home and we’re excited to have him here,” said T-Bones manager John Massarelli. “Once we added (reliever Jonathan) Kountis last week, we had some flexibility to give up Patrick and improve ourselves both offensively and defensively. Jake gives us that veteran run producer presence in the middle of the lineup.”
“We’re thrilled to re-acquire Jake and I know our fans will be, too,” said T-Bones vice-president and general manager Chris Browne. “He will be an important piece as we move forward.”
The T-Bones acquired Mincey on July 23. He went 2-0 with one save and a 6.00 ERA in 19 games (24 innings) for Kansas City.
