PRESS RELEASE – Embark Holdings, Inc subsidiary American West Baseball League today announced that they have signed an agreement with the City of Nogales and an Ownership Group has agreed to own and operate the team in Nogales, Arizona. The ownership group consists of MLB Players and business professionals. The new team will play at War Memorial Stadium and start this 2013 season. The following are members of the ownership group:
Ernesto Frieri began his professional career in 2005 playing in the Minor Leagues and made his MLB debut on September 26, 2009 for the San Diego Padres. On May 3, 2012, Frieri was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Donovan Solano began his professional career in 2005 playing in the Minor Leagues and made his MLB debut on May 21, 2012 for the Miami Marlins.
Jhonatan Solano signed as an international free agent began his professional career when he was called up in 2011 as catcher for the Washington Nationals.
Jose Guillermo Quintana began his professional career in 2006 with the New York Mets; in 2012 he made his MLB debut with the Chicago White Sox as a pitcher.
Jolbert Cabrera is a MLB utility player that began his career in 1998 with the Cleveland Indians and has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners and the Cincinnati Reds.
Harold Ramirez and the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to terms with Colombian outfielder back in 2011. Ramirez, 16, is 5-foot-11, 175 pounds and has received high praise for his speed, instincts and feel for hitting from the right side of the plate.
Other members of the ownership group consist of Jorge-Diaz Arrieta, Dr. William Puche, Carlos Ramirez, Roberto Carillo, Jose Martinez Petro, Caesar Augusto Wilches Zarza, Willman Baron, Eduin de Jesus Diaz, Alfredo Castellon and John Nunez.
Michael Cummings, Chief Executive Officer commented on the new ownership group saying, “We are very excited about our new partnership with the Nogales ownership group, and adding another financially stable team to the AWBL. The partnership with the new ownership group shows the strength and stability of AWBL and gives players from the United States and South America an opportunity that they may not otherwise have.”
From talking to the league attorney, the information he gave to me was that info too, Orange County and Nogales were both Columbian teams. When I questioned him about the 3 California teams being for sure, he assured me that they all would play and invited me to Opening Night!
A 16 year old kid is one of the owners? And he signed with Pittsburgh when he was 14?
I also thought the Orange County team was to be a 2nd Fullerton team,made up of Columbian Players, maybe even a road team. Both Fullerton and OC have no place to play as far as we know.I also read somewhere that the North County team is not having success with a lease at San Marcos. Only two parks have been finalized,Las Cruces and Nogales….It’s almost March.
The information coming from the AWBL has been spread out so much over the last year it’s hard to tell what teams are in and what teams are out.
Cities that have been announced over the last year from the AWBL feature: Orange County, Long Beach, Yuma, Mesa, North County, Nogales, Las Cruces. But as of right now it looks like the AWBL will be a four team league: Orange County, North County, Nogales, & Las Cruces.
I’m also under the impression that Orange County & Nogales will be all Columbian teams?