The Lancaster Barnstormers have signed outfielder Kyle Hess, a 2018 graduate of Donegal High School, to a contract for the upcoming season, it was announced today by manager Ross Peeples.
In addition, Lancaster has signed right-handed pitcher Junior Mieses, who has spent the previous seven years in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.
Both will be coming to the Barnstormers and the Atlantic League for the first time. They are the fourth and fifth players signed to contracts for the 2024 campaign.
Hess, 24, played five seasons at the University of Pittsburgh. The lefty batter hit .300 through his career with the Panthers over 173 games while connecting for 27 homers and driving home 152 runs. He saved his best for last, swinging at a .328 clip last year with 10 homers and 42 RBI in 45 games.
At Donegal, Hess was part of a PIAA District 3 championship team and served as team captain for two seasons. He was twice named the Sweet 16 LL League Team MVP. Hess is the first cousin of another former Donegal star, former National Leaguer Chris Heisey.
“Hess is a local player that will bring some speed and athleticism to the team,” said Peeples. “We’re going to give him a chance and see what he can do. I look forward to watching him grow.”
Mieses, 24, is a hard throwing right-hander who began his professional career with the Diamondbacks in the Dominican Summer League as a teenager. He has spent the last three seasons at the Class A or A+ levels at Visalia and Hillsboro, going a combined 5-13.
Over 243.2 career innings, the native of the Dominican Republic has yielded only 213 hits while striking out 293. He has walked 208.
“Mieses comes highly recommended by a friend of mine who coached in the Arizona system,” said Peeples. “He has a really good arm with a good slider. If he can limit his walks, he will be a strong asset to our team. He will start in the bullpen, but he has worked as a starter as well.”
Lancaster will look to defend its back-to-back Atlantic League championships beginning at Long Island on April 25. The home schedule will commence at Clipper Magazine Stadium with a game against the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars on April 30 at 6:45.