Blue Crabs Pick First Three Players

New Team Signs First Baseman And Two Pitchers

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs formally signed their first three players last week, two pitchers and a first baseman.

First baseman Ian Bladergroen, right-handed pitcher Adam Johnson and left-handed pitcher Brad Beck are the first three signed players of what will be a 25-man roster when the Blue Crabs start their inaugural season in late April. Several other signings are expected to be announced this week, Blue Crabs manager Butch Hobson said.

Hobson said Beck is likely to become a fan favorite because he is a Washington area native. Born in Alexandria, Beck, 23, attended Wakefield High School in Arlington and Montgomery College before being drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He has played for AAA and AA teams in the Major League Baseball system, Hobson said.

Johnson, 28, was drafted second overall by the Minnesota Twins in 2000, but he has not played at the major league level since 2003.

"His numbers in the big leagues were not great, but he can be a productive starter for us," Hobson said.

Bladergroen, a former New York Mets and Boston Red Sox prospect, played in the Atlantic League last year as a member of the now-defunct Road Warriors. Hobson began pursuing the left-handed first baseman immediately after taking charge of the team, he said.

None of the first players signed were among those chosen in last month's expansion draft, which allowed Hobson to pick one player from each other Atlantic League team. Those players will sign with the Southern Maryland team if they decide to remain in the Atlantic League; the rest of the roster will be compiled after players are cut from major league teams during spring training.