MINERS ROSTER TAKING SHAPE FOR 2025
Augusta, NJ - The Sussex County Miners announce the signing of several new players to their still-growing roster for 2025.
The Miners have been on the hunt to put together a roster to right the ship in 2025 following a team-low 33-win season, signing five new players to the team.
Jackson Balzan, LHP Medford,NJ Seton Hall University/Salisbury University. A five-year college pitcher, Jackson appeared in 63 games including 49 starts. In 285 innings pitched. Balzan mowed down hitters, striking out 314 including an 87 strikeout season as a sophomore in 2021. He also kept runners off the bases and teams off the scoreboard, posting a 2.97 career ERA with an outstanding 1.22 WHIP. Balzan looks to have an immediate impact on the Miners' pitching staff.
Chad Gartland, RHP, Rochester,NY, George Mason University. Chad pitched for three seasons at George Mason and had solid numbers overall. In 214.3 innings, Gartland struck out 193 batters but more importantly did not walk a lot of batters. Overall at George Mason, despite a tough 2024 season, Chad pitched to a very respectable 4.23 ERA and a just as respectable 1.33 WHIP. Starting 28 of 47 games at GMU, Gartland will be a versatile option for the Miners as he joins fellow alumni, Outfielder Jordan Smith and Manager Chris Widger on the squad.
Keenan O'Brien, Catcher, Broomfield, CO, Corban University (NAIA). A solid hitting catcher, O'Brien joins the Miners after completing his first professional season in the Atlantic League for former Miners GM Justin Ferrarella and the Lexington Legends. In 2024, O'Brien caught 52 games while also logging 17 games at first base. Keenan will look to find the bat a little more in 2025, hitting .226 with only one home run but 15 doubles and 25 RBI. In three seasons with Corban University in the NAIA, O'Brien hit a combined .277 with seven homers and 41 RBI.
Dan Kiritsis, RHP, Pompton Lakes, NJ, Seminole State/Bergen County College/Felician University. Starting nine of the 13 appearances for Felician, Kiritsis found some success. In 42.1 innings, he struck out 38 batters with an ERA of 4.25 and a WHIP of 1.56. Dan also pitched for the Trenton Thunder of the MLB Draft League, appearing in 15 games and striking out 26 batters in 17 innings. At 6'7" and 235 pounds, Kiritsis looks to gain momentum and hopes Skylands Stadium will be his home for years to come.
Sean Roby Jr., Indio, CA, San Francisco Giants/Miami Marlins Organization. Entering his seventh season of professional baseball, Roby has played in multiple levels of minor league baseball for both the Giants and Marlins organizations. His most productive pro season came in 2021 where he hit .241 with 19 home runs and 58 RBI in 97 games with a slugging percentage of .325. Sean followed that season with a solid power-hitting campaign in 2022. At the double-a level, he hit a career-high 25 home runs while collecting 55 RBI and a slugging percentage of .286. Roby has a career almost similar to current Miner Cory Acton and hopes to bring a similar success in his debut season for Sussex County.
