Whitlock Promoted as RiverDogs are Reinforced with Two New Arms on Staff

HAGERSTOWN, MD - The New York Yankees have announced the following transactions, affecting the RiverDogs roster on Monday:

• RHP Garrett Whitlock - Transferred Charleston to High-A Tampa
• RHP Janson Junk - Transferred Extended Spring Training to Charleston
• RHP Dalton Higgins - Transferred Extended Spring Training to Charleston
• OF Ricardo Ferreira - Transferred Charleston to Extended Spring Training

Whitlock, 21, has been one of the clear standouts in a dominant Charleston rotation. The Georgia native recently spun a 26-inning scoreless streak that ended on his last start on Friday in Lakewood. He departs currently ranking second among all qualifying pitchers in the South Atlantic League in ERA (1.13) and WHIP (0.75) after striking out 44 batters in 40 innings of work with Class A Charleston.
Whitlock is the third RiverDogs pitcher to garner promotion to Tampa this year, joining teammates Nick Nelson and Matt Wivinis.
Junk, 22, is a hard-throwing righty selected in the 22^nd round of the 2017 draft out of Seattle University. The Washington State right-hander is scheduled to make his Class A debut on Monday night at Municipal Stadium. After going pro last year, Junk tossed 12 2/3 innings in the Gulf Coast League while allowing just one earned run in 11 relief appearances.
Higgins, 22 and another second-year pro, also joins the RiverDogs after pitching in the GCL last season. The seventh-round pick out of Dallas Baptist University posted a 1-0 record and a 2.41 ERA in 10 appearances out of the bullpen. The Fort Worth, Tex. native struck out a batter per inning with just four walks in 18-plus frames.

Heading into Monday night's contest in Hagerstown, the RiverDogs rank second in professional baseball in staff ERA (2.65) while leading the pro ball circuit in WHIP (1.10). Junk will make his Class A debut and his first start as a pro as Charleston (17-19) looks to take a series lead over the Northern Division's last-place team in the Suns (11-25). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.
After the four-game tilt at Municipal Stadium wraps up Tuesday afternoon, the RiverDogs return to The Joe for a four-game set against the Columbia Fireflies, starting with a Budweiser Thirsty Thursday presented by 95SX on May 17.
RiverDogs single-game tickets are now available for the 2018 campaign, the club's 25^th season as the RiverDogs and their "175^th season in dog years." Ticket information can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com/tickets.
--RIVERDOGS--