It's been an eventful couple of days for former Revolution players.

Revs RHP Bob Zimmermann signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. Baseball America didn't think much of his statistics.

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"The results weren't pretty: 4.43 ERA in 38 games, 61-to-60 strikeout-to-walk ratio and seven homers in 89 innings," Baseball America wrote last month.

What they fail to mention is that Zimmermann (pictured at right) pitched for the worst team in the Atlantic League, and he shuffled between the starting rotation and the bullpen.

York first baseman/catcher John Purdom, who also played for Camden, earned an invite to spring training with the defending National League champion Phillies. Purdom signed a minor league free agent deal, according to the Philly Daily News.

Thurman returns to Revs

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Former major league pitcher Corey Thurman has agreed to terms with the Revs, returning to his hometown club for a third season. Signed as a high school prospect out of Texas, Thurman moved up through the Kansas City Royals system before being acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays in the Rule 5 draft. Thurman made his major league debut with the Jays in 2002, and he returned to the big leagues in '03.

A shoulder injury caused Thurman to return to the minor leagues, and he attempted to restart his career by joining the Revolution in 2008. A resident of York since the end of the 2008 season, Thurman purchased a house in the area.

Thurman pitched well in 2009, he went 4-3 with a 3.28 ERA, but a blood clot in his pitching hand limited him to 16 starts.

The Revs also signed RHP Anthony Sullivan. Used strictly as a reliever during his four-year pro career, Sullivan spent the last two years pitching in the independent Can-Am League.

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Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis is expected to attend the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show later this month to talk with hunting enthusiasts about celebrity hunting trips organized by the company created by former Revs manager Chris Hoiles. The Hoiles-Gladstone Group will host three celebrity hunting trips to north-central Pennsylvania this year.

Markakis will appear at the HGG booth at the outdoor show on Feb. 13 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.

The Hoiles-Gladstone Group has scheduled a bow hunt Nov. 3-7 (limited to 10 hunters) and a bear hunt Nov. 22-23. A rifle hunt in December has already sold out.

Hoiles and former Revs director of baseball operations Adam Gladstone formed their sports events company after the two left minor league baseball in August. HGG organized a bow hunt last year that included former major leaguers Will Clark and Ben McDonald. HGG has also begun work with the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, organizing a celebrity golf event for the non-profit organization. A wooden bat league featuring college baseball players, the summer league features eight teams in the Baltimore and D.C. area.

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Don't expect the Revs to announce the return of slugger Kala Ka'aihue during the next few weeks. The first baseman has received an invitation to attend spring training with the Oakland A's organization, according to fellow Hawaii resident and Revolution captain Keoni DeRenne.

Ka'aihue scored four runs and knocked in four runs in six games with the Revs.

One of three Revolution players signed by major league organizations last season, Ka'aihue saw limited time with York. Released by the Braves near midseason, the Athletics moved quickly to pick him up.

No doubt all those fans in Revs land knew infielder Liu Rodriguez could play. They probably remember Jose Herrera from his time spent with Krenchicki's wall-clearing Newark Bears club in 2007. But the name that didn't ring a bell may be the most interesting.

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Left-handed reliever Edwin Walker, 26, by all acounts is a hard-throwing up-and-comer. His career progress has been slowed, first with the Brewers then Pirates by injuries. He took a year off to undergo surgery and rehab, and he sat out another year to attend college in part so he could "refocus" on baseball and give his body time to heal.

Walker needed to undergo Tommy John surgery early in his career with the Brewers, and when he came back he struggled with shoulder injuries. After undergoing surgery to repair "a small tear, almost a fray really," Walker said it took about a year and a half to regain his velocity. After regrouping and pitching well in the Frontier League in 2008, the Pirates invited him to spring training. But when a line drive smash hit his pitching hand during a warmup before leaving for camp, Walker didn't have the opportunity to make the club.

One reason to like Herrera

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So why exactly did the Revs trade away Daryl Harang?

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The most consistent starter for the Revs, Harang (pictured at left) posted career-highs in innings and strikeouts. He's good. The trouble was York didn't have an offense last season, last in batting average and home runs. So it traded Harang for outfielder Jose Herrera.

Could York really afford to keep Harang if it had a chance to upgrade its offense?

Herrera brings a lifetime .325 Atlantic League batting average into his sixth season in the league. He instantly could provide a lift for the Revs lineup.

Etchebarren issues a statement

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Revs manager Andy Etchebarren's wife Vicky died earlier this week. His wife had been battling a long illness, and the manager wanted to keep the matter private.

The Revs manager, however, issued a statement Friday.