Revolution closer Franklin Nunez signed with the Colorado Rockies and reliever Heath Totten (pictured above) re-signed with the Dodgers.
York's closer for two seasons, Nunez saved 11 games for the Revolution in 2008 after posting impressive numbers in the Mexican League. He went 3-2 with 19 saves and a 2.86 ERA for Saltillo. An original member of the Revolution, Nunez helped York clinch its first ever playoff spot last season.
A Tampa resident and Dominican native, Nunez last pitched in the majors in 2005 with the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He earned a minor league contract with the Brewers at the end of 2007 -- when he also pitched for the Revolution (2.76 ERA, 12 Sv). He has been one of the hardest throwers in the Atlantic League during the last two seasons, but the one knock on Nunez has been his inability to throw a secondary pitch for a strike.
He throws his fastball in the mid-90s, but he can get in trouble if he misses his spot because he can't hit the strike zone consistently with his slider.
Nunez left the Revolution after the regular season finale for personal reasons, skipping out on York's postseason series against Somerset.
Totten is not as well known for obvious reasons. He pitched in just four games (0-1, 7.94 ERA) for York last season, earning a contract with the Dodgers. He went 8-5 with a 4.30 ERA as a starter in the Pacific Coast League for Las Vegas after leaving the Revolution.
Totten was suspended for 15 games for violating minor league baseball's drug testing policy in 2005.
"It blew me out of the water," Totten told the Review Journal in 2005. "I've got to keep throwing like I have been and prove that it's me and it's nothing I'm taking. That's the main thing.
"I'm having a good year and now it's kind of black-labeled. It's over, so it's time to just keep on throwing."
Nunez and Totten join reliever Travis Phelps (Tigers) and outfielder Matt Esquivel (Indians) as the four Revolution players to earn contracts with major league organizations this offseason.
Familiar names moving on
Camden catcher Jason Phillips signed with the Mariners. The Mariners invited Phillips to camp after losing catcher Luis Oliveros to a torn ACL.
Camden shortstop Gabe Suarez signed with the Giants. He batted .226 in 102 games for the Riversharks last season.
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