Headed for home

THE FINAL 2007 ROSTER
(all stats through Saturday’s game)

Sandy Aracena, C
Aracena, 26, batted .368 in 18 games with the Revs. Acquired in an August trade with Bridgeport , Aracena replaced the retired Greg Brown in York ’s lineup.

Immediate plans: “I haven’t decided yet, but a team in Nicaragua wants me to go there. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Resides: Vero Beach , Fla.

Offseason job: Habitat for Humanity.

“I pick up donated items, and Habitat auctions them off to help pay for building supplies.”

Jason Aspito, OF
Aspito, 28, returned to his home near Chicago last week. The hard-nosed outfielder broke a bone in his left wrist when he was hit by a pitch in August.

Unable to hit because of the injury, Aspito pitched one scoreless inning in relief. He also offered to play catcher earlier in the year when Greg Brown retired. “I wanted to do anything to help the team,” Aspito said.

Aspito batted .307 in 54 games for the Revs, recovering from a below-average showing in the Northern League.

Byron Batson, RHP
Batson turns 29 in October. He went 2-2 with a 5.23 ERA and two saves in 74 innings, switching between the starting rotation and bullpen.

Immediate plans: “I want to hit the tryouts as soon as the season ends, and hope to earn an invite to spring training.”

Resides: Wilmington , N.C.

Offseason job: “I want to try to take advantage of my degree, and get a computer job. I have been working odd jobs. Two years ago I worked in a bank.”

Rayner Bautista, SS
Bautista turns 27 today. After arriving late because of visa issues, Bautista batted 297 in 105 games. He matched Nate Espy’s team-record 22-game hitting streak, and hit safely in 50 of 56 games. He ranked in the league’s top five with 36 doubles.

Immediate plans: “My agent’s trying to get me a job playing in Nicaragua or Columbia . I’d love to play (winter ball), but if I can’t I’m just going to stay in shape lifting and working out back home (in the Dominican Republic).”

Resides: Nizao, Dominican Republic

Offseason job: “Nah, never. It’s only baseball. My agent’s working on finding a spot for me.”

Frank Castillo, RHP
Castillo, 38, came out of retirement and developed into the club’s best starter. He recovered from a shoulder strain in August to finish the season strong. He went 8-4 with a 3.75 ERA.

Immediate plans: “I want to see if anything will happen (with affiliated teams).

Resides: Scottsdale , Ariz.

Offseason job: Working out.

Plans for 2008: “I didn’t know what would happen this year. The pitching part and competitive part brought me back. But the travel is not that bad (in the Atlantic League). There are good people here. York was a nice place to play. I wouldn’t mind coming back.”

Zach Cline, LHP
Cline, 24, was a late-season arrival from the independent Frontier League. He appeared in three games with an 18.00 ERA.

Immediate plans: “I want to get ready to play again next spring.”

Resides: Clearwater , Fla.

Offseason job: “I graduated last December with a degree in marketing, and I want to get a job in my field.”

Luis Cotto, INF
Cotto, 26, played a utility role for the Revs. One of the hardest workers on the team, Cotto hit .243 in 76 games.

Immediate plans: “I’m hoping to play, but it’s going to be hard with the Puerto Rico league shutting down.”

Resides: Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

Offseason job: “I’m going to have to get my first job out of baseball in seven years. It’s going to be hard. Hopefully I’ll be able to do some baseball clinics.
And hopefully I’ll get a job (in baseball.)”

Keoni De Renne, INF
De Renne, 28, sat out the first month of the season after being cut in spring training from the Cleveland Indians Triple-A club. One of the catalysts in the Revs second-half run, De Renne batted .302 in 82 games.

Immediate plans: “I’m planning on flying to California and visiting my sister and niece, who just turned 1. I usually relax for three weeks, and then return home.”

Resides: Honolulu , Hawaii

Offseason job: He will do some baseball clinics.*

Plans for 2008: “I would like to keep playing. If I do come back to this league, York is the place I want to come back to.”

Matt Dryer, INF
Dryer, 28, struggled through some trying injuries, missing time with a strained rib cage and then a cracked rib. One of only five Revs to remain with the team since the first practice in Lakeland , Fla. , through the final game, Dryer was a leader and run producer all season. He batted .258 with 17 homers and 69 RBIs.

Immediate plans: “I go home for a couple weeks, visit my parents and eat some home-cooked meals. Then I go to San Diego and down to Florida .”

Resides: Rochester , N.Y.

Offseason job: Tattoo apprentice. Surprisingly, it’s not a future dream job for the free-spirited Dryer.
“I just like hanging out (at the shop).”

Plans for 2008: If he’s in the league, Dryer insists he’ll play for York .

Bryan Edwards, RHP
After shuttling between three teams in the Atlantic League, Edwards played his best ball in York . He went 8-6 with a 6.14 ERA, but went 5-4 with a 4.96 ERA in York . A natural reliever, Edwards had success in a starting role.

Immediate plans: “I usually played winter ball in Puerto Rico, but since the league shut down I’m headed to Venezuela .”

Resides: Austin , Texas

Offseason job: Edwards expects to start playing in Venezuela in October.

Nate Espy, 1B
Espy, 29, won the team’s MVP award. A calming force in the locker room, Espy carried the team at times. He remained with the team since the first day of spring training despite producing monster numbers. He batted .319 through 118 games. He hit 22 homers and knocked in 90 runs. He ranked among the league’s leaders in batting, homers, on-base percentage (.423) and slugging percentage (.552).

Immediate plans: Espy will drive home to Florida and spend 24 hours with family and friends before leaving for baseball reasons.

“I leave Thursday to play winter ball in Vera Cruz, Mexico . They wanted to fly me down there Wednesday, but I asked for more time. They gave me one day. ”

Resides: Pensacola , Fla.

Offseason job: “I’ve played winter ball before. I spent a couple years with the Phillies instructional league, but I’ve never played outside the country. I’ve never been anywhere outside the country. And I’m looking forward to it.”

Wayne Franklin, LHP
The former major leaguer left the team in May to pitch in Taiwan , but returned to York in July to help the Revs run at the South Division second-half title. Franklin , 33, went 7-3 with a 4.62 ERA in 15 games.

Immediate plans: “My agent’s looking to find me a job playing in Venezuela . Last year was actually the first year I took the winter off for some time. I just thought it was a good year to take off. But I never felt (winter ball) hurt me. I’ve pitched year-round and showed up at spring training and felt fine.”

Resides: Rising Sun, Md.

Offseason job: “I want to play. I can’t just sit at home. Sitting at home is not fun.”

Pete Hartmann, LHP
Hartmann, 36, arrived in York after playing the majority of the season in Italy . He went 1-2 with a 6.46 ERA, and displayed one of the more unique deliveries in the league. The southpaw stands on the first-base side of the mound, and falls off the mound toward first following a sidearm release.

Immediate plans: A one-time offseason workout partner of teammate Frank Castillo, Hartmann is headed to the Dominican Republic to play winter ball.

Resides: Scottsdale , Ariz.

Offseason job: “I love (the Dominican), I absolutely love it. The people are fanatics for baseball, and I just love the culture down there. I know Spanish so I can get around.”

Plans for 2008: Expects to pitch in Italy.

Kelly Hunt, INF
A late-season arrival from the independent Sun Coast League, Hunt, 26, showed signs of power, slugging two homers in one game.

Immediate plans: “I'm just going to get as big and as strong as I can.”

Resides: Gilbert , Ariz.

Offseason job: “I’ll probably just pick up some odd job. Maybe work at Dominoes as a delivery man.”

Joe Jiannetti, OF
Jiannetti turns 26 on Sept. 25. Never a good fit in Newark , he arrived in York and helped solidify the outfield while providing a right-handed bat in the lineup. He hit .337 in 16 games with the Revs with 19 RBIs. His stay in York helped raise his season batting average to .265 with 19 doubles and 38 RBIs.

Immediate plans: Return home.

Resides: St. Petersburg , Fla.

Offseason job: “I’ve worked the last two years at Outback Steakhouse, and I’ll probably go back.”

Victor Kleine, LHP
The laid back left-handed reliever made an impact with the Revs late in the season, providing some needed depth in the bullpen. Kleine, 28, didn’t earn a decision but owned a 2.67 ERA in 27 innings. And his last game of the season was a gem, pitching three innings of three-hit relief Saturday. But it also might have been his final professional appearance.

Immediate plans: He will return to his home state of Ohio to complete a six-week course to become a fulltime fireman.*
“At least that’s the plan,” Kleine said. *

Resides: Cleveland

David Maust, LHP
Maust, 28, left the team before the final road series. An MRI last week showed signs of damage to his labrum. He started the season in the bullpen, but moved to the starting rotation where he appeared more comfortable. He won a team-record five straight decisions but struggled late in the year, losing six straight decisions. He went 5-8 with a 4.70 ERA.

Immediate plans: “This is the one injury you want to avoid.”
Maust is scheduled to undergo offseason surgery.

Resides: Morgantown , W.Va.

On possible retirement: “Hell no. I’m from West Virginia . I’ll do whatever I have to do to get back. I’ll work my ass off.”

Jason Olson, RHP
Olson, 29, was one of the most consistent arms in the bullpen, going 6-5 with 4.03 ERA with one save in 67 innings. He is of only two pitchers to remain with the team since the first day of spring training through the final game.

Immediate plans: “I’m hunting.”

Resides: Expects to move from Prescott Valley , Ariz. , to Reno.

Offseason job: “Plan to work construction with some buddies. And I do a couple clinics.”

Justin Singleton, OF
Singleton, 28, developed into one of the club’s leaders and proved to be a catalyst after being acquired from Camden in a trade. He batted .286 for York with 12 homers and 54 RBIs in 81 games. His combined season stats with Camden and York were hurt by a slow start with the Riversharks. He batted .259 with 16 homers on the season.

Immediate plans: Head home to spend time with his wife in their new home.

Resides: New Jersey

Offseason job: “Do some odds and ends of things, but mostly relax. My wife is a school teacher. So while I’m in the middle of my season, my wife is off. And when I’m off, she’s in the middle of her job. So I want to spend some time with her.”

Steve Smyth, LHP
The former major leaguer bounced between the Revs and Mexico this year, playing for two teams south of the border between stops in the Atlantic League. During the midseason he was a York starter, but he pitched from the pen late in the year. Smyth, 29, went 1-3 with a 6.39 ERA and one save in 31 innings.

Immediate plans: “Head back home and hope my agent can find me a job in baseball. I’m looking for a job in the Dominican.”

Resides: Chandler , Ariz.

Offseason job: “I want to check out a police academy, and probably hang ‘em up. (Saturday) night was probably my last game. (Smyth allowed a game-winning homer to the first batter he faced in the bottom of the 10th inning.) I didn’t go out on a high note, but that’s how it is.”

Chris Steinborn, LHP
Steinborn, 25, had an up-and-down season. He led the league in losses, but also pitched several complete games that kept York in the second-half race. He went 8-14 with a 6.13 ERA.

Immediate plans: Head home.

Resides: Akron , Ohio

Offseason job: “I want to spend time with my family. My daughter turns 9 real soon, so I’d like to spend time with her.”

Kazu Tanaka, OF
Tanaka survived a season in which he spoke little English and had no translator. He turned into a fan and clubhouse favorite. Despite never hitting well during his professional career, he slowly pulled his average above .200 after the first month of the season. He batted .249 with 11 doubles and four triples in 109 games. He knocked in 31 runs, and won’t turn 26 until next month.

Immediate plans: Fly to Los Angeles Tuesday. Take a few weeks of vacation before flying to Japan in October.

Resides: Tokyo

Offseason job: He wants to attempt to get an invitation to spring training with an affiliated club. If nothing works out, he may return to York.

Luis Taveras, C
Taveras, 32, started hot but has been plagued by a deep bone bruise on the thumb of his catching hand since early July. When healthy he provided power and a consistent bat. Taveras batted .249 with six homers and 29 RBIs in 71 games.

Immediate plans: “I’ll play in the Dominican until January.”

Resides: Santiago, Dominican Republic

Offseason job: “I’ve played winter ball in the Dominican since 1996. I want to keep playing.”