TRAVERSE CITY — The Traverse City Beach Bums added two starting pitchers in a deal with the Joliet Jackhammers.
Right-hander David Nathanson — who spent the second half of 2008 with the Bums — and righty Shannon Wirth were obtained from the Northern League's Jackhammers in exchange for a player to be named.
Nathanson joined the Beach Bums in late June and ended up 5-2 with a 2.95 ERA in 761/3 innings.
"We're excited to get David back," said Beach Bums' director of baseball operations Jason Wuerfel. "He's a ground-ball pitcher and throws strikes. He's a perfect pitcher for our park."
Nathanson walked only 11 hitters while striking out 42 last season.
Nathanson was reacquired by the Beach Bums from Joliet after being sent along with right-hander Tyler Meigs in a Jan. 9 trade that brought shortstop Tim Hutting and outfielder Jake Whitesides to TC. Hutting was later sent to Sioux Falls.
Wirth comes to the Beach Bums after spending 2007 with current Joliet manager Wally Backman in the South Coast League. Wirth pitched in 21 games for the South Georgia Peanuts, who won the league title. He made 16 starts and posted a 9-5 record and 3.44 ERA. Wirth threw 107.1 innings and struck out 71 batters while walking 33.
Wirth, 23, pitched in the Texas Rangers organization in 2006 after being selected in the 32nd round of the draft, tallying 38 innings for three different teams and reaching as high as the Class A California League. He pitched collegiately at Lewis-Clark State College, and won the NAIA national title with the Warriors in 2006 while sporting a 7-1 record and 2.96 ERA.
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