YORK REVOLUTION

Slugger Isaias Tejeda rejoins York Revolution, but team loses reliever Devan Watts

STAFF REPORT
  • Slugger Isaias Tejeda has rejoined the York Revolution.
  • Tejeda's .320 average with the Revs over two seasons is fifth highest in team history.
  • The Revs announced that reliever Devan Watts had his contract purchased by the Chicago White Sox.

The York Revolution gained a slugger, but lost a reliever on Tuesday.

The Revs have re-signed catcher and first baseman Isaias Tejeda, who played a pivotal role in York's run to the franchise's third Atlantic League championship in 2017.

Isaias Tejeda is back with the York Revolution. YORK DISPATCH FILE PHOTO

The club also announced Tuesday that right-handed pitcher Devan Watts had his contract purchased by the Chicago White Sox organization. Watts will report to Advanced-A Winston-Salem in the Carolina League.

Tejeda was one of the Atlantic League's top hitters during his first two seasons with York and he could play a key role if York hopes to return to the postseason in 2018. Entering Tuesday's action, York was 4-2 and leading the second-half race in the Freedom Division. The Revs finished 32-31 in the first half, meaning the team will almost certainly have to win the second-half crown to make the playoffs.

Tejeda began the 2018 season in the Mexican League and returns to York for a third season.

The 26-year-old batted .356 with 23 doubles, nine home runs and 38 RBIs in only 65 games during two stints with York in 2016, having had his contract purchased in midseason by the Atlanta Braves. His 2016 performance included a 28-game hitting streak, the second-longest in club history.

Isaias Tejeda has a career .320 batting average with the York Revolution. YORK DISPATCH FILE PHOTO

Last season, the Dominican native batted .300 with 17 home runs, 78 RBIs (fifth in Atlantic League) and 33 doubles in 121 games, earning both midseason and postseason Atlantic League All-Star accolades.

His .320 combined average is fifth-highest in Revs history and his .506 slugging percentage ranks seventh. The ninth-year pro was originally a New York Yankees farmhand, having spent his first six seasons in the Yankees organization. 

Watts had short, but productive, stint with York: Watts, meanwhile, was signed by the Revs on June 18 and made eight appearances out of the bullpen, posting a 2.79 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings. He held opponents to a .222 batting average. 

"We're extremely happy for Devan," Revs manager Mark Mason said in a news release. "He came in and worked hard while he was with our club. He earned this opportunity and we wish him the best."

The 23 year old was originally a 17th-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2016 and reached as high as Double-A Mississippi in 2018 while also spending time at Advanced-A Florida. In 2017, Watts racked up 65 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings and had five saves between the two levels. The North Carolina native was 5-5 with a 2.82 ERA over 108 1/3 innings in 79 games while in the Braves system.

Watts becomes the third Revs' players to have his contract purchased by a major league organization this season, joining left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler (Seattle Mariners) and right-handed pitcher Zac Grotz (New York Mets).