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The Schaumburg Boomers opened the season on May 12, hoping to turn things around after a disappointing 2016.
They'll have some extra help to do it, thanks to the recent signing of a new left-handed pitcher and the return of two key players.
Rob McDonnell, who spent part of last season in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, has signed with the Boomers, the team announced on its website.
A 25th-round draft pick by the Dodgers in 2015, McDonnell had a 4-0 record last season and a 3.93 ERA with the Ogden Raptors, according to statistics on milb.com. Overall last year, including a short stint with the Great Lakes Loons in Midland, Michigan, he appeared in 19 games and had a 4.58 ERA, 57 strikeouts and 27 walks in 53 innings.
Returning to the squad are right-handed pitcher Brett Mabry, an anchor for the staff last season, and shortstop Josh Gardiner, who played 23 games with the Boomers before joining the New York Yankees organization for the rest of the season.
Mabry had a 2-5 record last season in Schaumburg, with a 6.30 earned-run average and 39 strikeouts in 10 starts. Gardiner batted .311, with with two homers, 14 RBIs and nine extra base hits.
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