Seven 10-Day Contracts Signed To 2024 Roster

AppleSox head coach Mitch Darlington announced on Tuesday the first wave of 10-day contract players for the 2024 season. Kade Benavidez, Ethan Buckley, Damon Gaither, Jack Johnson, Masayuki Kawashima, Caden Parker and Joe Scheffler will help provide depth to the AppleSox early in the season. 

Benavidez is a left-handed infielder and a right-handed pitcher at New Mexico State. He has transitioned to being a two-way player this season by thriving at the plate, posting a .386 average over 28 games. Benavidez became a regular in the lineup at the beginning of April and has responded by recording four multi-hit games. His .525 on-base percentage leads all Aggies with at least 25 games played. Benavidez did not record any at-bats in 2022 but hit .390 with 14 home runs and 52 RBI in 54 games at New Mexico Junior College as a freshman in 2022. 

The Belen, N.M. native’s lone year of summer-ball experience came in 2021 when he started six-of-seven games and recorded a 3.29 ERA with 37 strikeouts and only 10 walks over 41 innings for the Grand Lake Mariners of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. 

“He’s going to play some corner infield,” Darlington said. “He’s on a June-only contract. Should be here Opening Day. We brought him in as some insurance on the corners but also the ability to step on the mound and get us some relief innings is big. Kind of a guy that was too good to pass on for a June-only contract. I think he’s going to play a huge role in our first-half success.”

Buckley has played in 19 games in each of the last two seasons at Linn-Benton. He hit .311 with three doubles and a home run as a freshman before hitting .271 with 16 RBI as a sophomore for the Roadrunners. He joins fellow Linn-Benton teammate Aidan Dougherty on this summer’s AppleSox team. 

“Really good program to pull guys from,” Darlington said. “Ethan is originally from South Africa but came over here to play baseball. He got some summer work last year with the Medford Rogues and is a great 10-day contract for us to begin the season.”

Gaither just wrapped up his sophomore season at Coppin State by hitting .260 with a team-high nine home runs over 45 games. His .479 slugging percentage was also tops on the Eagles and his 35 RBI tied for the team lead. Gaither spent three seasons at Everett Community College but only played seven games in 2021 before sitting out the 2022 season. He slashed .336/.409/.526 with 21 RBI last year to earn All-NWAC Second Team North Region honors. 

The Olympia native previously played in the West Coast League for the Port Angeles Lefties but was used as a pitcher. He was also used as a pitcher with the Spearfish Sasquatch in the Independence League in 2022 but primarily saw playing time in the field, posting a .352 on-base percentage in 25 games.

“Damon is a big power bat first baseman,” Darlington said. “He played basketball at Everett as well and is just really athletic. It’s going to be hard to have his time expire after his 10-day contract if he swings how he did at Coppin State.”

Johnson will be a junior this fall and looking to commit to a four-year college this summer. He appeared in 39 games at Santa Barbara City College over the last two seasons after redshirting in 2022. He was limited to 13 games this season after appearing in 26 games a season ago. 

The Arlington, Wash. native previously played in the WCL in 2022, appearing in 13 games for the Walla Walla Sweets. Six of those games were against the AppleSox and he collected hits in four of the games.

“He’s a guy who will be really hungry to come in here in early June and compete to get in our lineup,” Darlington said. “He has battled some injuries this spring and hasn’t had the opportunity to get in the lineup consistently. I remember seeing Jack a few years ago with Walla Walla and the thing that stood out to me was his glove. A no-brainer for a 10-day contract.”

Kawashima just wrapped up his sophomore year at Sierra College, where he hit .303 with 18 walks and nine stolen bases while recording two different six-game hitting streaks in 28 games. As a freshman Kawashima hit .281 and recorded four different multi-hit games, with three of them being three-hit-or-better efforts.

The Machia, Japan native played for the Bend Elks last season but was hitless in 12 at-bats.

“Runs really well and is a good glove at short,” Darlington said. “We had heard about Masayuki through an ex-AppleSox player, who sent his name our way. He’s not on a 10-day or a full-season contract but will be three weeks or a little longer. He and Fred Buckson will give us a pretty solid Opening Day middle infield.”

Parker began his collegiate career at Clark College, where he led the way offensively for two seasons. He led the 2022 Penguins in runs (40), hits (54), stolen bases (15), RBI (34) and triples (2) as a freshman. Parker went on to lead the 2023 Penguins in walks (37), stolen bases (19) and runs (36) as a sophomore before joining Bowling Green this season. 

The AppleSox are Parker’s third different West Coast League team over the last three seasons. The West Linn, Ore. native got his start in the WCL in 2022, beginning the summer with the Cowlitz Black Bears before joining the Pickles later in the season. He appeared in both of Portland’s games in the 2022 WCL Playoffs and homered and drove in three runs in Game 1 of the 2022 South Division Series at Ridgefield. Parker rejoined the Pickles last summer and suited up for 10 games.

“Caden is a rock-solid outfielder,” Darlington said. “He runs really well and is really solid defensively. He was a guy who, when we reached out, we were only able to offer a 10-day contract at that time in the offseason but is definitely worthy of being a full-summer guy. He’s a guy who will either be with us early in the season or late in the season.”

Scheffler wrapped up his Pierce College career by earning First Team All-NWAC West Region this spring. He led the NWAC with 23 runners caught stealing while recording a .985 fielding percentage and only allowing five passed balls. Scheffler, despite primarily being a catcher, was only caught stealing twice in 22 attempts at Pierce. 

The Lake Washington native appeared in five games for the Port Angeles Lefties in 2022, including appearing in two games against the AppleSox.

“Really good catch-and-throw catcher,” Darlington said. “Everything I’ve seen looks good. Recently signed with Wingate, a Division-II school on the east coast that recently won a national championship. Him and Ethan (Buckley) early on in the season are two really solid options behind the dish.”

The 2024 WCL season begins on May 31 as the AppleSox host the Port Angeles Lefties at 6:25 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. The AppleSox have 31 home games and play until mid-August. Single-game tickets are available for purchase now at applesox.com/schedule with admission as affordable as $8. Season ticket packages are also available for purchase at applesox.com/season-tickets. Don’t miss the AppleSox’ free Fan Fest on Wednesday, May 29 for your opportunity to come to the ballpark and meet the team at 5:30.