MLB veteran Ginter joins Flyers

Paul Abbott and the Flyers are hard at work building a strong team for 2010. Today the Flyers have announced six-year MLB veteran Keith Ginter will join the squad, bringing plenty of experience and veteran leadership to the infield. Here's the official release from the team:

FULLERTON-NATIVE GINTER TO SOLIDIFY O.C. INFIELD
Former Texas League MVP spent six seasons in Major Leagues

ANAHEIM, Calif. (April 26, 2010) – The Orange County Flyers have agreed to terms with Fullerton native Keith Ginter, a six-year MLB veteran, to shore up the team’s infield in 2010. Ginter, who turns 34 the week before training camp, played primarily second- and third-base in his big-league career.

After graduating from Fullerton High School, Ginter was named a Big 12 Conference All-Star in 1997 and 1998 while playing for Texas Tech. The Houston Astros selected him in the 10th round of the 1998 draft (302 overall). In 2000, Ginter earned Texas League (AA) MVP Honors with Astros’ affiliate Round Rock Express before making his Major League debut for Houston Sept. 20, 2000.

The Astros traded Ginter to Milwaukee for Mark Loretta in late 2002, where he became a regular member of the Brewers lineup, playing both second- and third-base through 2004. In 2003, he played a career-high 127 games in the big leagues, batting .257 with 14 homeruns and 44 RBI. He improved the following year, batting .262 with 19 homeruns and 60 RBI in 113 games. The Brewers traded Ginter to Oakland prior to the 2005 season, where he played 51 games for the A’s. He has spent the last four seasons playing at the Triple-A level for Oakland, Cleveland, Boston and the Chicago White Sox.

In six MLB seasons, Ginter played in 325 games, batting .243 with 38 homeruns, 140 RBI, and an on-base percentage of .329. He has amassed 1,012 hits in 11 minor league seasons, batting .275 with 121 homeruns and 544 RBI in that time.