The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

SHARD Munroe officially signed with the Tri-City ValleyCats and joins the club in their debut season as a member of the Frontier League.

Munroe, who spent five years in the Cincinnati Reds farm system, last appeared with the Daytona Tortugas in the Single A-Advanced Florida State League. The 24-year-old outfielder was released by the club in July 2019.

The Frontier League features 16 clubs in the Northeast and Midwestern United States and Eastern Canada.

Formed in 1993, it is the oldest currently running independent league in the United States.

In 2020, the Frontier League, together with the American Association and the Atlantic League, became an official “MLB Partner League.”

The ValleyCats were previously members of the now disbanded New York- Penn League but joined the Frontier League after they learned they would not be offered a player development licence to remain in affiliated baseball.

Tri-City’s season opens on May 27 on the road against the Ottawa Titans as a part of an eight game road trip. The team will play a 96-game schedule, 48 at home in the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

Munroe, a Grand Bahama native, joined the DSL Reds in the Dominican Summer League in the 2015 season, In 51 games, he hit .249 with a .722 OPS, two home runs, 20 RBI and 14 stolen bases.

He advanced to the Arizona Rookie League for the next two seasons and was promoted to the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League in 2018. He led Billings in home runs, triples and was among the team’s top three in nearly every statistical category. Through 28 games, the 22-year-old outfielder is hit .313 with a .387 OBP, an OPS of .842, slugging .455 with 31 hits, five doubles, three home runs, 45 total bases, 12 RBI and seven stolen bases. He concluded the 2018 season with another promotion, this time to the Daytona Dragons of the Single A - Midwest League. Through 32 games he hit .192 with a .296 OBP, an OPS of .649, slugging .354 with 19 hits, three doubles, three home runs, 35 total bases, 10 RBI and nine stolen bases. His 2019 season was split between the Dragons and the Tortugas where he hit a combined .186 with 23 RBI, six stolen bases a .621 OPS and 58 total bases.