Eisenbarger, Tavarez Return

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Zane Bloom, zbloom@lakeeriecrushers.com

910-777-3871

Crushers Bring Back Frontier League All-Star Jack Eisenbarger and Setup Man Sammy Tavarez

Avon, OH - April 21, 2025 - Two key pieces from the 2024 pitching staff -  LHP Jack Eisenbarger and RHP Sammy Tavarez - will be returning to the squad in 2025 after re-signing with Lake Erie.

Jack Eisenbarger had an incredible season with Crushers last year and had plenty of Frontier League accolades to show for. In his first year with Lake Erie, Eisenbarger sported a 2.91 ERA in 111 ⅓ innings. His ERA was 7th best in the Frontier League and his 111 strikeouts placed him 9th in the league with his 8-4 record in 19 starts. Personally, he’s coming off a historic season as well. The lefty was named to the Frontier League All-Star Game last summer and no-hit the Trois-Rivieres Aigles in June, the second of his career (first professionally), making him the first pitcher in Lake Erie Crushers history to toss a no-hitter. 

Eisenbarger's quiet demeanor and consistency was an asset at the top of the rotation last year, and his return is a welcome sight for the pitching staff as a unit looking to build off of a strong 2024. He is returning from abroad after a stint in the Colombian Professional Baseball League this winter with a 2.90 ERA in nine starts for Vaqueros de Monteria.

Sammy Tavarez, the 6’7” right-handed Dominican flamethrower and set-up man in 2024, is back and ready to light up the radar gun again this season with his upper 90’s fastball. The 26-year-old pitched for three seasons in the New York Mets organization between Low-A St. Lucie, High-A Brooklyn, and AA Binghamton before joining Lake Erie in 2024. In 44 appearances Tavarez posted a 3.32 ERA with a whopping 59 strikeouts in 40 ⅔ innings (13.1 K/9) at the back end of the bullpen. 

While Tavarez was tasked with pitching in high leverage relief situations with the Crushers in 2024, his recent stint with Venados de Mazatlan in the Mexican Pacific Winter League makes his role for 2025 a curious prospect. While previously coming exclusively out of the bullpen in his professional career, Tavarez made four starts (in eight appearances) this winter with a 3.42 ERA. Skipper Jared Lemieux has the option to convert Tavarez into a starter this season, but the option is still there to allow him to be a high-leverage reliever once again in 2025. 

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The Crushers will kick off the 2025 season on the road on May 8 against the New York Boulders before returning to Crushers Stadium for the home opener on Tuesday, May 13, against the Florence Y’alls.

Flexible 2025 Crushers ticket memberships are now on sale, giving fans the best experience on their terms and schedule. Plans start at $40 and include a priority selection of games, no ticket service fees, and the option of subscription-based payment plans. Fans can view more information at www.LakeErieCrushers.com.

Whether it’s a birthday celebration, youth sports night, corporate event, or family reunion, group outings with the Crushers offer great fan experiences and benefits, including reserved seating and special perks. Visit www.LakeErieCrushers.com/groups or call (440) 934-3636 for more information.

Home Opener tickets are now on sale, and the Lake Erie Crushers Promotional Schedule is live on our website at lakeeriecrushers.com.

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About the Lake Erie Crushers

The Lake Erie Crushers are a professional baseball team that plays just 18 miles outside Cleveland at the 5,000 seat Crushers Stadium in Avon, Ohio. They compete in the Frontier League - a prestigious MLB Partner League. Since its founding in 2009, the Crushers have been dedicated to delivering exciting baseball and family-friendly entertainment to fans in Northeast Ohio.