FARGO — The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks are set to bring back a key bullpen arm in right-handed pitcher Alex DuBord, who finished last season as the team's closer.
DuBord, who had a meteoric rise last summer, is one of three signings the American Association baseball club announced Wednesday, Jan. 26.
“Alex is a guy we’re really excited about his future," RedHawks manager Chris Coste said. “His best baseball is still ahead of him. As good as he was for us, we know there is still more in his arm than what he showed last year. He’s a big one for us.”
The RedHawks also added right-handed pitcher Luke Lind and left-handed veteran starter Mitchell Lambson to their roster.
“The pitching side has really come together nicely so far. That’s a positive," Coste said. “Having said that, we won a ton of games last year because we could just flat-out outscore our opponents.”
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The RedHawks posted a 61-38 record last season and advanced to the AA championship series before losing to the Kansas City Monarchs.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound DuBord, 25, was an important part of the team's bullpen as the season progressed. Coste said the team was about a day away from releasing DuBord before he started to gain traction.
“We decided to keep Alex for one more day," Coste said. "From that point on, he excelled. To go from almost being released to eventually becoming our closer, that’s amazing.”
The Fargo South graduate went 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA and 11 saves in 37 games for the RedHawks last season. He struck out 59 batters in 52 innings.
The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Lind, like DuBord, improved as the season progressed to become another trusted option for the F-M bullpen. He went 3-2 with a 4.28 ERA in 28 appearances last summer. The former North Dakota State hurler struck out 47 batters in 39 2/3 innings.
Coste said Lind was at his best for F-M from the start of August through the end of the season.
“He kept earning bigger and better roles," Coste said. “When I handed him the ball, I knew he was going to get the job done.”
Lambson, who last played for the Winnipeg Goldeyes in 2020, has a track record of being a reliable starter in the American Association. In 2020, he posted a 4-4 record with a 4.82 ERA in 12 starts for the Goldeyes. The 31-year-old is a former Houston Astros draft pick.
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Coste said Lambson at his best has the ability to pitch a high volume of quality innings.
“He’s a heavily proven guy within our league," Coste said. “We’re really excited about him because of what his past brings. ... Missing a year last year, he does have a little bit to prove.”
The RedHawks currently have 16 players on their roster and Coste said he would like to have 25 by the start of training camp. F-M is set to start the regular season Friday, May 13, on the road against Winnipeg at Shaw Park.
Right-handed pitcher Ryan Flores, shortstop Sam Dexter, third baseman Leo Pina, utility player Jordan George, left-handed pitcher Kevin McGovern and infielder Nick Novak are among the other notable players the RedHawks have already signed this offseason.
“Sometimes winning it can complicate things the next year because everybody wants a raise and there is only so much money to go around," Coste said. "It’s a matter of making things fit salary-wise.”
