Maui's Jamie Vermilyea's Contract Purchased by the Toront Blue Jays

2nd Player off the expansion Golden Baseball League team to be acquired by a Major League Organization

(Kahului, HI. August, 30, 2010). The Golden Baseball League announced today that Na Koa Ikaika pitcher Jamie Vermilyea has had his contract purchased by the Toronto Blue Jays. He is being sent to Las Vegas immediately to join the Blue Jays AAA affiliate there, the 51s.

Vermilyea, 28, 6-4 and 195 lbs, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 9th round of the 2003 amateur draft. In his first three seasons in the Blue Jays system he went 19-9 with 8 saves and a career E.R.A of 3.05, including a perfect game in Double-A 2004. He moved up the ladder to AAA and made his major league debut in 2007 with Toronto. Released after the 2008 season he played professionally in Italy last year for the team in Grosetto, Tuscany and was one of the league's top pitchers.

In 2010, he signed with the expansion Na Koa Ikaika Maui of the independent Golden Baseball League. As there closer he posted a 1-2 record with 20 saves (just one short of the league record) with an E.R.A. of 1.64 in 31 games with 28 Ks as he was instrumental in his team winning the first half championship in the South Division.

He is the second player from the Maui team to be picked up by a Major League organization, and is the 12th GBL player this season to have his contract purchased by a big league club in 2010.

About The Golden Baseball League

The Golden Baseball League, Presented by Safeway Inc./VONS, is a professional baseball league operating in the western United States, Hawaii, Mexico and Canada. Golden Baseball League teams include the Calgary Vipers in Calgary, Alberta Canada; the Chico Outlaws in Chico, CA; the Edmonton Capitals in Edmonton, Alberta Canada; the Orange County Flyers in Fullerton, CA,; the St. George Roadrunners in St. George, Utah; the Yuma Scorpions in Yuma; AZ; the Victoria Seals in Victoria, British Columbia Canada; Na Koa Ikaika in Maui, Hawaii; the Tijuana Cimarrones, Tijuana, Mexico; and the Tucson Toros in Tucson, AZ.   Over 100 GBL players have been acquired by major league baseball or professional international baseball organizations during the last four years and over 70 former major leaguers have played in the GBL including MLB All-Stars Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco, Jose Lima, Robert Fick, Junior Spivey, Scott Spiezio and Felix Jose.  An independent pro league not affiliated with any major league organizations, GBL team rosters are stocked primarily with AA, AAA, and Major League experienced players.  For general information, please visit our League web site at  www.goldenbaseball.com.