WASHINGTON, D.C.�The Washington Nationals announced last month that former Pitt Community College baseball player Freddie Bynum has signed a minor league contract and will be among 13 new players the team has invited to participate in Spring Training next month. The 28-year-old Bynum, a Wilson native, spent the past two seasons as a member of the Baltimore Orioles organization. After two seasons at PCC, he was a second-round draft pick of the Oakland Athletics in 2000. He was later traded to the Chicago Cubs before moving on to Baltimore prior to the 2007 season. A utility man for the Orioles, Bynum began the 2008 campaign on the disabled list after injuring his right knee at the start of Spring Training. He struggled from the plate when he returned the O's lineup, batting just .179 with eight runs batted in in 40 games before being outrighted to the Norfolk Tides, Baltimore's Triple-A affiliate. 01/02/2009 |