SeaWolves reliever Matt Rusch was promoted to Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday for the second time this season.
Rusch’s spot on Erie’s roster will be filled by right-handed reliever Derek Witt, who was promoted to the SeaWolves from advanced Single-A Lakeland.
Rusch, a right-hander, was 1-1 with a 5.45 ERA in 22 games with Erie this season. In 33 innings, he allowed 21 runs (20 earned) and 39 hits with 30 strikeouts and eight walks.
Witt, a 24-year-old native of Davenport, Iowa, was 3-3 with a 2.94 ERA in 41 games with Lakeland this season. He threw 64 1/3 innings with the Flying Tigers and gave up 26 runs (21 earned) and 61 hits while striking out 41 and walking 31.
“He’s kind of a sidearmer, a sinker-slider guy, not quite as down under as (SeaWolves reliever) Rudy Darrow is, not quite that deep, but Witt throws from down on the side and that’s what makes him effective,’’ SeaWolves manager Tom Brookens said. “He’s not a real power guy, but he has a good sinker and slider. He’s been used more as a middle man and setup man. We’ll use him more in a middle-type role to give us an inning or two. ’’
Witt, in his third professional season, was selected by the Tigers in the 28th round of the June 2006 draft out of Ohio University. Witt pitched for Brookens at short-season Oneonta in 2006.